Revision3's Servers Knocked Offline by Copyright Cop
Copyright cop MediaDefender got itself into hot water over the Memorial Day weekend for admittedly (albeit unintentionally it claims) carrying out a denial-of-service attack that shut down Revision3 servers. Revision3 is a San Francisco based Internet video company that produces and distributes such popular shows as Diggnation, The Totally Rad Show, and Internet Superstar.
Prior to this attack, there wasn't a lot of reason to suggest Revision3 and MediaDefender to have a lot in common, never mind a beef with each other. After all Revision3 is Web video production company and MediaDefender is a company that tries to protect owners of copyrighted materials from having their content stolen.
But the two knocked heads this past weekend when MediaDefender was caught red handed exploiting Revision3's BitTorrent tracker for its own use. The incident came to light on Thursday when Revision 3 CEO Jim Louderback posted a very lucid account of how the attack happened and asked MediaDefender to back down.
How and Why it Happened
Continue reading " Revision3's Servers Knocked Offline by Copyright Cop"
Talk Nerdy To Me: Just 14 Classic Tech Rivalries?
Welcome to Talk Nerdy To Me. The every-other-week blog discussion where you get to tell us what's on your mind.
This week we launched a story called 14 Classic Tech Rivalries. In this article we pointed out such classics as Mac vs. PC, Intel vs. AMD and Microsoft vs. Google.
As with nearly every story we produce, there was a huge response from our readers. Some gave us praise, and some gave us a slap across our virtual faces. Many of the criticisms we received were that we left out certain big rivalries. One reader complained that we didn't include Beta Max vs. VHS. Another said we failed to mention nVidia vs. ATI and our own PCWorld vs. PC Magazine.
With all that being said, take a look at our tech rivalry story and tell us which items you think we missed. Enter your thoughts in the comments section here or feel free to chime in with others in the original article. Who knows maybe we'll do a tech rivalry-reader edition. . .
Yahoo Ups Beta Ante with New Additions to IM Client
Yahoo Messenger 9.0 beta is getting refreshed before its final release. This time around Yahoo has beefed up Yahoo Messenger features such as contact lists, status messages, and has made it a lot easier to import contacts from outside programs and services. Yahoo also says along with new features it has worked hard to fix bugs, improve the software's stability, and has made the Messenger faster when executing commands.
It's a solid update, not huge, but I did find Yahoo did fix a lot of nagging beta bugs found in earlier versions of the Yahoo Messenger 9.0 beta IM client. In my opinion this update makes Yahoo Messenger 9.0 beta stable enough for everyday use. You can download a copy here.
For a complete list of Yahoo Messenger 9.0 beta features check with Yahoo here.
Here's a brief overview of recently added Yahoo Messenger 9.0 beta improvements.
Continue reading "Yahoo Ups Beta Ante with New Additions to IM Client"
Amazon Prepping Streaming Video Service: What's Wrong with Unbox?
The latest announcement to come from the All Things D conference is that Amazon will be launching a streaming video service in the upcoming weeks, according to Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com.
The details were kind of scant regarding the formal upcoming Amazon announcement, but the facts confirmed is that the payment will be ala carte and it will stream immediately, meaning there will be no wait for the movie to download completely or partially before starting.
Doesn't Amazon Already Offer Streaming Vid Service: Unbox?
Continue reading "Amazon Prepping Streaming Video Service: What's Wrong with Unbox?"
Hackers Shutdown Comcast.net for Hours
Hackers targeted Internet service provider Comcast Wednesday and shut the site down for nearly five hours preventing the company?s 14 million subscribers from accessing e-mail, news, and technical support though the ISP's Web site. Comcast restored access to its site early Thursday.
According to reports hackers gained access to Comcast's Internet registration account at Network Solutions and reconfigured Comcast's site settings. The hackers made it so visitors to Comcast.net were sent to an alternate Web site that displayed the message: "KRYOGENICS Defiant and EBK RoXed Comcast. sHouTz to VIRUS Warlock elul21 coll1er seven."
Alleged Hackers Take Credit
Busted: Apple Caught Shooting Possible 3G iPhone Commercial in NYC
(photo credit: image courtesy MacRumors)
Did Apple really think it could get away with making a commercial in the middle of the New York City without anyone noticing? The blogosphere is buzzing with rumors that Apple was filming an ad for the 3G iPhone at the company's flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York Thursday night. Bloggers and Apple loyalists streamed to the Apple store in midtown Manhattan Thursday after a message appeared on Apple.com saying the 24-hour location would be shut down from 3 PM until Friday at 9 AM.
Not long after MacRumors posted pictures of the commercial and reported "Apple is actually filming a commercial for the upcoming 3G-capable iPhone with filming to occur inside and around the 5th Avenue store."
Continue reading "Busted: Apple Caught Shooting Possible 3G iPhone Commercial in NYC"
Globetrotting with Google Earth's New Browser Plug-in
I've been playing with new browser-based Google Earth API (application programming interface) that was announced at the Google I/O conference and it seems pretty cool so far. The basic idea is that Google Earth (or data) can now be embedded into Web sites similar to how Google Maps are embedded except with Google Earth, you can add some more robust features.
The ability to run a light version of Google Earth in your IE or Firefox browser is pretty cool. But right now it's in the debut phase and no sites that I'm aware of are actually using the Google Earth API. You can download the plug-in here and play around with some cool examples of how the technology could be implemented here.
Taking Browser-Based Google Earth for a Spin
Continue reading "Globetrotting with Google Earth's New Browser Plug-in"
Good review... we've been playing with it for a few days and just starting to learn how to develop with it.
How do you think it compares to Microsoft's Virtual Earth 3D plug-in? http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/
Microsoft has a pretty good head-start in terms of having an integrated control and development environment, although Google seems to have more fans.
Eric
http://www.mapforums.com
Cinemanow, Disney, Tivo Team to Offer Disney Download Movie Rentals
Tivo subscribers will soon be able to rent Disney movies via an online download. The offering is part of a partnership among Cinemanow, Disney, and Tivo. The new offering will be available to broadband-connected TiVo Series2 and Series3 customers and will be available for a 24-hour window for viewing. Pricing is expected to be $4 for new releases and $3 for older movies.
The deal adds to Tivo's Amazon Unbox service, which offers rentals from all the major studios except Disney. This latest Tivo offering comes as the DVR-maker is under attack from all sides, and reporting a 3.7 percent loss in its subscriber base. Add to that now many cable providers have been pushing basic DVR machines to customers along with more heavily promoting direct movie rentals through customers' cable boxes.
Continue reading "Cinemanow, Disney, Tivo Team to Offer Disney Download Movie Rentals"
Dell Reveals Few Details on 'Mini Inspiron' Spotted by Gizmodo
Dell may be jumping into the ultra portable and inexpensive laptop market soon to compete against offering such as the Asus Eee PC and Intel Classmate PC. On Dell's official blog yesterday the company released a few details on what looks like a mini Inspiron notebook. On its blog Dell only calls the notebook "the "perfect device for the next billion Internet users."
The notebook was spotted by eagle eye Brian Lam of Gizmodo who cornered Michael Dell who had one on him at the The All Things Digital conference.
Continue reading "Dell Reveals Few Details on 'Mini Inspiron' Spotted by Gizmodo"
D-Link Kit Allows Home Networking Using Coaxial Cable
D-Link has announced an Ethernet-to-Coax home networking kit coming later this year (Q3 2008) that will allow you to extend your broadband network to any room in your house that contains a coaxial cable connection. This technology is similar to power-line networking, which allows you to extend your network using the various power outlets scattered throughout your house. Both technologies theoretically allow for a more stable and reliable connection than Wi-Fi, with a range that's limited only by whether or not the rooms in your home have the correct outlets.
So what's the difference?
The main difference between power-line and coax networking seems to be that power-line networking is rated at "up to 200Mbps" in a perfect setting. Reliability of power-line networks can diminished by all sorts of factors such as the age of your home's wiring and interference from "devices that emit electrical noise, such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers," according to the fine print found on one of D-Link's power-line networking products.
Continue reading "D-Link Kit Allows Home Networking Using Coaxial Cable"
Yahoo Files Lawsuit Against 'Lottery Spammers'
Yahoo on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against an unknown group of spammers who had used the Yahoo name to try and obtain personal and financial information from its victims. According to a report from the Associated Press, the emails claimed to be a part of a lottery run by Yahoo in which the recipients could win between a few thousand to a million dollars, on the condition that they click a provided link to hand over valuable personal and financial information to a "Yahoo lottery coordinator."
Joe Siino, Yahoo's senior vice president of Yahoo global intellectual properties and business strategy said on the topic: "The unauthorized use of Yahoo's trademarks is misleading, fraudulent, and has actually confused, misled, and deceived the public."
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Yahoo is claiming the "lottery spammers" violated the Federal Trademark Act by claiming to be Yahoo and also for violated the Federal CAN-SPAM Act.
Continue reading "Yahoo Files Lawsuit Against 'Lottery Spammers'"
i have received many many emails in my Yahoo box pertaining lotteries sponsered by Yahoo, Microsoft and so on and i would to truly love to eliminate all lottery emails because i am truly tired of seeing them in my inbox and is there someone or an organization that i may be able to forward these scam lottery emails to, thank you
Video - See Windows 7 Multi-Touch Demoed
Video: Multi-Touch in Windows 7
Besides a warm and fuzzy fireside chat with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, moderated by the godfather of tech journalism Walt Mossberg at the All Things D conference, a cool demonstration of one particular Windows 7 feature took place - its multi-touch ability.
The Windows 7 multi-touch touchscreen interface is being regarded as one of the most interesting new features of the next-generation Windows operating system. It allows multiple fingers to be used together for a unique way to control specific applications like photo-editing and more.
