Apple :K: Mystery

[arn]

If you visit Apple's MPEG4 (http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/) information page, let your eyes drift to the bottom of the page... which houses a small hyperlink with the following characters :k: (screenshot (http://www.macrumors.com/images/k.gif)) and a link to http://uncaptheride.com/babble.html which contains white text on white background:

Je sais que vous avez un endroit spécial dans votre coeur pour beemers.
Vous devez voir mon noir 1974 2002 coupe. Vérifier le NewYorkTimes a classifié premier le 14 août, 2002.

Hack? Scavenger hunt? Aliens?

Update: It appears to be part hunt/?subplot (http://www.bmwfilms-hq.com/) related to BMW Films (http://www.bmwfilms.com/site_layout/splash.asp)

[vniow]

Here's the (Babelfish) translated text:


I know that you have a special place in your heart for beemers. You must see my black 1974 2002 crosses. To check NewYorkTimes classified first on August 14, 2002.

:confused:

[sparkleytone]

looks like some sort of hack.

seems to be talking about a car, BMW possibly (beemer)...but 1974 2002 coupe?? That's confusing.

anyone have access to classifieds of the NYTimes from Aug 14??

[cyks]

....Babelfish? Come on- be proud you're a Mac user and use Sherlock to translate...as well as everything else. :D

[reyesmac]

Apple has given us a sign, it seems to be about a car. APPLE WILL MAKE A MACINTOSH COMPATIBLE CAR!!!

OK, just kidding, what kind of rumor is this? I would rather hear news about Phill Schiller.:D

[tjwett]

yeah, i think that it is talking about "beemers" as in BMW. Black, 1974 led me to this guess. i think beemers is mispelled and crosses is translated wrong. perhaps someone just cut and pasted some text where it didn't belong. i'm sticking with my car theory.

[Choppaface]

personally I think they had the lawyers that when insane from dealing with the licensing issues put it there.....


edit: after looking at http://uncaptheride.com/ either this is some brilliant ploy by Hi-Res, or some rather deranged hacker.

[3rdpath]

i've made it to another clue page( actually another site...but haven't figured out the password yet...).

hope this doesn't turn into some roger o. thornhill situation...( a hitchcock reference):eek:

[vniow]

Originally posted by cyks
....Babelfish? Come on- be proud you're a Mac user and use Sherlock to translate...as well as everything else. :D

Mac lover, not user. Yet. :)

[sparkleytone]

okay...this website is pretty damned freaky...can anyone solve the riddle?

[vniow]

Any expert codebreakers on Macrumors?

[Choppaface]

hmm the key page uses encryption....and it appears the domain is regged to some webdesign sales person or something?

[3rdpath]

got key #1:D



this is gonna be a long nite


btw, its riddles...look around...follow the clues....key #1 is a phone call away

[vniow]

I've noticed on the Who's online page that we have a lot of guests wanting to reply to this thread
You must register first.
Any input you have on this is much appriciated.:)

[awrootbeer]

the guys at spymac are making lots of progress, we should all work together :) before apple removes it ..

http://www.spymac.com/forums/?board=4;action=display;threadid=8938

[strider42]

Originally posted by sparkleytone
looks like some sort of hack.

seems to be talking about a car, BMW possibly (beemer)...but 1974 2002 coupe?? That's confusing.

anyone have access to classifieds of the NYTimes from Aug 14??

not confusing at all. 2002 is the model of the car, 1974 is the year. my roommate just got a 1972 2002, awesome little car. One of the first true small sports cars made.

[macdop]

What anniversary date?

[Chaszmyr]

That anniversary.gif was created august 6....

[macdop]

I tried every veriation of that that I can think of, numeric only, alpha numeric, no luck

[twitsami99]

nevermind! i was misstaken, my data was wrong.

[Chaszmyr]

august14.com and august06.com
(06.com is same person... 14.com is different person but same state...)

[macdop]

no year...I feel very stupid now

[sparkleytone]

in what format did you put the phone number?? itsnot working for me.

[myrtamis]

080690 is/was the anniversary date. got it from the picture with the file on it. can't get the pics now site has received max number of visits for the day.

[3rdpath]

apple cite is clue to key #2

key #1 is in the photos

[Chaszmyr]

Any of you ever play the game Majestic? hehehehe

[GeeYouEye]

go to august06.com

it wont work the first time. it will say the access limit has been exceeded or something. do it again and it takes you to a photo album with some weird pics and weirder captions. seriously creepy stuff. It looks like one of the pics has the first password, but I don't know which.

[macdop]

yeh, the pic with the bottle and the metal case, but I can read the writing, the second character doesn't even look like an english letter

[galopagos]

is using domestic hacking, eith that or others may be doing the same, from within apple.

I'd say someone needs to check who modified the page and hire them. Or, check all those augustxx.com site for hidden messages in the photos in the gallery... what is it, stenography?

"Check the NYT classifieds" ... sounds too made up for a intelligence operation (roll eyes here).

[Chaszmyr]

Its good to see a hacker with a sense of creativity.. thats so rare these days

Or is it possible Apple is behind this? Apple usually is so quick to get their webpage fixed

[sparkleytone]

petkoff ??

i know its petk----

[3rdpath]

apple's gotta know about this darn the 2nd key....don't get it.:eek:

[GeeYouEye]

OK, I have the phone number, the Taiwanese shipping number, and the patent number all converted, what am I supposed to do with it? Call it? Look it up?

[Chaszmyr]

what do you mean converted?

[ucbmike]

I did some poking around... followed some clues, ended up at 209.46.98.251, googled for 209.46.98.251 and found:

http://www.bmwfilms-hq.com/

that page says this stuff:

I found a story or subplot, or something that is connected to BMW’s films. It’s like the subplots, only it’s on the web instead of in a film. I put 2 and 2 together right away because I’ve watched the films so many times. Unless you did to, some things won’t make sense right away. When in doubt, check with Ben. :)

Go here to see deciphernaut: 209.46.98.251
The number's also a phone number: (209) 469-8251

1. Bookmark this page. I don’t see anyone else offering to help you figure this out.
2. Keep track of what you find, everywhere you go, things you do, everyone you meet.
3._ Check out my short comments on the films and subplot theories to get familiar with BMW’s films.
4. When I have more, you’ll be the first to know.
5. “Buckle up.” We’re in for a ride.
6. The anniversary date is tricky. Use august06.com. Or 080690.com – I tried it on a whim and it worked.
7. If you get to a nikonnet album, go to “activities” to see the guestbook. I was the first one to sign it!
8. If you land on a blank page, click around or try highlighting the page to find stuff._
9. I figured out you need to add ".com" to a number found on a Gift Registry page. That will bring you to a familiar location._
10. If you find a bunch of code that doesn’t make sense, look closer – there’s an address hidden in the code. Make contact.
--NEW--
11. Watch for kann’s tag - :K:.
12. The ad for the car in NY Times is in the National Classifieds section.
13. If you see a phone number in an email, go back to the nikonnet album for directions on using the number.
14. Track the package.
15. If you land on a page for a mortgage company, hunt around, it’s there.

