Take note fellow gamers, as our beloved Sony Playstation 3 may not have as many stellar hits as the PS2 and PS1 had. Apparently Sony is actually begging third-party developers to stay on board and finish PS3 games despite the console’s lack of popularity. I highly agree with this statement from Dean Takahashi of Mercury News:
“The argument is that the PS3 will show its strength as developers learn how to make games for it. But developers know they can staff four or five Wii teams with the same number of people it takes to make one PS3 game.”
Sure, you can probably crank out a Wii game way quicker than a PS3 title. But then we’ll just be stuck with a bunch of sucky games with crappy graphics where the object of the game is to wave your hands around like a retard. The death of the PS3 isn’t going to happen for a few more years, so let’s sit back and see what Sony can do to save its latest system.
Sony begging PlayStation 3 developers to stay? [Bit-tech]
Now available from SoftBank is this Zaku II-inspired mobile phone from Sharp. It’s called the FULL FACE 013SH probably because it looks like a damn SCUBA mask for your crotch. But don’t be fooled by this breathing apparatus for your genitals, it’s pretty feature-rich considering the 2.8-inch Aquos display it sports. You’ll find a 1Seg TV tuner for mobile TV, as well as plenty of media playback and messaging features.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the mobile phone itself resides inside the big SCUBA head. You don’t have to walk around talking like an idiot into a conch shell.
SoftBank and Sharp release a Zaku II inspired Mobile phone in Japan [Akihabara News]
Someone over at BoingBoing is on a rant again (go figure). This time, it’s about America’s lack of farmers. Did you know that there are 4 million active World of Warcraft players though? That’s more than the 3 million farmers we have in this country. BoingBoing recreates Anderson Cooper from CNN interviewing someone about Warcraft:
ANDERSON: We stopped by the gates of Ogrimmar in Durotar, on the east coast of Kalimdor, where one local told us Hollywood just can’t relate to the level-grinding life.
UNIDENTIFIED ORC: They’ve never been back here, questing Razormane or Drygulch Ravine, y’know … or farming for Peacebloom and Silverleaf. They’re out of touch.
Don’t get it? Have some coffee then read again.
More US Warcraft players than farmers [BoingBoing]
Seems NBC Universal isn’t getting along with anyone these days. With no announcement whatsoever, NBC has pulled its channel from YouTube.com. Sources say that NBC will concentrate its efforts on Hulu, a joint venture with News Corp that is going into private beta soon.
Hulu is supposed to be a direct competitor with YouTube that comes directly from the studios with shows. Users will be able to stream or download new programs for a nominal fee. With services like Joost becoming increasingly popular and sites like YouTube and Dailymotion chugging along, NBC really has its work cut out for it this winter.
NBC pulls plug on YouTube channel [Afterdawn]
Being a former Comcast customer, I can understand how one could get angry at the company for providing mediocre service. But being angry doesn’t even compare to what 75-year-old Mona Shaw did. When Comcast didn’t show up to install the Triple Play package in her home (Cable, VoIP, Internet), she scheduled another appointment. The second time, the installation team didn’t finish setting up the service and later that week, her service was shut off. Ouch.
So Mona went to speak with a local manager. He kept her waiting for two hours then took off out a back door so he didn’t have to deal with Mona and her husband. Fed up and pissed off, Mona grabbed a claw hammer, her Comcast equipment and smashed the hell out of it in the customer service offices. She was arrested and booked for disorderly conduct. Now she uses Verizon and Comcast is out a customer (or two). Perhaps Comcast should stop being so comcastic and get back to making customers happy.
Taking a Whack Against Comcast [Washington Post]
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but somehow, the Xbox 360 outsold the infamous Nintendo Wii for the month of September. Seeking Alpha reports that 527,800 Xbox 360 consoles were sold during September, compared to the Wii’s 501,000. Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite console, the Playstation 3, took a slight slump in sales, turning out only 119,800 units for the month.
Still, despite the numbers, I’m having trouble figuring out why everyone went out and bought an Xbox 360. Maybe it was Fifa Soccer 08. That’s a tight game. No way it could be Halo 3 though, no way. That game is the same as the first two! You shoot stuff and call everyone on Xbox Live a douche, big whoop.
Halo 3 Propels Monthly Xbox Sales Above Wii For First [Seeking Alpha]
Imagine that you had a toaster. Now imagine that toaster is a USB-based dock that allows any user to plug a laptop or desktop hard drive into it like a piece of toast and mount it on their PC or Mac. That’s just what the SATA HDD Stage Rack does. Have an extra drive lying around? Maybe six or seven? This is just what you need. Forget swapping USB cables all the time between external drives. Just plug it in like a Glade commercial and you’re good to go.
For $46.79, the Stage Rack is a great buy for anyone with extra drives that are collecting dust. Too bad it’s probably only available in Japan.
HDD Dock Plugs Bare SATA Drives Like NES Cartridges [Gizmodo]
Standard issue in any young girl’s arsenal. This $1000 custom-made AK-47 assault rifle has a hand-crocheted stock and a hot pink paint-job. Terrorists in Badtz Maru outfits not included.