Is Muli-Touch is a Gimmick?
Asus to Release Desktop Version of Eee PC Laptop Called Ebox, Say Reports
What looks like a Wii game console, and has a name that sounds like Xbox, and may compete against the Mac Mini? The answer is Asus' new Eee PC desktop to be named Ebox. According to industry buzz Asus will debut the Ebox at the Computex trade show on June 3 in Taiwan.
Asus originally captured much attention for its lightweight $230 Eee PC laptop. Since the laptop's debut Asus has significantly ramped up production of the computer.
EBox Specs
Continue reading "Asus to Release Desktop Version of Eee PC Laptop Called Ebox, Say Reports"
Viacom's Billion Dollar Copyright Fight 'Threatens' Net, Says Google
I can still easily find and watch clips of Viacom-owned The Colbert Report on YouTube, something Google says is rare and that Viacom says is why it filed $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit against Google last year. Now Google says Viacom's lawsuit "threatens the way hundreds of millions of people legitimately exchange information" over the Web.
In court papers filed late last week in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan Google argued that if Google, ISPs, and Web sites to be held liable for content posted by users it threatens the way people legitimately exchange information over the Internet. Google added that its efforts to police YouTube and boot copyrighted material from the service is in keeping with the 1998 Digital Millenium Copyright Act (a provision requires companies to remove copyrighted material upon notification).
Nice Try, But Not Enough, Says Viacom
Continue reading "Viacom's Billion Dollar Copyright Fight 'Threatens' Net, Says Google"
Will Facebook Go Open Source to Spite Google's Open Social Platform?
In what critics see as a response to Google's push to promote itsOpen Social platform, rumors have surfaced that Facebook will be making its application platform open source.
Google originally launched Open Social a couple months ago as a common platform for the creation of custom applications for social-networking Web sites. The platform uses common APIs or application programming interfaces to make applications adaptable to a variety of different services. Yahoo and MySpace have already expressed interest in Open Social.
Continue reading "Will Facebook Go Open Source to Spite Google's Open Social Platform?"
ID Protection Firm LifeLock Sued by Customers When CEO's ID is Stolen
Todd Davis, the CEO of the identity-theft protection service LifeLock is still defending his company, despite becoming a victim of identity theft himself.
Davis is most well-known for plastering his own social-security number on the side of trucks advertising the LifeLock service and in commercials. The shtick is that Davis is so confident in his service that he will publicly list his social-security number.
Continue reading "ID Protection Firm LifeLock Sued by Customers When CEO's ID is Stolen"
haha.
Hey! Quit insulting PINHEADS like that! I mean... there just MIGHT be some pinheads out there that aren't quite as big of an arrogant, self-important, greedy JERK as THAT GUY!
I watched all those commercials and often wondered just HOW he could do that (now I know HE COULDN'T)... Even saw his services once promoted as a "good idea" on one of those "shows," Montel, or something... Actually, I think it was my mother who did, and asked me about buying into it... I said I'd "think about it," lol... Still thinking! :)
It's kind of like all those "credit protection services" just about EVERY credit card company AND bank tries to sell us for $10 per month or more... most of what they offer you can get for free if you just do a little work on your own, and with your credit cards, if you're careful and responsible -- and quick to report fraud -- you're not responsible for more than $50 anyway.
They can ALL go jump!
Your headline says that LifeLock is being sued by customers. I've heard enough about davis. Tell me about the lawsuit.
3G iPhone Will Be Able to Handle 42Mbps Wireless Speeds, Exec Claims
An executive at Australian mobile service provider, Telstra, said that the 3G iPhone will be capable of handling data at speeds up to 42Mbps on his company's network by Christmas of this year. In an interview with Channel News, the executive said the following:
"We know what is coming, we have seen the new device and it will be available on our network as soon as it is launched in the USA. By Xmas this phone will be capable of 42mb[p]s which will make it faster than a lot of broadband offerings and the fastest iPhone on any network in the world."
Many find the claim dubious at best and say the Telstra executive is full of hot air.
Will U.S. Be Stuck in iPhone Wireless Slow Lane?
Continue reading "3G iPhone Will Be Able to Handle 42Mbps Wireless Speeds, Exec Claims"
Greenpeace Blasts Game Console Makers Charging Gear is "Toxic Menace"
Some groups blast the video game industry for making games too violent, but not Greenpeace. Instead the environmental group is attacking game console makers Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony in a new report that calls each of their next-generation video game consoles a "toxic menace." The claim is based upon the hazardous chemicals found in the consoles.
Greenpeace is no stranger to the hunt for the ultimate green electronics as the company regularly releases a report ranking many electronic manufacturers based on their greenness. When it comes to the console manufacturers, according to the report, Nintendo is ranked dead last by a long shot, Microsoft is the third worst and Sony is better by being in the top four.
Continue reading "Greenpeace Blasts Game Console Makers Charging Gear is "Toxic Menace""
Work for a Big Company? Odds Are Good Your Boss is Reading Your E-Mail: Study
Worried your boss is reading your email at work? Your worst fears may be real. Of 301 large U.S. companies surveyed 41 percent say they hire staff to read and analyze outgoing mail. The numbers come from Proofpoint's annual Outbound Email and Data Loss Prevention survey which conducted the study this past March of U.S. companies with 20,000 plus employees.
Among the businesses surveyed 44 percent said they investigated a suspected e-mail leak of company secrets, 26 percent said they fired people for violating e-mail policies. So much for privacy.
Web 2.0 Privacy Worries
Continue reading "Work for a Big Company? Odds Are Good Your Boss is Reading Your E-Mail: Study"
HP Goes Green with Eco Solutions Program
Hewlett-Packard has jumped onto the "green" bandwagon full-force with its new HP Eco Solutions program, "which helps customers identify HP initiatives, products and services designed with the environment in mind," according to the company.
Several facets of the program include; product labeling that lists "the environmental attributes of a specific product, tool or service," increased energy efficiency via devices that power themselves on and off to save electricity, and various printing calculators and assessment tools that tell users how much energy is being used and how to cut back in certain areas.
Continue reading "HP Goes Green with Eco Solutions Program"
I have an Hp deskjet F4185 at home, and i'm very much contented with its printing quality.... when it comes to printer products HP is the best..
Dan
Cheap Brother TN-350 toner cartridges and Brother TN350 supplies from ConcordSupplies.com http://www.concordsupplies.com/brother-tn350-toner-cartridge-brother-tn-350/35251.html
>>according to the company.<< is the "key phrase". All HP "green programs" have only two goals: To LOOK green and to insure the customer is using their overpriced OEM products. The "return program" for cartridges is only a gimmik to insure that empties are of the market and to make life harder for the real GREEN companies, like Cartridge World
http://www.cartridgeworldusa.com/section.aspx?id=6934
The U.S. environmental protection agency recommends the use of remanufactured products, especially with cartridges. In Europe, almost 30% of cartridges will be remanufactured and reused. In the U.S. 90% end up as solid waste in our landfills. When are we starting, to see the big picture?
Feds May End Cell Phone Early-Termination Fees
Cell phone users can rejoice knowing that the government is stepping in to rein in the early-termination fee, one of the biggest blemishes of owning a mobile phone.
The plans being developed would benefit consumers and carriers, who are regularly taken to court over termination fees.
Under the proposal, consumers could get out of a cell phone contract scot-free up to 30 days after signing the contract or ten days after receiving the first bill. After that, the fee to cancel a cell phone contract would be reduced every month, essentially prorating the termination fee.
In response, the government would give larger cell phone carriers a "get-out-of-court-free-card," as Chris Murray, senior counsel for Consumers Union, put it, on any pending lawsuits over high termination fees.
This is obviously to only answer to the ongoing battle between the consumer groups and the wireless providers. Charging a $200-plus fee to cancel a contract whether it's the first day or last day of the contract is a bit absurd. On the other hand, the wireless carriers eat fees by subsidizing the cost of the cell phones and providing no start-up costs on many cases. Pro-rating the early termination fees is a good way to satisfy both ends of the deal.
And for the record, AT&T and Verizon have already initiated pro-rating early termination fees, and this move by the government would make it standard across all major carriers.
GTA IV Earns $600m to Voice Actor's $100k: Time for a Street Fight?
Grand Theft Auto IV is continuing to make headlines as some of the game's voice actors have brought up concerns over the pay received.
In a story with The New York Times, Michael Hollick, the voice behind GTA4's main character, Niko Bellic, says that despite the game making more than $600 million to date, he still has only received his flat rate of $100,000 or so over the 15 months of work.
Time to Settle This in the Streets?
Continue reading "GTA IV Earns $600m to Voice Actor's $100k: Time for a Street Fight?"
"he still has only received his flat rate of $100,000 or so over the 15 months of work"
"only"? He got $1050 a day. He only worked ~1/3rd of that 15 month span.
I don't understand why people think he should have got a percentage.
In the entertainment industry, your earning power (i.e. negotiating power) is a function of your *selling* power, which is a function of your marquee value. Guys like Will Smith or Jack Black get paid millions and/or may be able to negotiate a stake in the picture because HAVING THEM IN A MOVIE GUARANTEES TICKET SALES. People pay to see *them*.
Nobody buys a Mariah album because Mary Ann Tatum is on it. Nobody bought Thriller because Bill Reichenbach played trombone on it. These people don't get a percentage.
Nobody bought GTA IV because they knew Michael Hollick was going to be in it. Until people start buying games *because* a particular voice actor is in it, guys like Hollick will get flat fees, just like the majority of musicians and actors.