______

There you go. Not a hacker or anything, just a tiny clue as part of a huge online puzzle. Simple. I'm guessing that MPEG4 page has a clue of some sort :-)

Enjoy!!

Mike Margolis
Sugar Cube Software
mike at sugarcubesoftware.com

[sparkleytone]

http://june13.com/

[Scottgfx]

A recent issue of Maximum PC has an article where they build their "ultimate" PC system. It's case is decorated to complement a old BMW 2002 that it is photographed with.

[Chaszmyr]

If its not a hacker whats it doing on Apple's website?

Did anyone find the mortgage company?

[arn]

Originally posted by ucbmike
I did some poking around... followed some clues, ended up at 209.46.98.251, googled for 209.46.98.251 and found:

http://www.bmwfilms-hq.com/


Strong work...

very strange. I guess it's part of some online scavenger hunt/spy thing... but is it publicised anywhere? This guy's page seems like he's just working on it himself.

arn

[sparkleytone]

cant someone just root uncaptheride.com's servers and get the dirt?? ;)

im going to bed.

[Chaszmyr]

http://www.inicom.com/hibakusha/peace.html
august 6 was the abomb... and 12 years ago was the above... related?

[Scottgfx]

Doing some whois searches for "uncaptheride.com" I found this...

Cazarin, Ricardo ricardo@CAZARIN.COM
15008 Gleason Lk Dr.
Plymouth, MN 55447
US


I love the network utility!!!

Edit: I yanked the phone number from the whois info.

[vniow]

Hehehe, Spymac's trailing. They're getting most of their info from us. :D

[3rdpath]

so this is all related to the next batch of bmwfilm car commercials....clever but still....

clue/key #1 is at 713-266-7288...leads to the apple page...which leads to the car advert in the times...

good luck...i'm going to bed

btw, backdoor....

http://home1.nikonnet.com/photosharing/guestindex.html?RefreshRandom=0.45870524258657497

[Chaszmyr]

This has been going on for a long time.... howcome now one found it until now?

[dawhol9]

August 6, 1990 is the day that UN put sanctions on Iraq.

[GeeYouEye]

Originally posted by Chaszmyr
what do you mean converted?

The last pic in the Photo album was a cipher converter. Using that, 713-266-7288 becomes 397-844-3822, patent #6,421,121 becomes 4,689,989, and tracking # 35834020 becomes 75276080.

Any ideas?

[macdop]

August 6 1990 is also the date on the file in the "inmyhands.jpg" picture

[Chaszmyr]

turns out i was right... the abomb thing august 6 was somehow related... i confirmed this by doing a search on mutual assured destruction

[Squatch01]

I live in Houston co I called the number amd it starts out like a voice mail box for an FBI agent then goes to static and tells you the first key is e4c6. Then says look for Kahn at apple.com/mpeg4 and flips back to the voice mail message.

[macdop]

This defiantly sounds like Majestic (game), though I though it was discontinued, wouldn't it be funny/sad if we were trampling all over some other guys game? also, whoever set this up must have spent a few bucks to do it, I mean, the change on the Apple site, a dedicated phone line, a bunch of domain names...

[vniow]

Okay, maybe they're not trailing THAT bad...
From Spymac: i did the whole mystery thing with the first bmw film series, which was really cool and very extensive (the phone #s, websites, much fun )

bmw is doing a brand new film series, so i bet this is just a precursor to a possibly new series of mysteries.

plus the last bmw film series were all encoded in really good quicktime, so i bet the new films will use qt6's much hyped mpeg4 capabilites
pv

[Chaszmyr]

The first key is e4 c6... then you get petroff... a chess move... e4 e5... that doesnt work as any of the keys though... any ideas?

[mac_fan]

This is link to search apple + kahn?
http://www.apple.com/de/smallbusiness/legal/kahn/
I am not sure it help - cant read German!

[xylpho]

Originally posted by arn
If you visit Apple's MPEG4 (http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/) information page, let your eyes drift to the bottom of the page... which houses a small hyperlink with the following characters :k: (screenshot (http://www.macrumors.com/images/k.gif)) and a link to http://uncaptheride.com/babble.html which contains white text on white background:

Je sais que vous avez un endroit spécial dans votre coeur pour beemers.
Vous devez voir mon noir 1974 2002 coupe. Vérifier le NewYorkTimes a classifié premier le 14 août, 2002.


As I am french, perhaps can i help u. The two first sentences appear to be "correct". Beemer is a BMW addict. The second sentence is less correct, and seems to speak about a BMW roadster (coupé), but the dates are incomprehensible.
As for the last sentence, it seems left an automatic translator, like Sherlock.
Unless this compatriot does not speak well French (what would not be at all astonishing)

[eQ_]

Searched Google for the words he is posting on the site.

Mutual Assured Destruction

Leading to:
www.wikipedia.com/wiki/Mutual_Assured_Destruction

In the text they talk about Herman Kahn, nuclear strategist.

[8thDegreeSavage]

Followed the link on Kahn from your link and got to this page..

Maybe a clue i have no idea.

http://trace.ntu.ac.uk/frame2/articles/borg/kahn.html

[eQ_]

Herman Kahn:
http://www.alteich.com/links/kahn.htm

[8thDegreeSavage]

hmm..Herman Kahn died in 1983...All the talk of the A Bomb must have something to do with some of the clues.