Hello Kitty assault rifle [Boing Boing]
Want your other controllers charged while you sit there, playing NBA Live ‘08? Of course you do. So in a few weeks, you may want to give Pelican’s Controller Charging Station a whirl. In a modern, tiered design, this station can charge up to four PS3 controllers via mini USB. Only two can be held in midair though. There’s two USB ports on the side in case you want to charge other gadgets that aren’t PS3-related.
For $29.99 and depending how much Playstation 3 you play each day, this could be a godsend for gamers. Or not.
Pelican PlayStation 3 Charging Station [IGN]
Shockingly, this post is not about Halo 3. Instead, I’d like to bring to your attention a Killzone action figure that pays attention to details. Modeled after the Helghast from the game, this one-of-a-kind model comes from custom crafter Jim Saotome. And in case you were wondering, yes, those eyes light up.
Personally I think the Helghast could kick Master Chief’s ass any day of the week.
No Official Killzone Figures? Make Your Own [Kotaku]
Soon, you’ll be able to get money on your mobile phone no matter where your location. The GSM Association is working with Western Union to develop a cross-border money-transfer service that would work in any country with a GSM network. Together, the two companies are building the technology that would allow customers to transfer funs with their mobile phones.
Come Q2 of next year, you might be able to skip a trip to the bank or post office by using your mobile phone to make a payment or transfer money. Over 35 GSMA operators in over 100 counties will be enrolled in the program, so you’ll be able to get your shop on no matter where you are.
Western Union working on mobile service [Business Week]
From our big brother TechCrunch comes news that Skype will be releasing a branded mobile phone later this month. The device will be released in partnership with 3 Mobile in Britain, Italy, Hong Kong and Australia, with three more countries to follow by years end. Unfortunately for us patriots here in the USA, we won’t be seeing this mystic Skype phone anytime soon, as there are currently no plans for a US launch.
Rumor is that the handset is being developed by iSkoot and will feature high-speed web browsing, a 3G network and buddy lists. There’s no word yet on cost or availability, so be sure to keep a close eye on this story if you’re looking to get some calls on the cheap and across the pond.
Skype To Launch Own Mobile Phone [TechCrunch]
Interested in something other than the iPhone and have Alltel wireless? Check out the Motorola MOTOROKR Z6m that just launched. It’s available for $130 with a 2-year contract and has 20 XM Satellite Radio channels available for your listening pleasure. You’ll also be able to playback music and take pictures and video with a 2-megapixel camera. The Z6m has a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack, so no annoying adapters are needed.
As expected, it has Bluetooth, EV-DO and also features GPS. Up to 2GB of storage via removable memory. Decent features, OK price – definitely worth a look if you’re an XM Radio fan.
Product Page
Maybe I’m alone on this one, but does anyone actually sit there with a group of people, connecting a device to an HDTV so everyone can view photos on a 42-inch screen? Do feel free to let me know if you do. For those of you who are into that sort of thing, Sony has announced a device that is sure to keep you from sleeping at night until its release.
The HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album is a small little box from Sony that resembles a Drobo. It has a built-in 80GB hard drive for storing your photos and a variety of outputs such as HDMI, composite, component and S-Video so any TV you throw at it can display your pictures. You can load photos onto the device via a card reader, DVD/CD drive, USB or even Ethernet. There’s loads of software for playback and organization, so if you are a true photo aficionado, you’ll be pleased no doubt about it. Look for the HDMS-S1D later this month for $400.
After the jump, a picture of the back of the device.
Sony offers 80GB digital photo album [Electronista]
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I may give Nintendo a lot of crap for the Wii, but every other system that company has made is gold sans Gamecube. Now, after 22-years, Nintendo of Japan is officially dropping support for the original NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Gameboy and Gameboy Pocket. After October 31st, if your SNES breaks and you need your Super Scope fix, you’ll have to visit a 3rd-party repair center or just buy another console. Quite a scary thought for Halloween.
The moves comes as more and more classic titles become available on the Wii’s virtual console. Sure, you can buy Contra for a few bucks and play it on your Wii, but you won’t be able to enter your beloved Konami Code. At least there’s YouTube videos to remind us of how awesome the time from the 1980s into the 1990s was.
Nintendo of Japan dropping Hardware support for the Famicom [Arcade Renaissance]
We’ve heard plenty of rumors about a 40GB PS3 for $400 a few times, but now Sony is getting all official on us. Come November 2nd, you’ll be able to buy a Playstation 3 for the low price of $399. Need more storage? The 80GB version is taking a dive in price from $599 to $499. Slap another $100 down on a game and a Blu-ray flick and you’re good to go.
It’d be nice if Sony started packaging a game in with the PS3, like the old days of video gaming, but hey, I’ll take a $100 discount any day.
Sony Slashes Price of PlayStation 3 [WSJ]
Surely you remember Chumby, the adorable little widget monster who has been in development for well over a year. If you’ve been waiting to get one into your living room, you can now do so thanks to the new Chumby store that has opened to the public. For $179.95, you can get a Chumby in pearl white, basic black or latte tan coloring. Heck, you even get a free set of Chumby charms for your keys/cellphone while supplies last. Talk about a deal!