Sony Fumbles with Madden PSP Bundle
Sony doesn't get it. Just as a leopard can't change its spots and the new metallic blue version of Sony's PSP coming out on August 21 for the 20th anniversary of Madden NFL won't change much that's wrong with the PSP either. In conjunction with the PSP launch Sony and EA have also announced they will team to produce a $200 Madden NFL 09 PSP Entertainment Pack. The pack includes includes a copy of Madden 09, a UMD video called NFL: In Just One Play, a voucher to download "Beats" from the PlayStation Store and a 1 GB memory stick.
The bundle will be very popular with Maddenites everywhere. But for me this entertainment pack is the epitome of the PSPs shortcomings: it's all dressed up with nowhere to go.
Time to Punt?
Continue reading "Sony Fumbles with Madden PSP Bundle"
"Of course, to put a music collection on your PSP you need to go through a less than seamless, some would say cumbersome, process."
Huh? You have to be kidding. You plug your PSP into your PC and drag and drop your music files in Windows Explorer. That's it. It's much easier than getting music on an iPod. What method are you using?
Yes you can download tv shows and movies to you psp through the ps store you can also rent movies just like Itunes then it is very easy to put music onto a psp it is just like any basic mp3 player you drag the files to the music folder on the memory stick how have you been doing it so in conclusion you are an ididot
Sprint's "Unlimited" EVDO Service to Be Capped at 5GB a Month
Sprint Nextel has been an interesting company to watch over the last six months. It hired a new CEO in Dan Hesse last December, and then cut about 4,000 of its employees and shut down over 100 of its retail locations in January. The company then introduced the "Simply Everything Plan," which promised unlimited voice, data, text messaging, and more for $99 per month. It even considered getting rid of Nextel, effectively ending a merger that many would argue never really got off to the right start (and went downhill from there).
The January layoffs and store closings largely came about due to Sprint Q4 2007 loss of more than 100,000 customers. Since then, Sprint's been trying to woo people back with relatively inexpensive plans, improved customer service (although that still remains to be seen), and newer devices such as the Samsung Instinct.
And then Sprint goes and caps its data plans at five gigabytes. Not smart, Sprint.
Continue reading "Sprint's "Unlimited" EVDO Service to Be Capped at 5GB a Month"
As it was explained to me by Sprint. This only affects the phone as modem plan and air card usage plan which were the mobile broadband connection plans and weren't included in the "Everything Plan". There is really nothing new here unless the customer didn't understand the difference in the plans in the first place.
As it was explained to me by Sprint. This only affects the phone as modem plan and air card usage plan which were the mobile broadband connection plans and weren't included in the "Everything Plan". There is really nothing new here unless the customer didn't understand the difference in the plans in the first place.
First of all after recently switching (3 months) to Sprint after long, but never really happy relationships with Alltel and ATT. I have been very happy with the billing and service from Sprint.
Secondly, as it was explained to me by Sprint. This only affects the phone as modem plan and air card usage plan which were the mobile broadband connection plans and weren't included in the "Everything Plan". There is really nothing new here unless the customer didn't understand the difference in the plans in the first place.
The Prognosis on Google Health is Good: A Closer Look
Google Health launched this week and after playing with the service for an hour or so, it's definitely apparent that the service is in beta. Nevertheless Google Health's general prognosis looks good. Here is how the service checked out.
Google Health, in its beta state, offers four tools. The tools are create a Google Health profile, import medical records, explore online health services, and find a doctor. If you already have a Google username you don't need to create a new one for Google Health.
To the Examination Room We Go With Google Health
Continue reading "The Prognosis on Google Health is Good: A Closer Look"
A lot of people will experience what you did when you said, "I guess that if and when Google's able to hash out a deal with my doctor's office, I'd get access to a lot more information."
You are correct! But, until that happens, you and everyone else who don't have their doctor or health provider yet as an integrated service on Google Health can use MediConnect Global--an integrated service on Google Health that can retrieve your medical records from any provider in the world and glean the information from your records to put next to your prescriptions. You can access MediConnect Global in the list under "Explore online health services."
So far I'm very disappointed. First it runs poorly in Opera, my current browser. Second, web based data based applications have been around for a long time. I've built a lot of them myself. There is simply no excuse to release, even in Beta, an application that cannot be properly polulated by the input form or completely printed by the print request. I added the results of several tests into the "test results" section. The layout provides for several attributes, among them the normal range. However there is no normal range input on the input form. One can add several results for the same test type taken on different days. However, you cannot print all the results out to see how a particular test changed over time. A most useful capability.
I'll suspend my attempt to use it until the next version.
Microsoft To Launch Cash-Back Search Engine
Bill Gates is set to officially unveil Microsoft Live Search Cashback, a new search engine model that will reward users with cash back ranging from 2 percent to 30 percent or more, at a conference in Redmond, Wash. today.
This is obviously Microsoft's next big attempt to take down the behemoths of Google and Yahoo search engines, which are currently the top two dogs in the search engine kennel.
Continue reading "Microsoft To Launch Cash-Back Search Engine"
Apple 3G iPhone's June Debut a Done Deal?
The 3G iPhone rumor mill is moving into hyper-drive with fresh reports and "confirmations" that Steve Jobs will pull the faster version of the Jesus phone out of his pocket June 9 at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference. With Zen like certainty Gizmodo says the 3G iPhone will debut. But is the 3G iPhone reveal at Apple's WWDC a done deal?
Continue reading "Apple 3G iPhone's June Debut a Done Deal?"
OLPC Announces Next-Gen XO-2 $75 Laptop
The nonprofit One Laptop Per Child has just shown for the first time images of its next-generation touch-screen laptop that goes by the name XO-2. According to Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of OLPC, the laptop is under development and has a goal of costing $75. Negroponte showed off images of the XO-2 at an OLPC event here at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He says the first XO-2 is slated to be built by 2010.
The laptop is nearly half the size of current XO notebook and consists of two 16x9 touch-screen displays. The notebook does not include a keyboard, but instead will feature a software-based touch-sensitive keyboard.
XO-2, A Really Cool E-Book and Much More..
Continue reading "OLPC Announces Next-Gen XO-2 $75 Laptop"
If you are interested in reading the thinking behind this new technology visit http://www.pixelqi.com/
Lynette Guastaferro
Executive Director
Teaching Matters
www.teachingmatters.org
new york pilot of olpc
Great!! A computer designed for kids so that they can learn all about computing.
Except how to touch type. No, you will learn to hunt and peck like all the other nerds that didn't take typing in high school. We wouldn't want you to out perform the rest of us.
Netflix Starts Streaming, With Help from Roku
Netflix is offering a set-top box that will let you stream more than 10,000 movies and TV shows directly to your television.
Beginning today, customers can purchase the box from a small company called Roku, known for its SoundBridge digital radio, for $99.99. The Roku box is about the size of a paperback book, has no hard drive, and simply streams video through an ethernet or Wi-Fi connection. For the best possible viewing experience, Netflix recommends an Internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps.
The new service is supposed to work seamlessly with Netflix's current set up. You simply add movies to your queue, and, if they are available for streaming, you can watch them right on your television for no extra charge. The Roku box will also let you read synopses and rate movies. Today's announcement is a follow-up to the video streaming service the company began offering last year. At its launch, Netflix allowed its subscribers to stream about 17 hours of video per month on a Windows-based PC. But after Steve Jobs introduced movie rentals for Apple TV at this year's MacWorld Expo, the company quickly removed the cap and has increased their selection of movies from 7,000 to 10,000.
Netflix has had some serious competition recently from both Apple TV and Blockbuster's Total Access service (basically a Netflix clone). But the Roku set-top box should have a distinct advantage over competitors. Apple TV, for example, starts at $229 and requires purchases from the iTunes store, while the Roku box costs half that and no extra purchases are necessary. Total Access gains an advantage because subscribers can choose between receiving their DVDs through the mail or at a retail location, but even that convenience does not compare to the 'watch instantly' feature offered by Netflix.
The Roku box may be the first of many such devices as Netflix looks to increase its customer reach. The company is also working with LG to introduce a set-top box that will work with the Netflix service later this year.
(-- Credit to PC World contributor Ian Paul)
Great Idea but .....
Isn't Concast and cox cable internet service bandwidth throtting all long downloads due to supposed P2P bad boys?
Does this fit into the same catagory?
Comcast is already throttling my long database backup file transfers !
What is the difference ?
Napster Reinvents Itself . . . Again
Napster is getting more involved in the battle for digital music supremacy, announcing it will launch an MP3 download store to compete with iTunes.
The new service will offer upwards of 6 million songs from all major music labels and many independent labels as well. One big plus for this new service is that many songs will lack copy protection or digital rights management, the technology that limits usage of the MP3 and what Apple's iTunes Music Store generally gets slammed about. Most individual songs will cost 99 cents with albums costing $9.95.
The service is completely Web-based, which is another perk compared to iTunes. Songs purchased from the Napster online store come in a DRM-free MP3 format, making the service much easier to use with a variety of different media programs.
Prior to this announcement Napster was a streaming music service launched by Roxio, the company that gobbled up the rights to Napster after the courts shut it down in its original, peer-to-peer file-swapping form.
Regardless of how successful this Napster re-re-re-launch is, competition is always good for the consumer. Roxio's Napster will never be Shawn Fanning's Napster, but seeing the company in the news does allow me to recollect the olden days of the father of digital media sharing.
Michael Jackson to Sue File Swapping Site - The Pirate Bay
Artist Michael Jackson is throwing his name into the hat of a group of fading artists suing The Pirate Bay, the largest BitTorrent tracker Web sites.
In what appears to be a coalition of gimmicky, yet successful, artists from prior decades, Jackson is teaming up with Prince, the Village People, UB40 and Bob Marley's rights holders to be compensated for losses from individuals who used The Pirate Bay site to help them to illegally downloading music. ABBA is being recruited into the group, as well.