[8thDegreeSavage]

Rand Corporation
research institution in Santa Monica, Calif.; founded 1948 and supported by Federal, state, and local governments, as well as by foundations and corporations. Its principal fields of research are national security and public welfare. Research in national security affairs includes studies in planning, procurement, support and operations of military forces, studies of strategic and tactical forces, command and control, logistics management, and the relation between political and military strategy. Research in domestic problems includes studies in health care, education, transportation, communication, racial discrimination, poverty, housing, and environmental pollution. See B. L. Smith, Rand Corporation (1966)

[8thDegreeSavage]

Kahn, Herman
1922-83, American military strategist. b. Bayonne, N.J. After graduate work in physics at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the Rand Corporation. Unlike scholars such as Bernard Brodie, he believed that nuclear war could be won. At Rand, he studied the application of such analytic techniques as game theory and systems analysis to military theory. In 1961 he founded the Hudson Institute, where he conducted research into questions of national security and the future. His writings include On Thermonuclear War (1961), Thinking About the Unthinkable (1962), On Escalation (1965), The Emerging Japanese Superstate (1970), The Future of the Corporation (1974), The Japanese Challenge (1979), and Thinking About the Unthinkable in the 1980s (1984).

[eQ_]

Petroff is a chess-move:

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~dregis/DR/Openings/pet.html

[thanks to m0t0ch3f]

[Pants]

umm....las year, bmw commisioned a bunch of top line film makers (ang lee, guy ritchie amongst them) to make I think 5 short (10 minute long) films starring guy ritchie and madonna, amongst others, with a common theme runing between them (that owen was a chauffer type character, with l33t driving skills, who got caught up in some murky business). There was some AWESOME driving in these films, and are really worth a watch - especially teh tibetan one.

anyway, they never saw a real release - they were meant as in house only promotional material, and the entire project made heavy use of quicktime, and had a typical 'work stuff out for yourself approach'. As i said, I think teh project was an inhouse promotional/training thing ( i vaguely remember that there was some apple tie in, on a slightly deeper level, but cant remember back...).
I strongly recommend finding teh films, (clive owen is kewl....), and I suspect this is all related

[eQ_]

The patent on one of the photos:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='6,421,121'.WKU.&OS=PN/6,421,121&RS=PN/6,421,121

[wfzelle]

Originally posted by eQ_
Petroff is a chess-move:

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~dregis/DR/Openings/pet.html

The isolated Queen's pawn in the Caro-Kann Defence, Panov-Botvinnik Attack

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5


That's the only e4 c6 on the page. Does anyone have a clue what this relates to?

[Dr. Distortion]

Originally posted by mac_fan
This is link to search apple + kahn?
http://www.apple.com/de/smallbusiness/legal/kahn/
I am not sure it help - cant read German!

I think it's about a lawyers office...

[j763]

while all this riddle-solving is a great way to waste some time, we should really be a bit more concered about apple.com's (or more to the point, apache's) security... There is no way apple would allow someone to place a link on one of their pages like that -- this is definentally a hack (unless apple are letting bmw do this so they'll manufacture an apple branded iCar ;) ). So how about some discussion on the apparent security issue, rather than the riddle solving (although the riddle solving is obviously more fun ;) )???

[wfzelle]

d4d5 is the second move in petroff and the second key. Only four more to go ;)

[zorglub]

hello,

the BMW 02 serie was first introduced in 1966
the line was called 2002 (1966-1977)
so it refers to a BmW 2002 coupé year model 1974 and black
100 hp to 130 hp, light and overpowered car ( for the time).

http://www.motorlegend.com/dossiers/vehicule/bmw_02/bmw02_07.php

[wfzelle]

Originally posted by j763
while all this riddle-solving is a great way to waste some time, we should really be a bit more concered about apple.com's security...

This is intentional. There is nothing to worry about. Now help me with the third key! ;)

[Stike]

Originally posted by Dr. Distortion


I think it's about a lawyers office...

Yes, this is nothing that would help here. I´ve read it and basically it´s just a report on a lawyer´s office that is stuffed with macs..
Since the whole thing concerns movies, I´ve looked for Herman Kahn on imdb.com, but I guess this guy has nothing to do with this mystery... hmm...

[Nonosse]

Well, it's interesting, although i'm quite lost...

Some comments though:

- i guess the :k: on Apple's site IS intentional, an association with BMW wouldn't be bad for advertising on both sides. Btw, do you remember the Zip ad campaign, 5 years ago ? A picture with a Zip disk, a pen, and a BMW CAR KEY on a table ? Maybe some market research studies link BMW and high technologies with the same targets...

- about the patents: US6421121 (B1), "Method and apparatus for rapid particle identification utilizing scattered light histograms", published on July 16, 2002, patentee: Oceanside (Ca), mainly biological applications. Well, the only point i saw is that it does talk about "(laser) beams", but it looks quite far-fetched to extract any sense of it. No mention of Kahn. Note: this patent is a real one, maybe BNW used it for a code, but don't expect BMW to have filed it on purpose. And no site on "www.july16.com".

If you find anything out of that...

Have fun,
Arnaud.:)

[deeg]

not sure if this has been spotted.. at www.54558.com in the faq sections is a link to http://www.uncaptheride.com/all4naught.html ... anyone good at code breaking ?
:p

looks like a chess layout... ?

[hvfsl]

It sounds like they are talking about a BMW, but they sound as though they have modified a 1970s BMW and combined it with a 2002 version. I live in the UK and have seen this thing done before with other cars, like a porshe and a VW.

[Nonosse]

By the way, although this is thrilling, did i mention i'm also feeling quite weird ?

I mean, i'm learning about the Mutual Assured Destruction, and about Kahn's life - and it scares me to realize some people really went so far as to think about the "Doomsday Machine": "in response to such a strategy, Kahn (only half jokingly) proposed his "Doomsday Machine," a massive computer connected to a stockpile of hydrogen bombs. When the computer sensed imminent and intolerable danger from a Soviet attack, it would detonate the bombs and cover the planet with radiation fallout and billions of dead." :( .

WooooOOOoooOPs...
I know we're no kids (anymore), but is it really coming from good taste from BMW to base a game on that notion ? Especially in those tense days ?

Well, whatever...

Bye,
Arnaud.

[tgma]

The picture at

http://www.uncaptheride.com/all4naught.html

is a diagram of the old-style chessboard notation. These is is the notation that you used to use, in the days before the more modern e5, e6, etc notation came to be used. So e4c6 would translate as moving the piece on e4 to c6. Interestingly enough, this is a move that only a knight can make, which links into the note with Petroff/Knight scrawled on it in the www.august06.com picture.

Curiouser and Curiouser

[Tiauguinho]

I'm at the Nikkonnet webpage. what is the password for Kahn?

[eQ_]

Look at these "Caro-Kann" chessmoves:

http://chess.about.com/blt0013.htm

First two moves are identical with the first two keys.

[eQ_]

Seems like the whole chess-maneuver consists of 6 moves.
6 moves = 6 keys?