Chumby is open-source, so you can make your own widgets for it should you fancy yourself a decent enough programmer. You can view Digg stories, weather reports, sports scores and a whole lot more on its 3.5-inch LCD. Don’t like the way Chumby looks? Get creative and throw some devil horns on it! After the jump, Chumby’s full specs and requirements.
Chumby Store
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Apple has officially announced an SDK for the iPhone. Now developers will easily be able to make uniform applications designed specifically for the iPhone. Thank goodness too, because I’m sure plenty of us were getting sick of these Web 2.0 iPhone “apps”. Not only will the iPhone SDK help coders with the iPhone, it’ll also be used for designing iPod Touch applications. Oh snap!
Apple Hot News
If, for some reason or another, you need more storage and high performance for your DSLR, then by all means, take a gander at SanDisk’s 8GB Extreme II SDHC card. It’s secure, it has a huge amount of storage, can transfer data at a whopping 20MB/sec and cook you some eggs sunnyside-up.
Oh, you thought you were going to get an 8GB SDHC card for cheap, didn’t you? You make me laugh. Really. Be prepared to shell out $179.99 for this bitch as I watch your eyeballs and mind explode from sticker shock.
SanDisk Intros 8GB Extreme III SDHC Card [Digital Trends]
I may be against DIYers bringing LEDs and PCBs to airports, but I certainly don’t oppose case-mods of this nature! Apparently some crafty guitar player had an extra Marshall full-stack lying around, so he gutted it, threw a TV into the top and basically created an arcade version of the game. Inside the bottom 4×12 speaker cabinet is a speaker and a PS2 to power the game.
But that’s not even the coolest part. His two guitar controllers? Modeled after Zack Wylde (Randy Rhodes man…) and Eddie Van Halen’s own. Rock on.
Ultimate Guitar Hero mod [MAKE]
Get your music off iTunes but often opt for the DRM-laden versions due to the cheaper price of $.99? Worry no more, friend. Apple has officially lowered the price of iTunes Plus tracks to 99-cents, down from $1.29. The move comes as competitors like Universal and Amazon.com have started offering DRM-free alternatives to iTunes.
Now that DRM-free tunes are cheaper, will you seek them out in bulk? I know my first purchase is definitely going to be Cutting Crew. Dreamy synth hooks…
Apple Reduces Prices on iT
Last night, I remembered something that you will no doubt thank me for later. When Mac OS X Tiger came out a few years ago, I was ready to buy it. I had my $130 in hand and was waiting in line. But as I approached the cash register, I ran into a coworker I knew and he told me that the University of Pennsylvania’s bookstore, which was right down the block, was selling copies to students for only $40.00. Being the cheapskate I am, I dropped the box I was holding and we headed out.
Sure enough, upon arrival at the bookstore, OS X Tiger was only $40.00. Neither of us went to UPenn, so we grabbed some dorky kid walking past us and asked him to buy it for us. He did, my coworker and I split a copy and I get Mac OS X Tiger for $20. So, if you have a college bookstore near you, I suggest taking a peak in there. You may find incredible discounts when Leopard comes out, you may not. It’s up to you to seek out the hot deals near you!
Apple
Editor’s Note: It’s worth mentioning that it was only the UPenn bookstore that was offering the OS for $40. Everywhere else, it was regular academic price. This is no different than you getting a hookup from your buddy at Best Buy or any other retailer. If you had a friend at UPenn, were broke and could get OS X for $40, you’re telling me you wouldn’t ask him/her to pick up a copy for you? Puh-lease.
Yet another GPS unit will now be available to consumers; this time from TomTom. Its new ONE XL-S mapping unit is feature rich with a beautiful 4.3-inch for viewing. One of the standout features is text-to-speech, which basically reads out your directions, restaurants, etc. out to you so you can spend more time concentrating on the road rather than your GPS unit.
You’ll also be able to share map data with people online with the ONE XL-S and can do hands-free calling via Bluetooth, making this one of the safer units on the market. Optionally, you can get realtime traffic reports through TomTom if you want to shell out some extra bucks. Look for it at the end of this month for $400.
TomTom rolls ONE XL-S map unit with text-to-speech [Electronista]
My name is Judge
Last week, Jammie Thomas was found guilty of copyright infringement and was ordered to pay $222,000 in fines for sharing MP3s. As a mother and working class citizen like most of us, she most likely cannot afford to pay such a ridiculous amount of money. So, she’s using our justice system to fight back; this time, with an appeal.
Thomas argues that the amount of damages ordered to paid is unconstitutionally excessive. In other cases, payouts as low as $1 a song have been handed down by a judge, so why not her? Hell, she could go out and buy the full CD containing each song she pirated for less than $1000. The RIAA is trying to make an example out of this lady and for the most part, it’s working. If you want to peer deeper into the rabbit hole, check out the Ars link below.
Appeal in RIAA case to focus on “unconstitutionally excessive” punishment [Ars Technica]
From MAKE, this homemade LED jellyfish costume is crazy. Imagine running around in the dark with that thing on. Cool, right? Now imagine it while you’re drunk.
Halloween LED Jellyfish Costume [MAKE]