90s-Music Legends Hire "Sheriff" to Fight Piracy
Continue reading "Michael Jackson to Sue File Swapping Site - The Pirate Bay"
The Wii Fit in English version is it playable in Japanese Wii system?
*Laughs* And what, precisely, does Wii Fit have to do with musical artists suing The Pirate Bay? Nothing. Absolutely. Nothing. (By the way, however, the answer to your question is no, the [I assume you mean] American version of ANY Wii game is not playable in the Japanese console, unless maybe you can have it chipped/modded, which will void your warranty. The choice is yours. Best for you to get the Japanese version of the game, or if you plan on playing more American Wii games, an American Wii.)
I really hope someone makes a movie our of this. With real pirates and the artists would be old cowboys screaming "gimme mah money!"
Microsoft Halts XP SP3 Update to HP PCs Running AMD Processors
The recent Windows XP Service Pack 3 update has left certain AMD-based PCs manufactured by Hewlett-Packard caught in an endless reboot cycle caused by an Intel-specific disk image mistakenly being used with AMD hardware. According to the Microsoft Update Product Team Blog, "The problem is a registry value, present on images created with Intel processors, that causes a driver (intelppm.sys) to load at boot."
In order to fix the problem, Microsoft has temporarily blocked these AMD machines from getting the service pack while it cobbles together an alternative update. While some users wait for Microsoft's fix to eventually be released, others have turned to a former Microsoft employee, Jesper Johansson, who coded up a free tool to detect and fix the problem and made it available last Wednesday. Once Johansson's fix has been implemented, users can update their systems to SP3 without any problems.
Continue reading "Microsoft Halts XP SP3 Update to HP PCs Running AMD Processors"
AXION Studios
In the film and movie industry which we are in, we can't afford to jump in and install just any XP Service Pack that comes online... Everything on our systems can and will be at stake! or even lost!!
I decided way back when first looking into sp2 to hold out for a year and a half before we updated our systems. No problems once all those bugs were worked out...
This morning the opportunity arose once again to become 'Tempted' with the xp-sp3 updates....
Again after reading this sites post and over 20 other complaint related forums, its time once again to just sit back and let every other xp system owner who wants to 'beta' the sp3 beast... live and or in this case "Die" for us!!
Our advice.. Why would you want to 'beta test' this release?... If your SP2 systems are running fine... Don't download sp3 for at least 6 months or longer.. It's just an option friends, and your XP world won't come crashing down for not downloading it...!!
AXION Studios
In the film and movie industry which we are in, we simply can NOT afford to just jump on the public band wagon and install any XP-SP versions that spring online...
Everything on and in our systems then becomes the potential victem and is then at stake!!
We decided way back when first looking into the XP-SP2 system updates to hold out for as long as one and a half years before updating our systems... We had not a single problem after all the bugs were smashed out of the SP2...
This morning once again we have become tempted to install Microsoft's final service pack under SP3.
After reading this sites post and over 20 other complaint related forums, once again we find our self's sitting tight only to watch other XP system owners "BETA TEST" this SP3-Beast...
It has turned into the same old thing... A live or in this case "Die" for us release!.
Our advise...
Stop beta Testing XP,SP3...
I agree with the previous post, that's one hell of a stammer btw bud!
It's MS all over, they seem to have the attitude that it's better to release unfinished applications and, instead of spending $$$ on R+D of this software, just let the unsuspecting end-user find the problems for them
A lot of end users don't see these updates as something they should have got when they bought the software for whatever ridiculous price
I think a lot see these 'critical updates' etc as new improvements to an already 100% complete piece of software when, in truth, these 'fixes' should have been implemented during the testing phase of the software when they should have found the bugs
Basic programming:
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Documentation
EVALUATION
MAINTENANCE
The evaluation & maintenance should of course be done prior to release
I wonder how many people would have went out & paid such XP if it was made clear on the packaging etc that it was unfinished?
Esskie
Charter in Privacy Hot Seat Over Web Tracking
Internet service provider Charter Communications is drawing heavy fire from lawmakers regarding a new controversial targeted advertising plan that tracks customers' browsing habits to better provide online advertising.
Charter is working with a company called NebuAd for the service. What makes the tracking of Charter customers so controversial is that it is done not using traditional Web browser cookies. Rather, customer Web tracking data is collected by Charter itself and then handed off to a third party (NebuAd). Because ISPs act as gateways to the Internet customers they can track everything you do online.
Lawmakers Raise Privacy Concerns
Continue reading "Charter in Privacy Hot Seat Over Web Tracking"
Wii Fit Debuts in U.S. to Help Fight Flab
Nintendo's Wii Fit hits U.S. stores today promising to be the latest exercise fad to draw weight-conscious Americans to Nintendo's popular gaming console. Wii Fit allows you to break a sweat in front of your TV to 40 fitness activities including strength training, aerobics, yoga, skiing, and snowboarding. The game's activities all take place on a small balance board that can sense when you are leaning forward, backward, to the side or even crouching.
Already a mega-hit in Japan after its release last year, Wii Fit is expected to sell three million copies in the U.S. over the next few months, and is already sold out online and many stores across the country have sold their supplies through pre-orders.
Continue reading "Wii Fit Debuts in U.S. to Help Fight Flab"
Texas IT Has Bugs in Its System
We tend to forget that one of the first computer bugs was a real one. Texas computer users are rediscovering that first-hand.
The bugs in this case are crazy rasberry ants, named after the exterminator Tom Rasberry, who first identified them after they appeared in Texas in 2002. (You can see a recent video about the critters here.) The thing is, in the six years since their introduction to the state -- mostly in Houston-area counties -- they've been resistant to most conventional ant pesticides and multiplying like crazy.
Okay, so there are thousands of tiny ants swarming all over the place. It's a little creepy, but what does this have to do with technology?
Talk Nerdy To Me: Cell Phone Induced Attention Disorder or Just Bad Manners?
I have a confession to make: Though I'm an editor for PC World, harbor a ruinous obsession for shiny gadgets and am 29 years old (placing me on the cusp of the Gen X and Gen Y supposed technorati), I still really dislike cell phones. Well, more accurately, I'm dumbfounded at how human interaction has devolved as handset talk times surge.
I'm not talking about obvious concerns like overheard calls so dramatic you wonder if they're real, not knowing if that guy shouting to himself really is crazy or just has a Bluetooth headset or grammar and spelling being forgotten faster than Apple's 1995 cell phone/PDA/CD-ROM prototype (OMG LOLz). I simply lament that folks are increasingly physically unable to join groups of people for dinner, at a caf? or for a drink without their eyes glazing over whilst they get their messaging or social networking fix.
I'm no cell phone luddite (they're great in emergencies and I know first hand how wireless technology has made it harder to escape the desk and achieve life balance), but it grinds my gears when people consciously forgo listening skills to stand on the sidelines of the present and make arrangements for when and where they'll be next, only to do the same again when they're there.
We're an increasingly connected and well-informed society, but it almost seems like our stimulus junkie nature is fostering withered attention spans and (paradoxically) both reduced social skills along with a certain level of codependency. Is the cost too high?
We want to know what's on your mind, so vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
I've been working for the Department of Transportation for 15 months. I'm just trying to earn a buck and support my family. I really love this job but it has to be undoubtedly one of the most dangerous. All because of the beloved cellphone. We've lost thousands of great people around the nation. We are husbands, wives, fathers and mothers. We don't want to die like stray dogs, being hit and mangled by a two ton, 70 mile per hour vehicle just because someone can't pull to the side for a minute or have a hands free device installed.
You can talk your tongues off in the bars and restaurants for all I'm concerned. Just leave them alone while driving.
You would not believe the feeling of working just two feet away from cars flying by at 70+ mph and the only thing between you and them are rubber cones. I see it and live it every day and WHAT I see people doing behind the wheel at these speeds.
Who would want that on their conscience? Killing someone, just to make a call? I wouldn't.
Hello Waterman1963, I thank you for your comments! I'm not sure if anyone else agrees but your comment should be posted across the country. Anyone who has an ounce of compassion would take what you say into consideration before talking on the phone an driving. I will not say that I will try, because to me trying allows for excuses, but I "will" use my hands-free device, pull over, or just reframe from talking until I reach my destination. My husband hates talking on the phone while driving and has told me often that I should not do it. I've gotten better but this message really hit home! God Bless you for your honest and the work you do. If it were not for the work you do, we would not have streets to drive on, let alone risk your lives by being so carless. Thank you for the insight and may the Lord protect you daily!
Hello RenataS,
thank you very much for supporting me and my colleagues nationwide. I didn't want to stray from the original blog title because it is an issue to a lot of people. So I'll say this. Yes, talking on a cellphone while in a restaurant is rude. Personally, I step outside. But talking on a cellphone while driving is at the least, stupid. At the worst, it's deadly.
Last week, a TxDOT worker in Austin was hit and killed by a Federal Court judge.
Educate your children. People dont die from missing a phone call but they can die for making one. Not to mention texting. Most phones have caller ID anyway and you can always call back when you are parked and it is safe to do so. Everyone goes home at the end of the day. Not to a morgue or jail.
Answer this question honestly: Have you ever driven completely to a destination, while on the phone, and not remembering the drive itself? That's scary and yes, I've done it.
Google Finally Bows to Privacy Advocates and Agrees to Blur 'Street View' Faces in All 40 Cities
In response to a lengthy privacy backlash Google announced it will blur all faces in its Google Maps Street View service. Google says it will use facial recognition technology to identify faces within Street Views and blur them automatically. The process will start with New York City Street Views and then move on to the 39 other cities where Street Views is offered. The process is expected to take several months to complete.