[tgma]

If you go to June13.com, you see the following text

The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle in your snout

Then there are five links, which all lead to pages that are identical, with the above text, and the same links on them.

Which sounds weird, but is apparently American folklore:

http://www.alsirat.com/deathlore/worms.html

What it all means, I have no idea. Maybe it's more on the death/Mutual Assured Destruction theme.

[8thDegreeSavage]

Originally posted by deeg
not sure if this has been spotted.. at www.54558.com in the faq sections is a link to http://www.uncaptheride.com/all4naught.html ... anyone good at code breaking ?
:p

looks like a chess layout... ?


There is a phone number on the top of the pic file on that link...i called the number and it tells you to enclose a guess of what you think the "package" is and mail it to a address in Minnesota to a "Doctor Reinhart". Along with a stamped return envolope, to make sure "your old friend can reply"..very interesting.

[Sun Baked]

Is deciphernaut the storyline for the BMW films? Or just keys back into it as a sub plot?

It's just so strange that Clive Owen's face is plastered all over the place, especially when listed as favorite actor.

http://uk.dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Actors_and_Actresses/Owen__Clive/

So is the one page the beginning of the sub-plot or someone just tracking the story?

[Nonosse]

Hello again,

ok, i guess this is NOT an answer, and certainly just a coincidence, but in the FULL patent, you can read:

"An interferometric temperature sensing system provides a simplified design for accurately processing an interference fringe pattern using self coupling effects of a laser detection element, where a laser diode and an optical detection element are combined in one package".

... Could the package be "a laser diode and an optical element" ?

I don't think that's the answer, as getting the full text of the patent might be too much, but anyway, all ways should be talked about, right ?

Arnaud.

[8thDegreeSavage]

Originally posted by Nonosse
Hello again,

ok, i guess this is NOT an answer, and certainly just a coincidence, but in the FULL patent, you can read:

"An interferometric temperature sensing system provides a simplified design for accurately processing an interference fringe pattern using self coupling effects of a laser detection element, where a laser diode and an optical detection element are combined in one package".

... Could the package be "a laser diode and an optical element" ?

I don't think that's the answer, as getting the full text of the patent might be too much, but anyway, all ways should be talked about, right ?

Arnaud.


It could mean that the patent is what the package is...but the package obviously has a name...like 10.2 being jaguar...there must be a code name for the patent.

[Nonosse]

Originally posted by 8thDegreeSavage



It could mean that the patent is what the package is...but the package obviously has a name...like 10.2 being jaguar...there must be a code name for the patent.


You'll get most of it on:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='6,421,121'.WKU.&OS=PN/6,421,121&RS=PN/6,421,121

Arnaud.

[8thDegreeSavage]

A government link on the patent..


http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week29/OG/html/US06421121-20020716.html

[Nonosse]

Ok, my mistake:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='6,421,121'.WKU.&OS=PN/6,421,121&RS=PN/6,421,121

A.

[deeg]

Originally posted by 8thDegreeSavage



There is a phone number on the top of the pic file on that link...i called the number and it tells you to enclose a guess of what you think the "package" is and mail it to a address in Minnesota to a "Doctor Reinhart". Along with a stamped return envolope, to make sure "your old friend can reply"..very interesting.

saw the numbers but being blighty did not want to try.. who is Doctor Reinhart ?

:confused:

[Mr. Anderson]

this is probably the worst thread to jump into late in the game, but is there any link to rules for this whole thing? I've seen some of the BMW films but never heard about a scavenger hunt or what ever this is.

Great little marketing ploy though, eh?

D

[mcrain]

Y'all don't think this has anything to do with the new Push, Nevada show where there is supposed to be a big mystery for people to solve during the course of the season?

I know there are some big licensing deals for in-show plugs for products, and I wouldn't be surprised is they had deals with apple and/or bmw and others for plugs (and to get site traffic online).

[Tiauguinho]

Guys take a look at this:

[Tiauguinho]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tiauguinho
[B]Guys take a look at this:

I removed the URL... sorry... I saw that it was already posted.

[wfzelle]

Originally posted by tgma
The picture at

http://www.uncaptheride.com/all4naught.html

is a diagram of the old-style chessboard notation. These is is the notation that you used to use, in the days before the more modern e5, e6, etc notation came to be used. So e4c6 would translate as moving the piece on e4 to c6. Interestingly enough, this is a move that only a knight can make, which links into the note with Petroff/Knight scrawled on it in the www.august06.com picture.

Curiouser and Curiouser

No, e4 is a move by white, c6 by black, etc. See eQ_'s link.

[TheT]

So we got #1 and #2... and that guy from bmwfilms-hq.com says he has 3 and sent the letter as of Sep. 11... that means the package-thing is #4, so we are missing #3.
I think it's in that NewYorkTimes picture, but I tried almost everything and I just don't get a valid code... any idea?

[petee]

in standard chess notation e4c6 would constitute one move by a piece. Which would have to be a knight.

[GutBomb]

e4c6 would not mean a knight. that means it is going 2 spaces up and 2 spaces right. a knight can't do that. that means it is either a bishop or a queen. the only 3 pieces that are allowed to move 2 spaces diagonaly

[deeg]

Originally posted by TheT
So we got #1 and #2... and that guy from bmwfilms-hq.com says he has 3 and sent the letter as of Sep. 11... that means the package-thing is #4, so we are missing #3.
I think it's in that NewYorkTimes picture, but I tried almost everything and I just don't get a valid code... any idea?

quarter to eight on back of car looks odd..... 0745 or 1945 ?

wonder if this is related to new james bond film ? he drives a z8 in that.. was a docter reinhart involved in the design of the z8 ... nothing on bmw.co.uk that i can find

[Sun Baked]

Strange you would mention J Bond, and having it tie back into the BMW films.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/020916/140/d9opp.html

[3rdpath]

the new beemer must be a 745...will be the featured car of the new filmset.

quarter to eight...745...pretty funny.

apple's gotta be pleased about the number of hits they've gotten.

[Sun Baked]

They really wouldn't be sick enough to announce a new James Bond and have it tie back into his role as The Driver in the BMW films, would they?

[wfzelle]

You guys make the same mistake I did. It's not a move by a single piece. Please check out the link in eQ_'s post. It contains the Caro-Kann moves and you can see in the animation that the moves are:

e2-e4
c7-c6
d2-d4
d7-d5

These moves are all made by pawns. It makes a lot of sense since the moves made by other pieces show a shorthand for the kind of piece in the notation:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Ne5 Bf5 8.c3 g6 9.Qb3 *

Qb3 means that the Queen moves to B3 for instance.

