Really? This is getting out of hand, no? The onslaught of Obama clad doodads has begun. This stuff is going to sell like hotcakes! → Read More
One of the great things about Android Market is that you can see what everyone has to say about the applications they’ve downloaded. Very useful in figuring out if you should really download that app called “Alien Blood Bath” or just avoid it all together. The system, however, is slightly flawed. It appears that no one is really moderating these comments, and they usually end up turning into heated debates on the most futile of topics. So, rather than let these little gems go to waste, we’ve run into the middle of the battle, and emerged somewhat unscathed with loads of half-baked comments for everyone to enjoy. → Read More
It’s not all that uncommon for handset manufacturers to forego the simplicity of a standard 3.5mm headset jack, instead opting for some clunky proprietary port. To take off a bit of the sting, they’ll generally include some sort of crappy-port-to-3.5mm adapter – or at the very least, they’ll stick a cheapo pair of compatible headphones in the box in hopes that no one cares that they sound horrible. Not the AT&T Quickfire, though. → Read More
CNK → Read More
The NYT piece goes into great detail with quotes from random lawyers across the country and mostly just filler, but what you need to know is that only 2,676 angry citizens out of the eight plus million that purchased the game filed a complaint headed up by Seth R. Lesser and a few other lawyers. Lesser and his pack of wolves are seeking $1.3 million in compensation for their time and efforts while T2 lawyers have said they need only spend $30,000 or less to clean up the mess. That total for T2 is to basically reissue copies of San Andreas without the smut, which already happened. It was originally rated “Mature”, but later went to “Adults Only” when retailers said they would stop carrying the game. I see Lesser’s point in that little kids shouldn’t be playing games like this with violence and smut and whatever else, but, let’s be honest here, this guy just wanted to see a big payout and it just isn’t there. The numbers speak for themselves, right? Less than one percent responded. That’s all you really need to know. The rest is just lawyer jargon, but feel free. → Read More
Uh oh, Nyko is in a bit of trouble over their Kama Nunchuck. Nintendo is claiming that the LA-based console accessories manufacturer has infringed on two design patents and its trademark. Nintendo is seeking financial compensation and an immediate halt of sales. “wholly appropriates the novel shape, design, overall appearance and even the color and materials used in the Nintendo Nunchuk controller,” Nintendo said You’re just noticing this, Nintendo? → Read More
Oops. Someone forgot to tell Hollywood bigwigs that DRM is dead, consumers don’t want it, and it doesn’t really work that well anyway. At a conference in LA this week, a member of the RIAA said that almost all digital distribution schemes they can think of use DRM. The problem with DRM is it locks you into an ecosystem that only works with the DRM your purchasing. And you can’t change your mind, as members of MSN music recently learned. When the record industry figures out a way to capitalize on music without crippling it, it will be profitable again. Also, we’ll buy more music. Also, we won’t feel a grudge about it. → Read More
So you know how all those people have been up in arms about the adult content in games like GTA IV? And how they think that the ratings need to be tougher? A few politicians don’t think they go far enough. They want to actually start using retail cashiers to police who buys what, IDing people when they purchase to make sure they’re of age. I’m OK with this for cigarettes and alcohol, but for a game? Games aren’t dangerous, but I guess someone has to think about the children. Or, how about if they go about the real work of congressmen, trying to end the war, feed the homeless, and fixing our gas prices? Yes, Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah), I’m talking to you. STFU & GBTW. → Read More
[photopress:30_mukasey_lg.jpg,full,center] That version of Photoshop that you bought from a dude on the street in West Hollywood last night is going to finance terrorists who will destroy your city and burn you and your family alive to death, or so says the AG, Michael Mukasey. Mukasey argues that terrorists are increasingly using tactics of organized crime syndicates to finance their American-killing ways. Sure, there’s no direct evidence, but IP theft and piracy must also help the Taliban, right? → Read More
[photopress:verizon_wireless_broadband_3.jpg,full,center] Verizon is the latest carrier to become convinced that unlimited doesn’t mean unlimited, as its started charging customers of its $59.99 unlimited mobile broadband plan overages if they exceed 5GB in a billing cycle. So while its going to still call it “unlimited”, customers will get charged a premium of $.49-per-megabyte over 5GB. We think Verizon needs to call it, oh, the 5GB plan. Or something. Verizon’s New $59.99 Data Plan has Overage Charges [Mobile Burn] → Read More
Pull your head out of the gutter, perv. I don’t know how necessary this is, but if you have $450 lying around and you want to record everything that goes in front of your car while you’re driving then I have the perfect thing for you. No. Wait. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see why anyone would want this. A rear view mirror with a 2.5-inch LCD that records what’s going on in front of you. Seriously? Obviously, you’d want it in case of an accident, but what if you’re the one doing the rear-ending? At least you get a free 1GB SD card. A video demo can be seen for your pleasure. Even though it could have been taken with anything. → Read More