Street View has had its critics right from the start when Google first rolled out the feature as part of Google Maps last year
A Short History of Google Street View Gripes
BigFree is quite right. If you don't want others to know about your "activities" then don't do `em in public. If you're ashamed of your "actions" curtail them; listen to your conscience. There is no expectation of privacy in a public place & hopefully never will be.
This is pathetic. Google Street View is a great thing that gives people the chance to view parts of the country they would otherwise not get a chance to see, yet there are people crying about their homes being shown and lobbying to get whole towns erased from street view. I think it's absolutely pathetic. I can care less about people being erased from street view, but when you start asking to get streets taken off, it ruins something that can expand knowledge.
This is pathetic. Google Street View is a great thing that gives people the chance to view parts of the country they would otherwise not get a chance to see, yet there are people crying about their homes being shown and lobbying to get whole towns erased from street view. I think it's absolutely pathetic. I can care less about people being erased from street view because I'm not going on it to look at faces, but when you start asking to get streets taken off, it ruins something that can expand knowledge.
Sims to Get IKEA Expanstion Pack: Virtual Assembly Required?
Electronic Arts has announced a new expansion pack for its wildly popular Sims franchise called The Sims 2 IKEA Home Stuff.
The premise? You pay EA $20 to be able to furnish your Sim's home with furniture from IKEA. Call me crazy, but that seems like something that should be a free download. This franchise is bigger than you and me combined and these expansion packs (IKEA included) just seem to a way for EA basically to print money. Okay, since I'm not going to win on the cost issue, I have some ideas for the expansion pack itself, which ships at the end of June.
Continue reading "Sims to Get IKEA Expanstion Pack: Virtual Assembly Required?"
Adobe Flash 10 Adds 3D Support: Public Beta Available for Download
Adobe's Flash Player 10 is nearing its official release date as a public beta is now available for download from Adobe Labs for Windows, OS X and Linux.
Some of the noted additions to Flash Player 10 is the support for 3D rendering effects, Adobe Pixel Blender Filters, new drawing APIs and a new text rendering engine. Those are great additions for the Web developers, but there's one particular addition that should make any average Web user happy. Adobe Flash Player 10 is going to make more use of hardware graphics acceleration, meaning that Flash applications will be quicker and smoother than previous.
Continue reading "Adobe Flash 10 Adds 3D Support: Public Beta Available for Download"
Adding 3D to Flash is all good and well, but to be frank, it is completely meaningless to me unless they add support for 64-bit Windows Vista. The only thing stopping me from running IE in 64-bit mode is the lack of support in Flash, so all these other features are merely window dressing until they remedy that gigantic hole in the product.
Cox Caught Throttling BitTorrent Traffic, Report Claims
The ongoing soap opera between Internet service providers and peer-to-peer file sharing services like BitTorrent continues to rage and evolve as new allegations surface that claim to prove Comcast and now Cox Communications are blocking peer-to-peer traffic on their networks.
Computer researchers in Germany at The Max Planck Institute performed testing on Internet service providers to determine if peer-to-peer traffic is being blocked or throttled and allegedly found Comcast and Cox block Web traffic associated with BitTorrent at all hours of the day and not just during peak times.
Comcast's BitTorrent traffic shaping policy has been getting a lot of attention and is the center of a federal investigation. Cox, on the other hand, has been out of the scrutiny spotlight. According to The Max Planck Institute of the Cox subscribers examined for its tests 54 percent were blocked.
(Map above plots the geographic location of places that ran the BitTorrent tests. BitTorrent transfers being blocked are marked in red.)
Are You Being Blocked? Here's What You Can Do About It
Continue reading "Cox Caught Throttling BitTorrent Traffic, Report Claims"
I've heard about this practice before in the past and it's disturbing that this kind of practice is still taking place. Any limitations put in place at all just seem unfair so when I was looking for another ISP, my Cavalier rep assured me that this type of thing simply wouldn't happen. I'm glad to see there are still a few companies out there that still have their customers' best interest mapped out in the business plan.
Ask.com Buys Dictionary.com
Ask.com appears to want to deliver more than just answers. Today it announced it will purchase Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com, and Reference.com in a deal with the owner of those sites - Lexico Publishing.
I sometimes use Dictionary.com; and Thesaurus.com, too. So it follows that news of Ask.com buying up Lexico's online references caught my attention this morning.
The reason I like those sites: Straightforward, no muss, no fuss access to the reference tools I need. Sure, I also use Microsoft Word's built-in tools, but sometimes it doesn't cut the mustard and deliver just the right word or expanded definition I'm looking for.
Reports say that Ask.com plans to create reference "synergy" (don't you love that word?) between Ask.com searches and dictionary searches. I just hope that in the changeover Ask.com doesn't decide to turn these usable and friendly sites into marketing vehicles for Ask.com and bog them down with ads and confusing links.
Here's to keeping things facile.
Beantown Welcomes Apple Store in Its Own Special Way
Today the largest U.S. Apple store opens in Boston. The opening comes with much fanfare including an endorsement from Boston Mayor Tom Menino and friendly hijinks from a neighboring computer store Tech Superpowers.
The store itself is a three-story affair, with flagship products such as computers and notebooks on the first floor, iPods and accessories on the second floor, and Apple's ever-helpful "Genius Bar" (a fancy way of saying "tech shop") on the third floor. There's a great photo gallery of the various accoutrements over on Boston.com, if you're interested.
However, it's what's underneath the newest Apple store that makes me chuckle.
Continue reading "Beantown Welcomes Apple Store in Its Own Special Way"
Xbox 360 Sales Hit 10 Million and Beats Wii, PS3 - But Not Fairly
Microsoft is riding its high horse with an announcement that the Xbox 360 has reached 10 million units sold in the United States, beating out the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3.
I'm all about giving Microsoft its time to shine, especially in the cutthroat world of gaming consoles, but there's one pretty big matter that needs to be addressed: the Xbox 360 was released one year prior to the Wii and PlayStation 3! That means Microsoft reaped the benefits of having a holiday season to itself as well as a year's worth of advertising and promotional dominance as being the lone next-generation console available.
Continue reading "Xbox 360 Sales Hit 10 Million and Beats Wii, PS3 - But Not Fairly"
This article is incredibly biased... All that matters is install base b/c developers need a market to sell their games. The year advantage was a shrewd move by a genius company. Many consoles that have released early in the past have failed (ie. dreamcast) but MS had the balls and the brains to know this generation would be different. "But not fairly?" As the old saying goes "All's fair in love and war" and last time I checked this was a console WAR.
All the article does is present the facts.
MS is saying this is the nail in the coffin for all other consoles, despite the fact the wii, and even the DS and PSP are destroying it in monthly sales (they are also beating the ps3 of course). And the wii is dominating it in terms of yearly sales.
In reality they have had a years headstart and yet the wii is only a few million behind in the US selling 600,000+ per month, whilst the 360 sells less than 200k.
As for games sales rates, the attach rates for the PS3 are the same as the 360's were in its first year, give it another year and the PS3 will have the same rates as the 360 does now, in fact the ps3 generates more revenue for EA games than the 360, take that as you will.
So, yes 10 million is a nice milestone, BUT it is NOT the end of the generation like MS is trying to spin it to. I think this entire 10 million press release is to counter the massive headlines generated by the PS3 taking over the 360 in the Eu.
Microsoft's spin on this is nothing more than laughable at best. How can they possibly state what they did with a straight face, knowing the whole while that they're about to lose the lead to the Wii in the US (by as early as June NPDs, no less), and they've already lost the worldwide lead by MILLIONS to the year-late-to-the-race Wii?
Actually, when I see some of the responses to this article, it becomes evident why Microsoft did what they did; some people actually believe what they're saying, and they need something comfortable to stuff under their pillow so they can sleep at night. Don't worry fellas. You can pull your head out of the sand when Microsoft pulls the plug on the 360 early (you know, like they did with the original Xbox), and you'll no doubt be getting that all-important jump on next generation gaming with the Xbox 1080.
See you next gen, suckers.
CBS to Gobble Up CNET Networks for $1.8 Billion
CBS announced it will acquire CNET Networks owner of CNET, ZDNet, GameSpot.com, TV.com, CNET News, UrbanBaby, BNET, and Search.com. The deal announced today would overnight make CBS a top 10 Internet destination in the U.S. with a combined 54 million unique users per month, and approximately 200 million users worldwide, according to a CBS press release.
Here is a link to the CNET story on the acquisition. Here is a link to the press release.
Here is an update from PC World on this story.
Here is the release:
Continue reading "CBS to Gobble Up CNET Networks for $1.8 Billion"
RIAA Participates in File Swapping to Nab Sharers
In a private demonstration with The Chronicle, a representative from the Recording Industry Association of America explained the simplicity of nabbing file-sharers, specifically those located on college campuses.
Rather than using some complicated method of analyzing data traveling in and out of universities to see if it contains copyrighted songs, the RIAA simply goes straight to the source of file sharing: LimeWire. The RIAA commissions Media Sentry to do the hunting. In a completely automated process Media Sentry then runs searches for RIAA-protected songs on LimeWire and grabs the Internet protocol address of those sharing. It will then cross-check the IP to see if it is from a university and then send take-down notices. It's as simple as that.
Continue reading "RIAA Participates in File Swapping to Nab Sharers"
Google Now Does Real Estate Searches in Maps: We're Not Impressed
Today Google Maps adds Real Estate searches to growing list of customized map query options available through the popular service. Google's addition might be seen as a shot across the bow of already established real estate sites such as Trulia and Zillow. But those sites can relax, for now at least, because Google's real estate offerings are far from stellar.
In a brief look at the Google Maps Real Estate option I found that my search results only contained basic listing information such as price, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. Zillow has Google beat hands down with its estimated value of homes, pricing and value history, and sometimes links to Microsoft Virtual Earth's Bird's Eye View of homes (which blows Google's aerial imagery out of the water).