[wfzelle]

Great new discovery! I tried the site shown in the special that accompanies the film Chosen and got a password check:

http://www.cbmlt.com/home.html

I tried 'chosen' as the password and I got to a site with four new hints:

- surveillancereport: Report of a surveillance in the Netherlands
- correspondence: Senator Bellamy wants a newspaper to refrain from publishing his contact with someone.
- incidentlocation: A castle in Prague.
- currentstatus: Picture of the page you can also find at Nikkonnet, but without the writing on it.

Check it out!

[tgma]

In the letter from Senator Bellamy, there is a cc: to a Dir G. N. Willets at the FBI.
On page 4 of 6 of the august06.com, there is a copy of a letter, most of which is blanked out, with a note at the bottom:
1st & Knight
Willets?
Looks like the cbmlt.com is a great lead!

[mac_fan]

Any password will work on the site I put apple, khan all works.
What next? any one get a clue?

[trollercoaster]

Originally posted by wfzelle
Great new discovery! I tried the site shown in the special that accompanies the film Chosen and got a password check:

http://www.cbmlt.com/home.html

I tried 'chosen' as the password and I got to a site with four new hints:

- surveillancereport: Report of a surveillance in the Netherlands
- correspondence: Senator Bellamy wants a newspaper to refrain from publishing his contact with someone.
- incidentlocation: A castle in Prague.
- currentstatus: Picture of the page you can also find at Nikkonnet, but without the writing on it.

Check it out!

There has never been a Senator from OK (or any other state) named Bellamy.

[eQ_]

About the "quarter to eight" text written on the BMW.

745 make sense since it is related to the model of the car and 07:45.

But also:

19:45 also a way of saying quarter to eight. These numbers seem familiar?
1945, the year of the Hiroshima bomb, August 06.

Maybe not leading anywhere...

[wfzelle]

Originally posted by trollercoaster
There has never been a Senator from OK (or any other state) named Bellamy.

Relax, it's not real ;)

[wfzelle]

I was wondering. Could the senator be in contact with a Mafia hitman? The blacked-out text seems to start with a capital M. It would also fit the names of the subplots (see the movies at http://www.bmwfilms.com)

[iGav]

Originally posted by deeg


saw the numbers but being blighty did not want to try.. who is Doctor Reinhart ?

:confused:

Doctor Reinhart was the name given by William Moore to an anonymous scientist that was working on experiments with regards to invisibility, Reinhart was also tied up with the Philadelphia Experiment..........

[makkystyle]

where is this mortgage site??????? I have been to all the others have keys 1 + 2. looking for three... how about the rest of yous?

[mac_fan]

V. Havel castle is a President casle of Vatslav Havel in Praha. Is the only new (not mentioned before) documents . maybe we should check that link out?

[Tiauguinho]

Here

I found the link for the hotel mentioned on that document http://www.cbmlt.com/incident.html

http://www.vol.cz/HOTELS/INTER/

The document says that the Hotel has 25 years. i'm trying to get info of the hotel to see if it exists more than 25 years( and to calculate the date of that doc), so that we can get a timeline for that document.


Going to search

[macdop]

The :k: is no longer on Apple's site

[Tiauguinho]

This is insane... Keep digging guys and fast!

[SilvorX]

hmmm...special :k: lol....reminds me of the simpsons episode (cuz of the k :S) where mr burns wants to be loved by all n he tells smithers to design a logo for mr burns' cult n he thought of a special k... just like the cereal one lol....

[makkystyle]

Finally check out the corner of Madison and 23rd in NYC at 7pm next Thursday night, something big regarding the BMW films is going to happen.

Just found this at http://www.darkhorizons.com/news10/010815.htm

if you look on the cbmlt site from earlier you will see one of the non linked descriptions lists "4380 Madison and 23rd". the site above is dated august 15, so it looks like we missed the boat on this one. interesting none-the-less.

[makkystyle]

anyone figured out the third key yet?

[Tiauguinho]

In the same page where they have the Madisson Adress this shows up as well:

Waking Life: The trailer for a new and very odd looking animated tale is up at Apple.Com

I also tried to think about the csstatus doc... on the Bottom lines it says:

KJB FBI WA DC CLXX (which is 170 in roman numbers) Rec Three Tells

Is it any address for a FBI building in Washington DC?

[makkystyle]

Microsoft and BMW Bring BMW Films Digital Cinema Series to Theaters Across the United States, Powered by Windows Media 9 Series

Looks like apple missed the boat on this one. After Quicktime being so involved with the first series how could they let this happen.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/sep02/09-04BMWFilmsPR.asp

[KCSamerica]

After all six keys are found, you'll get:
Your curiosity and drive have earned you a chance to win a new BMW Z4 roadster. To enter the sweepstakes, register now. Then visit bmwfilms.com for information about The Hire films due out this fall.
Obviously, you have to find all six keys to be able to enter:
...1. HOW TO ENTER: No Purchase Necessary, and no entry fee, payment or proof–of–purchase necessary to participate in Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes starts August 26, 2002 at 12:01 a.m. CST and ends December 31, 2002 at 11:59 p.m. CST (the "Sweepstakes Period"). Participants who successfully collect and submit the 6 keys from the BMW Films – Driver Subplot Game will be qualified to enter the Sweepstakes by completing the on-line entry form and submitting entry as required. Limit one on-line entry per name and per e-mail address. In the event of dispute over the identity of a potential winner, on-line entries will be declared by the name that is entered on the on-line entry form. Proof of e-mailing an entry does not constitute proof of delivery or entry. All entries become the property of BMW and will not be returned to entrant. Every entry submission must be manually keystroked and manually entered by the individual entrant; automated and/or repetitive electronic submission of entries (including, but not limited to, entries made using any script, macro, bot or sweepstakes service) will be disqualified, and transmissions from related e-mail or IP addresses may be blocked....

[zon7]

So I have two more keys. These keys are the next moves in the Caro khan opening (http://chess.about.com/blt0013.htm)

So keys are
1 e4c6
2 d4d5
3 Nc3dxe4
4 Nxe4Nd7

Need more keys? Give me an hour!

[KCSamerica]

Hi, i'm not here. Leave a message....

Hey Matt, sorry Matt. It was touch & go for awhile. Listen, we have to hook up. Call this number again September 30 for a time and a place.

