Sherbango soup

Facebook Isn't For Real LIfe Friends Anymore, Says Foursquare's Dennis Crowley

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Foursquare cofounder Dennis Crowley isn't afraid of big bad Facebook.

At least, that's what he's telling us.

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Help! Who Are These AOL Partiers?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

In mid-February, an ex-AOLer named Jason Munson threw a big party for for his former colleagues at Jackson’s in the Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia.

The "Aol. Reunion" was one in a series of parties Jason's put together since February 2009.

Read the rest of this story »

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Service - news aktuell intensiviert Kooperation mit Radio Relations und ... - Ad-Hoc-News (Pressemitteilung)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:51:03 GMT

Service - news aktuell intensiviert Kooperation mit Radio Relations und ...
Ad-Hoc-News (Pressemitteilung)
Und Internetradio wird mobil - im Auto, über iPhone oder über andere Handys. Für news aktuell hat die Ausweitung des Netzwerks von ots. ...

Over 50 ARM-based tablets launching this year

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:38:00 GMT

While the verdict is still out with regard to consumer appetites for a 3rd portable computing device, PC makers are betting the farm on consumer interest in tablets that fill the gap between small-screened smartphones and bulky (by comparison) netbooks/laptops. We've already seen an uptick in tablet devices on display at the big CES and CeBIT trade shows, now tablet and MID device vendors look ready to blow out Computex when it kicks off on June 1st in Taipei. According to Roy Chen, ARM's ODM manager for worldwide mobile computing, more than 50 ARM-based tablet PCs will launch in 2010 starting in Q2 with "a lot more" landing in the third quarter -- a date that just happens to line-up with the most optimistic Chrome OS launch schedule. ARM's seeing so much interest that it had to rent additional floor space to show off the devices. Chen said that many of the tablets are slated for China although all of the world's top 10 carriers have signed up as well. ARM was showing off two Android based tablets at the press event, including the 7-inch Compal device (pictured above) we gave a whirl at CES. Let's just hope that tablet makers have plans for some compelling content and service hook-ups with a focus on the user experience -- 50 near-identical slabs of touchscreen computing won't generate much enthusiasm around here.

Over 50 ARM-based tablets launching this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Computerworld | Email this | Comments

Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:18:00 GMT

In 2007, steampunk musician Yoshi Akai wrote his master's thesis on how to turn color into sound, and he's been dreaming up unorthodox ways of producing music ever since. Case in point: the Lego Sequencer MR II, a contraption that uses three-dimensional Lego structures to emulate a three-channel, eight-step sequencer, where each differently colored plastic brick produces a different sound and complex combinations (including tremolo and overdrive) are possible when the blocks are stacked. Akai tells us it works using resistors embedded in each and every block, with parallel networks of resistors formed as the bricks pile up, equalling lower resistance and thus a higher frequency sound generated by the contraption. While the result certainly won't back a techno track -- Akai says he's "building sound more than playing sound" -- it looks like a good step up from the lethargic phaser noise produced by his Wireless Catcher, a lot of fun to play with, and much less expensive than hiring a team of hot models. Video after the break.

Continue reading Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks

Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MAKE | Yoshi AKAI, Interactive Institute | Email this | Comments

Apple gegen HTC: Patentklage ist ein Warnschuss - AreaMobile

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:49:20 GMT

AreaMobile

Apple gegen HTC: Patentklage ist ein Warnschuss
AreaMobile
Vielfach seien die Entwicklungspläne für neue iPhone-Killer gestoppt worden. HTC HD2 vs. Apple iPhone 3GS: Smartphone-König gegen Kulthandy (17 Bilder)

Martin Jetpack priced at $86,000, mere mortals will soon be able to buy one too

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:24:00 GMT

Tired of the limited legroom, bad food, and worse movies you have to put up with during a flight? Well, it's time to bust out your company credit card and get yourself a Martin Jetpack, which has just become the first commercially available jetpack. Driven by a pair of washing machine-sized fans strapped to your back, this personal transporter will give you a pretty cool 30 minutes of flight time and comes with a bunch of redundancy systems to ensure any mistakes don't turn fatal. The rotors are built out of a carbon / Kevlar composite and are powered by a two-liter V4 two-stroke engine capable of delivering 200hp (or 150kW). Good old gasoline is the fuel of choice here and private individuals are expected to be offered the chance to fulfill every geek and geekette's dream later this year. Just make sure you have $86,000 lying around to fund it.