Continue reading "Google Now Does Real Estate Searches in Maps: We're Not Impressed"
Xbox 360 Getting Hotmail, RSS Support, and More?
Microsoft is rumored to bring Hotmail, Windows Live Mail, Live Messenger video chat and support for "motion sensor devices" to the Xbox 360 as part of a spring update. Every spring and fall Microsoft releases a large update and this year it is no different as Kotaku received a supposed insider e-mail containing a list of 80 new features being added to the console.
Most of the rumored updates and added features are pretty trivial, but the big addition will be supports for Hotmail, video chat for the already-supported Live Messenger and added support for "Web feeds," which we can only assume is RSS support.
Worth Getting Excited About?
Continue reading "Xbox 360 Getting Hotmail, RSS Support, and More?"
MySpace Wins Record $230m in Case Against 'Spam King'
In a landmark judgment, MySpace has been awarded $230 million in its suit against the so-called Spam King, Sanford Wallace and his partner Walter Rines. The decision, handed down in Los Angeles federal court on Tuesday, is the largest award so far since the CAN-SPAM Act was introduced in 2003.
MySpace decided to sue when it discovered the duo had lured MySpace users into revealing their login information through phishing sites. After obtaining user IDs and passwords, the pair distributed messages to the users' friends list with links to various Web sites involving gambling, pornography and ringtones.
Continue reading "MySpace Wins Record $230m in Case Against 'Spam King'"
This is but a drop in the bucket, Myspace will go after these guys but there are so many profiles that send out links and are themselves fronts for porn and send out emails and Myspace does nothing. I am a MySpace user and the process they have is report the offending user, you receive a automated reply and nothing happens to the offending user unless you complain many times and piss off their help desk. A good example is this user "353266296" I have received porn offers to see her Webcam many times and reported it and MySpace just sends automated replies. I could care less but if this user sends to me then this user also sends to others, like my children. Which this user has. All you have to do is look for a female profile between 20/25 and at least 10 in that list will be fronts for webcam sites.
Sanford Wallace, nice to see you up to your old tricks proving the "Rules of Spam" still hold true, yet again.
Sanford Wallace, nice to see you up to your old tricks proving the "Rules of Spam" still hold true, yet again.
Fedora 9 Released: OS Adds Features, Revamped Look, and Portability
Red Hat's Fedora Project released Fedora 9 today, the newest version of its open source operating system.
Fedora 9 adds key new features to the Linux OS including the addition of the KDE 4 desktop environment that defines the look and feel of this OS. Another key feature added is the ability to run the Fedora 9 OS from a USB drive. You can not only boot the OS from a USB drive, but can also add applications and store data to the drive (a true portable OS).
This is the first major release of Fedora to include the KDE 4.x desktop environment and with it comes new features such as desktop panels that integrate desktop search.
Continue reading "Fedora 9 Released: OS Adds Features, Revamped Look, and Portability"
Creative Vado Takes Aim at the Flip
Creative Labs today announced the Vado Pocket Video Cam, a tapeless pocket camcorder with a built-in USB connector that can be used to upload videos to YouTube and stills to Photobucket. The flash-based Creative Vado holds 2GB of video, which the company says translates to 120 minutes of footage.
Priced at $100, the Vado looks to be a slightly slimmer, cheaper, and higher-capacity competitor to the popular Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes, $150). It also has the added benefit of a rechargeable battery. It's available in silver and hot pink, and it captures 640 by 480 resolution VGA video, according to Creative's press release.
iTunes Hikes Vid Prices with Debut of HBO Content
HBO and Apple have partnered to sell HBO shows on iTunes. Starting today episodes of HBO shows The Wire, Rome, Sex and the City, Flight of the Conchords, The Sopranos, and Deadwood can be purchased for as much as $3. That's a price hike for the standard iTunes pricing for series episodes.
What's interesting about the deal is the fact that HBO was able to convince Apple to price some of the shows higher than the standard $1.99-per-episode rate that applies to all other TV shows in the iTunes catalog. You may recall that same tactic backfiring on NBC earlier this year, prompting the network to pull all of its shows from iTunes.
Here's the current pricing for HBO's offerings:
Continue reading "iTunes Hikes Vid Prices with Debut of HBO Content"
Dell Halts High-End XPS Production
In a move that could almost be viewed as throwing in the towel, Dell has decided to halt production on four of its high-end XPS computers optimized for the gamer. Not all XPS computers will be killed off.
Rather, Dell will put its focus on gaming computers to Alienware, a division of high-end gaming computers, which Dell acquired two years ago.
Apple iPhone Sold Out Online
We know the iPhone 2.0, 3G iPhone, iPhone--The Next Generation is coming. But apparently, you won't be able to find a deep discount deal on the first-gen iPhone in advance of the second-gen iPhone's release.
According to Apple, Apple's online stores are already sold out of the iPhone. The company says that you may still be able to buy an iPhone in Apple or AT&T stores. You can also still order the 8GB and 16GB iPhones from AT&T Wireless' online store. But paying $499 for yesterday's whiz kid (that's what the 16GB iPhone is selling for on AT&T's site, with a two year contract) doesn't really get me excited. At that price, I'll keep waiting for a 3G iPhone...
New Google Friend Connect Tool Helps Sites Be More Friendly
Google is introducing a Web site tool called Friend Connect today that promises to extend the reach of social networks such as Facebook to any site that wants to use the tool. Those sites that decide to use Friend Connect can give visitors a much richer Web experience allowing even the smallest of Web sites the ability to leverage the enormous popularity of social networks.
Google is far from the first to offer ways to mishmash content, IDs, and passwords between sites. In fact, as CNET's News.com and TechNewsWorld point out there is a dizzying number of similar data portability technologies being developed from Facebook Connect, MySpace Data Availability, and OpenID, DataPortabilit.
Google says its approach will be easier to use for Web site owners to implement. The code will be available later tonight from http://www.google.com/friendconnect (there's nothing up there yet).
How Friend Connect Works
Continue reading "New Google Friend Connect Tool Helps Sites Be More Friendly"
Facebook's Latest Litigation -- Outing a User
It's just another day, another lawsuit for Facebook. This time a high school dean is suing the company to release information about an individual who created a fake Facebook profile for the dean and used it to send inappropriate messages to students.
When Facebook was told of this fake profile months ago, the company immediately removed it. But Dean Tim Puntarelli is pushing on with the lawsuit to learn the identity of the profile's creator so he can ensure proper punishment and a lesson to all other students.
Now, a judge has ordered the social networking giant to actually hand over information about the profile's creators. Facebook's privacy policy requires a subpoena before the company will release any information. Under this ruling, Facebook must hand over the IP information of the profile's creator. The IP, or Internet Protocol address, is simply a number identifying the Internet-connected computer, so it won't necessarily out the individual, but it will definitely give Roncalli High School a starting point.
Unfortunately for today's students, what was previously considered fun pranks is no longer as much fun. With services like Facebook and MySpace keeping a digital paper trail and the risks of identify theft so high, school districts are no longer letting fun pranks slide on by.
Then again, back in the day the preferred method of giving a teacher or administrator a bad name was by spreading rumors. Now, creating fake profiles misrepresenting the person takes this kind of a prank to a very dangerous level that needs to be handled accordingly.
Eye-Fi Updates Photo Upload Service
The folks who brought us the innovative Eye-Fi wireless SD card are back with an updated product line that includes features any adventurous photographer will enjoy.
The original Eye-Fi worked by syncing with a PC to upload photos wirelessly to one of 25 different photo-sharing services like Flickr and then automatically downloading to a computer. One of Eye-Fi's additions, the Explore, takes this capability to another level by allowing geotagging and HotSpot support so you will no longer need your home computer to upload. Geotagging is the process linking specific location data with each picture taken.
Eye-Fi has established a partnership with Wayport for its $129 Explore wireless SD card. At more than 10,000 hotspots across the country, Eye-Fi Explore users can automatically upload photos away from home and away from their own wireless network. The geotagging works with a partnership with Skyhook Wireless to accurately give each photo location details.
The Eye-Fi Share is the same Eye-Fi card as before, just with a new name. It allows users to upload to online photo-sharing services as well as a home computer. It retains its $99 price.
The Home is Eye-Fi's new, lower-end product. This version eliminates the use of any photo-sharing services and directly uploads photos to a computer. It's available for $79.
All of the prices reflect the 2GB capacity for the Eye-Fi. The new service was unveiled at theO'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference now taking place near San Francisco. Eye-fi is scheduled to live demonstrations of the geotagging service.
XP SP3 Bug Makes Some AMD PCs Crash: Is Your PC at Risk?
Owners of AMD PCs that have updated their systems to XP Service Pack 3 are reporting a glitch that is making systems reboot repeatedly and sometimes crash.
Hewlett-Packard PCs with AMD chips in them have borne the brunt of these failures, according to numerous complaints posted to the Web and ex-Microsoft staffer Jesper Johansson on his blog. Among the reported problems are spontaneous reboots, un-install difficulties associated with IE7, and an inability to start up a PC.
Microsoft has done little to provide guidance on the topic other than put out this official statement:
Continue reading "XP SP3 Bug Makes Some AMD PCs Crash: Is Your PC at Risk?"
Installed on both my computer which now only repeatedly reboots after start up and on my brothers computer. My brother computer got the blue screen of death on booting. It said a gdi file was missing.
I repaired XP on my brothers computer on mine I can not I dual boot and it will not let me. I'll have to reinstall XP.
The heck with SP3.
Installed on both my computer which now only repeatedly reboots after start up and on my brothers computer. My brother computer got the blue screen of death on booting. It said a gdi file was missing.
I repaired XP on my brothers computer on mine I can not I dual boot and it will not let me. I'll have to reinstall XP.