[twitsami99]

all i have to say is... you figure it out :) I have awesome, you can win a car, now if only i could figure out how to send in my info... hmmm

[twitsami99]

you guys arnt that far from the big pay off... your on the right track, just missing a few minor keys, im sure some of you have it allready... its right under your nose and you dont even know it... oh this is what happens when you get all the keys...

"I will castle king-side for now. You always were better
at openings, but my middle game will wear you down. The file is yours. It is hidden in the trunk of a car.
But there are two more things you must know.

The location. (916) 930-1143
The car.

:K:"

[iGav]

Originally posted by macdop
The :k: is no longer on Apple's site

It's been replaced by a :q: :p :p :p

[spotbug]

What is the "Serial Number" on the entry form? No matter what I put, it says, "Invalid Serial no." Is that another part of the puzzle, or am I missing something obvious?:confused:

[twitsami99]

this is crazy, when you get to the submition page, it seems you need a serial number... Well i dont have it, i thought maybe it was my social, but that wont work... wow this is really quite the puzzle...

[spotbug]

Maybe when you call the phone number on 9/30, they give you the serial number?

[KCSamerica]

That's what I was thinking... it says to call back for the time & place [of the file that's in a trunk of a car].

Maybe BMW dealerships are giving away little cards for their sweepstakes that have a serial number on them? Can anyone stop by a dealer to check in on this theory?

I'm glad to see others are solving it... I didn't want to give away the fun of all six keys! :D

[Tiauguinho]

Who the hell made this? How did Arn got knowledge about the :k: ?

[KCSamerica]

Also, it seems like it's up to 10 digits (assuming all numbers since it does say serial number).

Maybe I should write an AppleScript / QuicKeys thingy? hmmmm....;)

[cr2sh]

this is some insane stuff guys, im sorry i walked in on it late...

[pgwalsh]

Maybe the serial number is the cars VIN number..

[spotbug]

Originally posted by pgwalsh
Maybe the serial number is the cars VIN number..

We're expected to know THAT?!?

This puzzle suddenly became impossible.

[KCSamerica]

I still kinda think a BMW dealership might have sweepstakes cards they're passing out with a tidbit on it...

I mean, what site did this really start at? Most likely, not at Apple.

For those that know the keys, what does everything else we've gone through have to do with finding the keys... I can see the answers in a clue or two, but all keys can be found in one specific location! What do the rest of the clues have to do with all this? And what's up with the I will castle king-side for now. You always were better at openings, but my middle game will wear you down. The file is yours. It is hidden in the trunk of a car. :confused:

So are we supposed to find what move to make if your opponent castles you strategy? I'm not familiar enough with the game to know the next move!

[makkystyle]

castle-ing to the king side means he moves his rook on the side the king starts on two places to the middle and the king jumps over the rook(also moving two spaces). THis is the castle move. Also does anyone wonder about the self addressed stamped envelope you were supposed to send. I can't believe that would be for no reason, maybe the key comes in that if you know what is in the package. After playing Nokia Game a couple of years ago I'm pretty sure they don't make these actions arbitrary. Now I only need to find the last two keys. I'm at work and haven't been able to devote my full attention.

[twitsami99]

reading the statement you recieve when you get all the keys, it makes it sound like, this is gonna take allot more work. "You always were better
at openings, but my middle game will wear you down." maybe all we've done is open, now the middle game begins... I sure hope not, but im led to beleive were gonna need to do some major hunting to figure this thing out.

[KCSamerica]

Originally posted by makkystyle
castle-ing to the king side means he moves his rook on the side the king starts on two places to the middle and the king jumps over the rook(also moving two spaces). THis is the castle move. Also does anyone wonder about the self addressed stamped envelope you were supposed to send. I can't believe that would be for no reason, maybe the key comes in that if you know what is in the package. After playing Nokia Game a couple of years ago I'm pretty sure they don't make these actions arbitrary. Now I only need to find the last two keys. I'm at work and haven't been able to devote my full attention.

I realize what castling is, but didn't know if there's a specific name to it, which was the clues to the keys. If you've figured out the first four keys, the last two are quite simple.

[uhlawboi80]

damn! i got to this thread way too late, from what i can gather i only get 2 keys..grr, though i am suprised none of you knew that 2002 was the 30th aniversary of the 5-series...what kinda cars do you boys drive ;)

[makkystyle]

KCSamerica i have a question for you can you e-mail me at toddmak@hotmail.com

[strider42]

Originally posted by hvfsl
It sounds like they are talking about a BMW, but they sound as though they have modified a 1970s BMW and combined it with a 2002 version. I live in the UK and have seen this thing done before with other cars, like a porshe and a VW.

once again, the 2002 is a model of BMw's made in the late 60's and 70's. There's nothing really special about the car, other than its pretty cool.

Porsche and VW worked together on a lot of cars. the porsche 914 for instance had VW badging on it in some countries. They shared engines a lot (the Karmen Ghia shared a porsche engine I believe). So thats probably all you saw there as well.

[spotbug]

The contest rules clearly state that the contest runs from 8/26/02 to 12/31/02. It wouldn't make any sense to make the start date 8/26 if you couldn't enter until making that phone call on 9/30. Why wouldn't they just start the contest on 9/30, then? I think the Serial Number is available (somewhere, somehow) right now.

[KCSamerica]

I might have some (or all) answers to those that are still stumped... message me and i'll get 'em tomorrow (i'm done with work today, woohoo!). let me know if you want to have fun with hints or if you want specifics... but i think after the keys, we'll have some variable possibilities, so we'll all have to coordinate our trials & errors!

:) (i do have all the keys)

--brian

[zon7]

If someone have them please share

[iJon]

I dont know if this has anything to do with this but bmw has a new car out. the z4 roadster which is a coupe, which is what the sentence mentioned according to that french dude earlier. just my thought.

iJon

[beep]

Originally posted by iGAV


It's been replaced by a :q: :p :p :p

Which links to the QuickTime download page.

[eQ_]

The BMW 2002 (1974) has modelnumber E10

[tjwett]

Originally posted by KCSamerica
Also, it seems like it's up to 10 digits (assuming all numbers since it does say serial number).

Maybe I should write an AppleScript / QuicKeys thingy? hmmmm....;)
perhaps it's the 10 digit phone number from NY Times ad? i haven't been playing along so i'm probably way off. this is really wild! it's amazing that it all started with a little "k" on the MPEG4 site. very cool.