[photopress:chronicast.jpg,full,center] Bad: A tornado comes and destroys your home. Worse: Comcast wants to charge you $2000 for the five, nine-year old cable boxes that got destroyed. That’s what happened to a Wheatland, Wisconsin resident, and Comcast is standing its ground. The cable operator says that the victim will have to get reimbursement from her insurance company to pay the bill. The insurers, however, are only willing to pay the depreciated value of the five boxes and cable modem, even though Comcast is asking for the original price. I’ve had a similar situation with Comcast: an ancient cable box of mine was destroyed at a party, and they wanted me to pay $500 for it before I could get a new one. The thing wasn’t worth that much new. So, I went to the Goodwills and was able to replace it for about $10. Me, 1; Comcast, 0. But really, should Comcast expect full value on equipment nearly a decade old? We think not. Cable TV bills with a twist [Kenosha News] → Read More
It’s official in my book: technology has become so cheap that it can’t help but be tacky. You may take this art deco scrolling LED ornament as an example of this. It has a matrix of LEDs around the outside and scrolls wishes of Xmas cheer to boost your Yuletide spirit. And get this: it’s called “Seasons Readings”. Get it!? If this isn’t an excuse for a “war on Xmas”, then I’m not sure what is. Season’s Readings [Product page, via Coolest Gadgets via Oh, Gizmo!] → Read More
I’m a little frightened of this toy. It’s a USB words-per-minute display that’s also a plastic mouse on an exercise bike. The more words you type per minute, the faster this little guy goes, never mind the fact that this anorexic rodent looks like he needs a sandwich more than cardio. It features a monochrome display to tell you how you’re doing, but unless you’re 8 and in your first typing class, I cannot understand why you’d want this. I’m a fairly fast typist, you rather have to be in the blogging world, so I’m going to get one of these scary things and try to give it a heart attack, just because I can. Playing God via USB rules. The USB exercise mouse tests your typing speeds [Slippery Brick] → Read More
You don’t need me to get all snarky about the DRM scheme Western Digital has added to its new My Book NAS-enabled external hard drives, not when Austin at the Register is doing such a good job of it. Austin points out that the new drive won’t let you copy another user’s media files (wma, mp3, etc.) across the network, because it can’t verify your licenses for said media. Look, Western D, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, saving us from the evils of piracy and all, but it’s not your job. Your job is to make storage, and make it accessible, period. If the RIAA is slipping you a little something-something under the table, well, then I’m going to start looking at Seagate, among others. Western Digital drive is DRM-crippled for your safety [The Reg] → Read More
Sure, we know that your cellphone won’t explode and kill you now, great. But what about that pesky, pesky radiation? While the jury’s still out on that one, you can look to snake-oil devices that at least make you think you’re doing something to mitigate their problems. Take the PowerDome, an add-on to your cellphone that supposedly changes the radio frequency your cellphone emits to a lower, and thereby safer level. It does not do this though. If it did, your cellphone wouldn’t work; the cell towers will be looking for it at a certain frequency, and if it’s not there, you don’t get signal. You might as well put your phone in the Black Hole. But if you have some non-tech-savvy hypochondriac on your list, this is a perfect stocking stuffer. Product Page [via Nerd Approved] → Read More
Artist’s rendition of your last acid trip. Every few years someone pulls out the old “project the scene behind the object onto the object” trick to make something ostensibly invisible. Well, now the English Army will now win the war with invisible tanks designed to disappear using cameras and projectors. I’m going to call “bollocks” on this and wonder why/who the Daily Mail wrote this story up without first realizing we’re talking about a freaking tank here and no matter how big a projector you throw up I suspect you’ll be able to see the bastard from fifty miles away, camouflage or not. Let me know when we can cover tanks in resilient e-paper and then maybe I won’t puke a little when I read about “invisible” anything. Army tests James Bond style tank that is ‘invisible’ [DailyMail] → Read More
Oddly enough, I’m almost 100 percent positive that Biggs uses this when he’s at home by himself. Seriously, though, who comes up with this nonsense? Condoms for your thumb and index finger so you don’t smudge your precious iFones. This is more or less a clear indication that the world is teetering on the verge of collapsing around us. The Phone Fingers are textured (and ribbed for her pleasure) and come in a pack of 25 for $10. Who buys this shit? Oh yeah, John Biggs. Phone Fingers for smudge-free iPhone [Gizmodiva] → Read More
I can’t really understand anyone’s fascination with the E-mart in Yongsan. It’s not like you’re going to find super cool gadgets or anything. The reason this place is so famous is because of the sheer volume of crap that’s available for purchase. It’s just a bunch of counters crammed together with the brightest fluorescent lights known to man. They’re meant to blind you and the sales people will trick you into buying something useless (Ok, not really, but I think you get the point). → Read More