The heck with SP3.
I have a AMD processor in my home built system. I am a tech support person whom builds and supports computers for a living. Since SP3 has been installed on my computer, it boots, apps die and other things seem to happen. I have a 64 bit AMD processor, 3000, 2gig of RAM, several hard discs, etc. It is not only HP computers that are having problems. I am just hoping this app doesn't crash before I get through posting this.
First Impressions: Searching with Powerset
A new search company called Powerset, has released a public beta version of its search engine, the company claims will give you more meaningful and smarter search results than Google and other search engines. Using simple phrases, short questions, and of course keywords, Powerset is supposed to understand what you are looking for and help you quickly find the information you need. Right now, Powerset can only search Wikipedia, but plans to expand its offerings in the near future.
So Does it Really Work?
For my test, I typed in the phrase "Who is the President of the United States?" Powerset did not mention George W. Bush anywhere on the first page of results. Not particularly impressive for basic information. By comparison Ask.com, Google, and Yahoo each delivered the answer "President George W. Bush" as a natural language answer and linked to sites with a detailed history of the current president.
That's not to say Powerset doesn't have a compelling offering. It does have some other interesting features that can help you search and explore a topic very efficiently.
Continue reading "First Impressions: Searching with Powerset"
Weird, I typed the very same sentence as Tom Spring did on Powerset.com and the fifth result said George W. Bush. (Mr Spring said the answer didn't appear on the first page) Does this mean that Powerset learns from it mistakes, like a artificial intelligence kind of stuff? Or do the people from Powerset read reviews like the above and immediately change some rankingstuff, or is it because I use the internet browser Safari? How does it work that I get an other result?
Recovering a Stolen Laptop... via the Stolen Laptop
It's the kind of story you wouldn't think to make up: the White Plains, New York apartment that Kait Duplaga shared with two others was burgled, with two laptops among the items stolen. Later, an offhand comment from a friend alerted Duplaga to the fact that the thieves had gone online using her Mac laptop. According to the story in yesterday's New York Times, she then used another Mac to remotely access her laptop via the Back to My Mac feature and took a photo of the thief using the stolen computer's built-in iSight camera. That photo led to the arrest of Edmon Shahikian and Ian Frias, and the recovery of most of the stolen property.
The bit with the iSight camera is pretty cool, but what the case really hinged on was the fact that one of Duplaga's roommates recognized the photographed perpetrator as an acquaintance who had been at a party in the apartment weeks earlier. It's like a Law & Order episode -- the bad guys are almost always connected to the victim in some way. So is this a technology story or a crime story?
Continue reading "Recovering a Stolen Laptop... via the Stolen Laptop"
Caption Crunch Winner: The Robo-Governator
Updated 5/19: We're guessing many would-be competitors were intimidated by this week's Caption Crunch photo, which depicted a robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger clutching the globe. Either that, or it was just a slow week.
It doesn't matter, because we've picked a winning caption from your submissions. Thanks to everyone who participated in this week's contest!
This week's winner
"Look, I solved global warming." -- pwrhavoc
Kudos and congratulations to pwrhavoc, our caption-writing champ of the week. Your grand prize is the loving admiration of all of us here at PC World.
Keep your caption-writing caps on and tune in this Friday for a brand-new installment of Caption Crunch.
What follows is the original text for this Caption Crunch contest.
Hello and welcome back to another exciting installment of Caption Crunch, the every-other-week caption-writing contest that depends heavily on your creative submissions.
This week, we've got a photo snapped at last weekend's Maker Faire taken by PC World Associate Editor Danny Allen. It's a chariot-pulling Arnold Schwarzenegger robot, and it's begging for your captions... or else.
Got a great caption idea for this photo? Give it your best shot in the Comments section below, and check back next Friday for a big winner. Good luck!
Contest over: Buckwalter wins.
Prototype of the T-82 Terminator Unit. Luckily, it's still in its autism phase.
At last I have the World in my hands............and I was able to ditch that stupid Mr. Freeze costume. I looked like the electric guy I fried in "Running Man"......
Microsoft to Offer Office 2007 SP1 via Automatic Update
Microsoft's Automatic Update service will push out Office 2007 Service Pack 1 starting June 16.
What does this mean for Office 2007 and Microsoft users in general? Well, it obviously means that Microsoft is finally ready to say that the Office 2007 SP1 is ready for the masses. It's been available for months now, but the software giant has been reluctant to use Automatic Update to dump it to the masses. Late last year Microsoft accidentally distributed he massive Office 2007 SP1 update automatically confusing Vista and XP users.
The service pack adds stability to the office suite as well as a few new features including support for Windows Server 2008 and beefed up compatibility between 2007's native file format, Office Open XML and the formats used by earlier editions of the suite.
Continue reading "Microsoft to Offer Office 2007 SP1 via Automatic Update"
The Return of the Free PC?: Bank Gives Away Eee PCs with New Account
Some of you may remember a brief period back in the late 90's where you could walk in to a computer store and sign up for three years of dial-up internet service in exchange for a new, "free" eMachines computer. I was in college and working at Circuit City at the time and I seem to remember that the actual deal was a $400 mail-in rebate in exchange for signing up with CompuServe at around $22 per month for three years. The computer system itself cost $399 and canceling the CompuServe service before the three years were up carried stiff penalties. Other similar deals existed from companies like PeoplePC and Free-PC. Remember?
Continue reading "The Return of the Free PC?: Bank Gives Away Eee PCs with New Account"
RIAA Clings to DRM and the Past: It's Time to Look Forward
Just when you thought the music business was entering a reasonable truce with the DRM-hating public the Recording Industry Association of America wants to promote the controversial technology. David Hughes, who is in charge of the technology unit for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), told the Digital Hollywood Conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, that DRM will still be a necessary component in the music business as music subscription services continue to require it.
I find the statement odd considering the current trends that are taking the music industry away from the use of DRM. Most major record labels are moving away from DRM and now sell DRM-free tracks on Amazon, iTunes, and on Zune's marketplace. What Hughes doesn't seem to realize is that the use of DRM technology to protect songs has been on life support for years - and someone needs to pull the plug.
Not only is DRM demeaning to honest music lovers, it's a pain. Consider last month's news that Microsoft will close its PlaysForSure licensing server that was tied to the now shuttered MSN Music store. Come September, when Microsoft turns off the licensing server, music tracks purchased from MSN Music before 2006 will only playback on PCs with PlaysForSure DRM installed.
Continue reading "RIAA Clings to DRM and the Past: It's Time to Look Forward"
Are you kidding? You need drm for subscription. Subscription is so nice to have especially for pop music and oldies that you never care to own. Without drm how could this subscription be possible. I will never buy music with drm as i buy the mp3's but love subscription.
The solution, for me at least, is fairly simple; artists make better music the public WILL buy the material. Metallica was the wrong band to lead this fight as they haven't put out anything WORTH buying since their "Black" album, possibly Load. So of course their numbers were down, but it had nothing to do with P2P networks./ Look at profits from other artists at the time, Eminem, Fiddy and others were all selling massive numbers and Eminem even went so far as to say he didn't care about file sharing, as they weren't hurting his numbers. Personally, I use P2P as a sort of "demo" service, I get some files from an album and if there are at least 3-4 good songs I go buy the album. If the disc as a whole sucks I'm not spending my hard earned money to support crap music. If Metallica put out a decent record (ie. Lars shut up and James picked up a beer) They would be singing a MUCH different tune, literally and figuratively. St Anger sold like crap because that is what it was.
Apple Offers Credit For Older-Generation iPod Owners
Apple has settled a class-action lawsuit involving bad iPod batteries and as a result will hand out $45 credits to Canadian residents who purchased first, second or third generation iPod prior to June 24, 2004.
The class-action lawsuit involves a claim that Apple's Canadian iPod did not meet the suggested battery life. The two iPod users that initiated the lawsuit suggested that the iPods only lasted three hours after a year of use compared to the eight hours Apple claims.
Apple Can't Shake Battery Critics
Continue reading "Apple Offers Credit For Older-Generation iPod Owners"
'Net Neutrality': A Nettlesome Question
Net neutrality is once again in the news, as detailed by Grant Gross of IDG News Service in a story about a bill newly introduced in Congress that aims to require ISPs to provide their customers with even-handed service. Net neutrality invites controversy on a number of points, but one key issue--the lack of consensus about what the term actually means--rarely receives much attention. Think of this as a multiple-choice quiz question:
"Net neutrality" refers to what?
a) Network neutrality
b) Internet neutrality
c) What's left after you subtract operating expenses from gross neutrality
d) A feature of fishing legislation that doesn't distinguish between dip netting, drag netting, drift netting, and seining
The answer, according to Wikipedia, is (a) and (b): "Network neutrality (equivalently net neutrality, Internet neutrality or simply NN) refers to a principle that is applied to residential broadband networks, and potentially to all networks." And what might that principle be? Well, the Wikipedia pundits say evasively, "Precise definitions vary." Eventually, though, the Wiksters disclose three possible meanings.
The first attempt at a definition comes from Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia University Law School: "a network design principle [that] aspires to treat all content, sites, and platforms equally."
This wording has the great advantage of defining "network neutrality" without reference to the Internet. In fact, Wu nominates "the electric grid" as a familiar example of network neutrality in action. But the breadth of his definition is a weakness, too: "Net neutrality" is a political issue today not at the general level of a design principle, but in the concrete instance of policies that ISPs adopt in providing Internet service to their various customers.
The second Wikipedia definition, drawn from Google's "A Guide to Net Neutrality for Google Users," sounds quite different: "Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet."
That's clear and succinct, but it refers to the Internet twice and to non-Internet networks not at all--so why does Google assert that the definition applies to "network neutrality" rather than to "Internet neutrality"? It's sort of like describing the details of an ordinance that requires all dogs in public places to be kept on leashes and then calling the ordinance a "mammal leash law."