[uhlawboi80]

again, i havent been following the thread too well...BUT, the 5 series was introduced in 1972 and 2002 is its 30th aniversary. and if you look, they are supposed to be having anniversary events in september. though the car was introduced in june....i think thats what this is all about

[wfzelle]

Yippie, I've got key #5:

Ng5Ngf6

[wfzelle]

And key #6 is:

Bd3e6

You have to play the Petrosjan-Smyslow System, which I found here:

Google cache of a chess forum (http://www.google.nl/search?q=cache:BMWa6BfsCdsC:gameknot.com/fmsg/chess/977.shtml+%22Nc3+dxe4%22+%22Nxe4+Nd7%22&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8)

[wfzelle]

To recap:

e4c6
d4d5
Nc3dxe4
Nxe4Nd7
Ng5Ngf6
Bd3e6

I'm afraid that I can't enter the sweepstakes myself since I don't live in the US. Good luck to all Americans entering the sweepstakes!

[twitsami99]

it might have been funner for the rest of the people who didnt know the keys to find them out on there own. But alas its been done, thankfully it seems the puzzle isnt quite done,

http://www.chesscorner.com/tutorial/openings/caro/caro.htm

karprov held the keys for me,
its all about his variation of the Caro-Kann Defence

now the serial number... dang it, its gonna take a while

[pgwalsh]

Has anyone figured out the serial number? If so can you give a clue. The number I entered produced an page cannot display error.

Also, I can't find the official page for the contest.

[3rdpath]

i think the serial number might be what you get when you call the phone number on sept 30th...just a guess.

btw, did anyone else call the mortgage co's number to see if it was a real place...it was.


and, did anyone mail the letter to the address given on the 213 phone number?

just wondering.

[uhlawboi80]

what is the 213 number again? i deleted the sticky with it...i am seeing if there is a connection between the numbers...the 916 713 and 209 though dont seem too connected...i was thinking they may have something to do with apple...i know 916 and 713 have apple stores opening THIS month...

[uhlawboi80]

nevermind, i just remembered where the 213 was
hehe, my bad

[DavidRavenMoon]

Now it's a ":q:" and it's linked to the Quicktime download page.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally posted by sparkleytone
looks like some sort of hack.

seems to be talking about a car, BMW possibly (beemer)...but 1974 2002 coupe?? That's confusing.

anyone have access to classifieds of the NYTimes from Aug 14??

The 2002 is the model, not the year. I guess you would call the 2002 a coupe? It's sure not a sedan. It's a very small car. BMW just started making them again.

Apple has linked to BMW a few times, since BMW makes use of QuickTime a lot. And now the link is :q: and goes to Apple's QuickTime download page.

Very weird though.

I have a 1982 320i :)

[madamimadam]

This page:
http://209.46.98.251/
is just bizzare.

[Sun Baked]

Figures Fallon is all over this for BMW Films II, but where is the info on the contest and the 3 new installments?

BMWfilms has signed on three renowned Hollywood directors for the next three installments of "The Hire" digital film series, due to roll out in October. John Woo ("Windtalkers," "Mission Impossible II," "Face/Off"), Tony Scott ("Spy Game," Enemy of the State," "Top Gun") and Joe Carnahan (soon to direct Harrison Ford in "Walk Among the Tombstones," "NARC") will direct the follow-up to last year's award-winning effort. British actor Clive Owen will reprise his role as The Driver, the mysterious chauffeur who takes passengers on a high-powered car chase in a BMW. The films will be executive produced by Ridley Scott, Tony Scott and Jules Daly through the Scott's company RSA USA, Inc. Fallon in Minneapolis is the ad agency driving the program. A hybrid of cinema and campaign, the initial five films debuted last year on BMWFilms.com and featured the work of highly acclaimed directors, including Ang Lee and Guy Ritchie and actors Mickey Rourke and Madonna. Fallon and BMW of North America took home Best of Show at the One Show and One Show Interactive, two Grand Clios at the Clio Awards and a Grand Prix Cyber Lion at theCannes International Ad Festival for the short film campaign.
Cool intro movie for the Z4... John Woo's "The Hostage".

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20020812/capt.1029194182.bmw_internet_films_bmw101.jpg

I went down the wrong path when I was following Clive Owen links (went with J Bond) instead of looking for further installments of "The Hire" even though there was a "The Hire 2" page (well duh), Clive Owen everywhere.

Guess that's what I get for not reading the contest entry requirements for winning the Z4 in the BMW subplot game.

[makkystyle]

I have found the serial number and was trying to register when I received and error page. I know it's the right number because it goes to a whole seperate page (not just the normal red writing saying invalid serial number). Has anyone else had trouble registering?????

[wfzelle]

Originally posted by twitsami99
it might have been funner for the rest of the people who didnt know the keys to find them out on there own.

Well, the first keys were posted earlier already, so I think you should have stopped reading if you wanted to figure it out yourself. I don't think it's fair for the people who do want the spoiler if we just stop halfway. I certainly found the last two keys hard to find, so maybe other people like to find out what the last keys are after they gave up. And what's wrong with giving more Mac-users the chance to win a BMW? :D

[twitsami99]

it might have been funner for the rest of the people who didnt know the keys to find them out on there own.

im not saying you shouldnt have given them out, im just saying that i for one had a lot of fun finding them on my own. Allot of people could have posted them a while back but didn't or atleast I didn't because I didn't want to deny anyone the fun I had, i think helpful hints are more rewarding then answers... Just my thoughts... besides im lead to believe that those keys are only the begining...

okay im wasting way to much time on this...

[.: | nate | :.]

I don't know but the code seems to make sense, that is near code for the 330ci or even better yet the M3 or even better yet the new M3 GTR!!!

Just a guess

[macdop]

Originally posted by makkystyle
I have found the serial number and was trying to register when I received and error page. I know it's the right number because it goes to a whole seperate page (not just the normal red writing saying invalid serial number). Has anyone else had trouble registering?????

Well, if you give out the serial number (or tell us where to get one) maybe we can help if we see the page, but other then that, you are so out of luck

[uhlawboi80]

just quick note..yesterday i went back to the page past the keys to try to put in another serial number and it took me to another page...but it turns out that it did that because the unlocked page had "timed out" and i had to go back and re enter the keys then the number i had tried was smacked down as INVALID again..so just because it took you to another page doesnt mean it was right:p

[Sun Baked]

I'd guess it has something to do with the French text and happenings in Paris around that time.

Hint: The official worldwide introduction of the Z4 at the 2002 Paris ? ? - most likely the production version of the vehicle.