The third Wikipedia offering cites Susan Crawford of Yeshiva University's Benjamin Cardozo School of Law as its source: "a neutral Internet must forward packets on a first-come, first served basis, without regard for Quality of Service considerations." Like the Google definition, this one seems to be about "Internet neutrality," and not "network neutrality" in general.
Maybe our well-informed readers can help us decide (after all, Webster's Dictionary works on a similarly democratic principle, where what the majority thinks a word means is what it means--think of yourself as living in a nation of Humpty-Dumpties). Let us know where you fall on the "NN" question by casting your vote (if not your net) for "net neutrality" (i.e., "network neutrality"), "Net neutrality" (i.e., "Internet neutrality"), or neither.
NASA Vintage Film Footage Restored for Hi-Def Broadcast and Blu-ray Disc Sales
The Discovery Channel is turning to the power of high definition to bring us restored NASA footage in all of its non-grainy glory. In a multi-part mini-series, set to debut in June, the Discovery Channel will debut When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions.
The footage being shown in the series will detail NASA's first 50 years of space exploration. The documentary, being produced in part to celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary year, will showcase footage from NASA's "secret film vaults" and with the help of Discovery be transfered to high definition for the first time.
The Discovery Channel is also selling DVDs of the documentary $69.95 and making a Blu-ray version available for $79.95.
Continue reading "NASA Vintage Film Footage Restored for Hi-Def Broadcast and Blu-ray Disc Sales"
MySpace Bridges Out to eBay, Twitter, Photobucket, Yahoo!
MySpace has just announced a "Data Availability" initiative that will, in effect, link your MySpace account to your account at Yahoo!, Twitter, eBay and Photobucket.
MySpace users will soon ("within the next several weeks" says MySpace) be able to export their profile, photos, favorites, videos, etc. directly to their spaces on eBay, Twitter, Yahoo! and Photobucket. When a change is made to your MySpace profile, the changes will automatically be replicated at those other sites.
This graphic shows how MySpace data will show up on a Twitter account. View image
MySpace says it will soon unveil a new, central spot at its site where MySpacers can control how and what content is distributed to their accounts on Twitter, Yahoo! etc. MySpace says it is offering prospective partner sites a set of open, standardized client-side controls that allows MySpace data to be embedded at those sites.
The move addresses the widespread complaint among social networkers that their data is scattered around the Web and increasingly difficult to maintain. It also addresses the wider problem that the social networking community isn't really very social, in fact it's become a series of large, unconnected walled gardens.
"Today MySpace is no longer operating as an autonomous island on the internet," said MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe in today's conference call. "It's now a significantly more social experience." DeWolfe says he hopes your MySpace profile will become your main Web address, from which you can control your online identity Web-wide.
MySpace's announcement today is certainly a step in the right direction, but it does nothing for people like me who maintain MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. I still must maintain my various social networking accounts on those sites separately.
A direct data sharing agreement between MySpace and Facebook is almost too fraught with financial implications/conflicts to consider in one sitting. Don't hold your breath on that one, but don't be surprised if MySpace forms data-sharing agreements with smaller, more niche-oriented social networking sites like Twitter.
My only question is this: Twitter needs a buyer, not a partner. Why didn't MySpace just buy Twitter outright?
First Impressions: HTC's Touch Diamond
I got a chance to play with HTC's upcoming "Touch Diamond" smartphone in London on Tuesday and I think it'll fare pretty well. There are a few features about the device that haven't quite come across in preliminary reports. Here are some of them:
1. It's a lot smaller than it looks
The Touch Diamond will undoubtedly get compared to the iPhone time and time again. That's fine, as the two devices share more than a few similarities. One "big" difference, though, is that the Touch Diamond is a lot smaller than it looks. It's about the size of a deck of cards, but half the thickness. Impressive, since it manages to squeeze a 640x480 screen into such a small body.
TorrentSpy Ordered to Pay $110 Million in Damages to MPAA
The BitTorrent file-sharing Web site, TorrentSpy, has taken a big hit as a United States District Judge has ordered the site to pay the Motion Picture Association of America $110 million for copyright infringement (PDF).
TorrentSpy shut down its site on March 24, 2008 and according to a letter on its site the shutdown was voluntary and not due to court orders. This may have been true, but it was possibly done as pre-emptive damage control by this MPAA lawsuit that will be hitting the pocketbooks of TorrentSpy owners Justin Bunnell and Wes Park, whom have already filed for bankruptcy.
Continue reading "TorrentSpy Ordered to Pay $110 Million in Damages to MPAA"
Banning Second Life: Congressman Aims to Restrict Access to the Virtual World
Illinois Representative Mark Kirk has a bone to pick with Second Life and other social networking sites over what he feels is a lack of protections for minors who use them. He called upon the Federal Trade Commission yesterday to "investigate the growing vulnerability of children to predators on Second Life."
The congressman fired off a press release stating he'd sent a letter to the FTC's chairman asking for a "consumer alert" to be issued about the dangers of Second Life. Kirk claimed there are no age verification procedures built into Second Life registration despite the popular social networking service's claims of preventing children from accessing it.
Continue reading "Banning Second Life: Congressman Aims to Restrict Access to the Virtual World"
I am not comfortable with the government acquiring any more censorship powers over the internet. But, I have to ask why local government supported schools condone access to these sites from a school computer. Where is social responsibility?
What do you say to junior when he asks why you don't want him to go there on your home computer, when it's alright at school?
These sites could be made safer, but money talks. The good thing is that as long as their visitors are online, they are'nt on the street.
These are difficult issues, but the right to free-speech, that does no harm, must not be compromised. Can our government be trusted to make the determination as to what is harmful? No!!
If you frequent questionable sites, you are part of the problem, not the solution. Let them wither on the vine if the don't start policing themselves properly.
Banning Second Life in schools is an unconstitutional idea which would block legitimate educational and commercial opportunities in the virtual world. While perhaps access to Second Life should be monitored and limitted to PG-rated content (of which there is an enormous wealth), banning Second Life in the classroom would be tantamount to banning the Internet when it was forming.
Well, we can see everyone we has been posting is a big fan of Second Life. I agree with the congressman to restrict minors from this game. Games like this are already banned from schools though, any outside-school chatting is banned on school networks. I think our government can determine what is harmful, you voted them in there so as a group they can determine what is right and wrong for us. You might want to get out of your little "second life' (since we know you play it to escape the reality that your 'first life' sucks in the real world) and get back to real reality.
Doom 4 Is Coming
According to a news blast on id Software's boards today, your Doom is nigh once again:
"Production has begun on DOOM 4?, the next journey into the legendary DOOM universe. We are expanding our internal team and are currently hiring to work on this highly anticipated title."
For those unfamiliar with the franchise (what rock have you been hiding under?), the series was among the first breakout hits to introduce the concept of a First Person Shooter game. Since then, it's been blamed for everything from corrupting youth to global warming. All right, I exaggerate a bit. (Just a little bit). Heck, we still use Doom 3 in some of our WorldBench graphics tests.
What is the deal with Doom 4, though? Good question. No word on if it'll use the same graphics engine getting tuned for the upcoming post-apocolyptic shooter, RAGE. And who knows if it'll even see light of day in this decade?
The only thing we can tell you right now is that if you don't mind the Texas heat, you can apply for a job at the Mesquite, Texas offices.
We're waiting to hear back from spokespeople, so stay tuned for any new details that pop up.
Grand Theft Auto IV -- Still Stealing Attention
Grand Theft Auto 4 sold six million copies of the game in its first week, with 3.6 million coming on the first day, earning a total of $500 million. It is set to cement its place in the sales record books beating out the previous title-holder, Halo 3, when GTA4's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, releases the official numbers later today. The $500 million figure was reported early by The New York Times.
Along with the record-smashing sales and enthusiastic reviews, the week has seen some unique and funny storylines regarding the game over the past week.
Retailers are using the game's popularity to their advantage. A recent advertisement by Target reminds players to not forget their mother with Mother's Day coming up this weekend.
Some were worried that the release of GTA4 would affect other types of entertainment. The big question is if the release of GTA4 would lessen the box office numbers for Iron Man. That wasn't the case as Iron Man racked up $98.6 million in box office sales over the weekend. A two-hour break is nice when gaming for a week straight, don't you think?
The late night talk show circuit even had its fun with GTA4. Conan O'Brien spoofed the game by redubbing scenes with more friendly and quite hilarious dialogue.
Don't think that high-level executives will be the only ones pocketing cash from the sales of this game. Oxford University will be seeing profits as well because part of the game uses an engine designed by students at the university who have a profit sharing agreement with Take-Two Interactive.
The Mother's Against Drunk Driving has come out and blasted the game for including drunk driving in the gameplay. The game's main character, Niko, can goto a bar, get drunk and then drive a car, which is very difficult in the intoxicated state. The car constantly swerves around and is very susceptible to alerting the police. MADD wants the game to include an Adults Only rating because of this feature.
Despite these storylines, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has yet to make an appearance. That group likes to jump on any controversial cause, but has yet to rear their heads about this game despite one of the game's achievements involves finding and killing 200 "flying rats," or pigeons.
i also learned how to help my fellow man. solving my friend's problems, and helping a stranger prove that their wife might be cheating on them (saving relationships), and even saying no to drinking/drugs. many scenes depict Niko being offered a drink - and he refuses. i only remember him saying "ok" once so far.
i also know how to save my family from murderous crooks and that shows how much love and care i have in my heart.
i also returned items to rightful owners and discipline people who steal from my friends. i also get paid, so i have learned to budget while becoming an entrepreneur.
j/k
gtiglilik