Sort of sucks that I didn't see the contest rules or try to find the keys, until I had made my previous post about the BMW Films II.

(I could almost see Fallon&BMW putting Clive Owen in the car to drive it up on stage and debut "The Hostage" movie at the same time - but that is a big stretch in the train of illogic I'm using.)

2002 paris mondial de l'automobile 28 sep - 13 oct

---

And wow is this thread getting hammered, over 11k views

[makkystyle]

Originally posted by macdop


Well, if you give out the serial number (or tell us where to get one) maybe we can help if we see the page, but other then that, you are so out of luck

I didn't post it because there are some people that would like to have fun with finding it themselves. I'm all for working with others to find the hints, clues, innuendos, etc. BUT ... there are some people that don't want all the answers just handed to them. People know, as there have been several who have, that they can PM me and we can talk.

[ADM]

Here's some info that might have something to do with it. There was mention in earlier posts about laser diodes. I read an article on the nytimes website about some japanese dude who uses laser diodes to burn the equivilent of 10 dvd's on 1 dvd disk. A lot of companies are buyig into this. Mpeg2-Mpeg4 connection? Quicktime?

[KCSamerica]

Originally posted by ADM
Here's some info that might have something to do with it. There was mention in earlier posts about laser diodes. I read an article on the nytimes website about some japanese dude who uses laser diodes to burn the equivilent of 10 dvd's on 1 dvd disk. A lot of companies are buyig into this. Mpeg2-Mpeg4 connection? Quicktime?

I'm not sure how all that ties in, but blue diodes are being tested/used to make a new form of DVD as we know it. Instead of using red lasers to etch into a CD or DVD, they can use a blue laser which will allow much more data to be stored onto the surface since the data will be more compact.

[ADM]

here's what the other guy wrote.

NOT an answer
Hello again,

ok, i guess this is NOT an answer, and certainly just a coincidence, but in the FULL patent, you can read:

"An interferometric temperature sensing system provides a simplified design for accurately processing an interference fringe pattern using self coupling effects of a laser detection element, where a laser diode and an optical detection element are combined in one package".

... Could the package be "a laser diode and an optical element" ?

I don't think that's the answer, as getting the full text of the patent might be too much, but anyway, all ways should be talked about, right ?

Arnaud.

I just thought i'd share that bit of information.

[Nonosse]

Originally posted by ADM
here's what the other guy wrote...

So, the OTHER GUY would like to further explain.

The OTHER GUY thought about a link between the word "package" and the above-mentioned explanation, because the OTHER GUY remembered reading the above-mentioned exact quote in the patent when the OTHER GUY first checked it.

Now, the OTHER GUY thinks it's too far-fetched, especially mentioning the DVD area, as the patent is in the field of biology, and the application of the laser is: to illuminate particles, the resulting scattered light being detected by means of optical sensors for comparison with a probability histogram bla bla bla...

The OTHER GUY just wants to say that this might not be a real clue.

And the OTHER GUY doesn't really like to be referred as "the OTHER GUY".

Thanks,
Arnaud.

[strider42]

Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon


The 2002 is the model, not the year. I guess you would call the 2002 a coupe? It's sure not a sedan. It's a very small car. BMW just started making them again.

Apple has linked to BMW a few times, since BMW makes use of QuickTime a lot. And now the link is :q: and goes to Apple's QuickTime download page.

Very weird though.

I have a 1982 320i :)

sorry, BMW is not making the 2002. They just started making the MINI again, which they never made before (its a british nameplate), and its run as a separate entity and not as a BMW.

BMw has some plans to release the 1 series, which would very similar in size to the 2002, but will be called the 1 series (look for the CS1 concept on the web if your interested)

[Hoboken Dan]

I don't know what years they made the 2002, but 1974 2002 would presumably be a model year 1974 BMW 2002 model. It was a small (I believe 2 liter) 4 cylinder engine car which was relatively light & agile, propelling BMW into the ranks of a sporty sedan manufacturer. Of course, REAL drivers don't buy BMW, but I figured I'd at least clear up sparkleytone's apparent confusion about the two 4-digit numbers.

-d

[saint]

The mpeg4 page (http://www.apple.com/mpeg4) link has gone back to saying :k:

Strange how they would change it for a few days and then change it back again.

[Sun Baked]

The car they're talking about is most likely a Z4, took a SWAG on the significance of the 9/30 date, but I haven't done any searching on the bio package.

But it is an really interesting advertising campaign.

So how are the other websites doing on figuring this whole thing out?

[3rdpath]

anyone else remember to call the 916# today?

interesting.:D

[Crazy Ivan]

What an interesting thread. It seems you all have stumbled on to two different threads of a game.

The first game began as a part of the five films released by BMW Films (http://www.bmwfilms.com) beginning in early summer 2001. The five films, in chronological order of release are: Ambush, Chosen, Star, Follow, and Powder Keg, each directed by a different influential director (John Frankenheimer, Ang Lee, Guy Ritchie, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu), and all produced by David Fincher, himseldf a repected director. They are excellent, if you have not seen them, do so now. Contrary to several posts, this was a promotional campaign, not an in-house training series, and in fact grew to become one of the most successful online marketing campaings in history.

Also released were five very short digital films directed by Ben Younger, director of The Boiler Room. Each of these films contained a 'clue', be it a website, phone number, etc. If one were to follow these clues to their conclusion, they would lead to a time a place where you could recieve a free BMW Films DVD. I myself have one.

However, in preparation for the new series of BMW Films to be released starting on Oct. 23 (three days ago), the links began to change, beginning as far back as January of 2002. As I said, three days ago, the new film was released, directed by John Woo. In the movie, the hero, the driver, played by Clive Owens, dials a phone number to rescue the hostage. If you dial the same number, you recieve a cryptic message, and instructions to go to www.mothtotheflame.com

I think everyone here should follow the path to the end result: the contest for the BMW Z4. If you do wish to learn the answers, simply download the movie and dial the number, or begin your search at www.mothtotheflame.com As I have already solved the puzzle, I can help you along the way, if you like.

[D*I*S_Frontman]

I am late to the game. Could someone be so kind as to either a) post the spoilers (serial number, link to form, etc) on this thread, start a "BMW Spoiler--DON'T LOOK" thread (for the benefit of those wanting to figure out the puzzle themselves), or just email it to me out of the goodness of your heart?

Thanks. I promise a baker's dozen of weekends using the BMW to the tipster if I win. Heck, if you're outside the Chicago area you can just use it for the entire first three months.