Martin Jetpack priced at $86,000, mere mortals will soon be able to buy one too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Gizmag | Email this | Comments

MIT gurus use polyethylene to suck heat away from your next CPU

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:26:00 GMT

Man, MIT is making all of these other places of higher learning look silly. For what seems like the fortieth time this month, scientists at the university have revealed yet another breakthrough that might just change the way we compute in the future. Polyethylene, which is about as common a polymer as they come, could very well become a vital part of the way your next processor is cooled, as MIT boffins have figured out how to cause said polymer to "conduct heat very efficiently in just one direction, unlike metals, which conduct equally well in all directions." If you're still struggling to figure out why this matters, have a listen at this: "this may make the new material especially useful for applications where it is important to draw heat away from an object, such as a computer processor chip." In fact, even Intel is taking notice of the development, though no one's saying outright when exactly this stuff will leave the lab and hit Dell's supply chain. There's no time like the present, guys.

[Thanks, Kevin]

MIT gurus use polyethylene to suck heat away from your next CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Eurekalert | MIT | Email this | Comments

Jon Stewart's 'offer' for Donovan - Philadelphia Inquirer

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:05:43 GMT

Jon Stewart's 'offer' for Donovan
Philadelphia Inquirer
Eskin chose not to get personal against Missanelli, but Eskin's boss, Marc Rayfield, manager of the local CBS Radio cluster, talked enough trash for both. ...

und weitere »

Baseball Notes: Former Dodger Willie Davis dies - Philadelphia Inquirer

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:03:36 GMT

Baseball Notes: Former Dodger Willie Davis dies
Philadelphia Inquirer
Mets madness. Shortstop Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid and is expected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests are used to ...

and more »

Reyes has overactive thyroid; return in limbo

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:56:39 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets will brace for at least two more days — perhaps longer — without Jose Reyes, after test results yesterday confirmed he has an overactive thyroid. Reyes will remain in New York to await the results of blood tests to decide his treatment, according to a statement released...

In the Dentist's Chair (With Cruel Contraption) -- B&W (4 of 4) #draw365

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:47:50 GMT

In the Dentist's Chair (With Cruel Contraption) -- B&W (4 of 4) #draw365
While I was in Jeff Eitzman's chair having a back molar reconstructed, I was drawing a portrait of him at the same time.

Because of that, I kept moving my head. And Jeff had to keep nudging it back into place.

So I came up with this invention... a strap that goes over the patient's head, with a massive handle to give the dentist leverage to manhandle the head into the exact position the dentist requires the head to be in.

Neat, huh?

Jeff laughed at the idea. But said it was unnecessary.

Well heck... just cos HE'S kind and compassionate to his patients doesn't mean OTHER DENTISTS aren't brutes, right?

Let's make MONEY out of this cruel device!

These four pics started out as black and white drawings in my PaperBlanks Moleskine-substitute notebook. I drew them while Jeff was working in my mouth. The colour-work came later, in PhotoShop CS3.

Mets' Cy of relief

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:46:51 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — In the movie, this is how the final scene of the comeback is scripted: The wounded hero takes the mound after a long and arduous road back from arm surgery. He stares down his first hitter. He leaps ahead of the count 0-2, throws a ball, then...

K-Rod ducks out of Goose controversy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:37:31 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — Goose who? Francisco Rodriguez is just fine with Goose Gossage’s assessment of him. Gossage referred to K-Rod as a “clown” in a recent interview, citing Rodriguez’s penchant for theatrics on the mound, but Rodriguez shrugged off Gossage’s comment yesterday — “I have no idea who...

In the Dentist's Chair (With Cruel Contraption) -- Colour (3 of 4) #draw365

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:36:37 GMT

In the Dentist's Chair (With Cruel Contraption) -- Colour (3 of 4) #draw365
While I was in Jeff Eitzman's chair having a back molar reconstructed, I was drawing a portrait of him at the same time.

Because of that, I kept moving my head. And Jeff had to keep nudging it back into place.

So I came up with this invention... a strap that goes over the patient's head, with a massive handle to give the dentist leverage to manhandle the head into the exact position the dentist requires the head to be in.

Neat, huh?

Jeff laughed at the idea. But said it was unnecessary.

Well heck... just cos HE'S kind and compassionate to his patients doesn't mean OTHER DENTISTS aren't brutes, right?

Let's make MONEY out of this cruel device!

These four pics started out as black and white drawings in my PaperBlanks Moleskine-substitute notebook. I drew them while Jeff was working in my mouth. The colour-work came later, in PhotoShop CS3.

Jeff Eitzman -- Uber Dentist -- B&W (2 of 4)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:27:02 GMT

Jeff Eitzman -- Uber Dentist -- B&W (2 of 4)
Thanks to @MarkStraw for recommending Jeff Eitzman to me.

Jeff's a brilliant dentist. He takes a lot of time to get to understand his patients' mouths. And then he takes the right, considered, skillfully executed action.

In November, a relatively new filling applied by 'Dentist X' in Fourways fell out. I sought opinions from friends. One bud recommended 'Dentist Y' near Cresta/Northcliff. The filling lasted exactly three days. Another bud -- the aforementioned Twitter-bud, @JackStraw -- gave me Jeff's number.

A good sign is that Jeff was booked up till February. But his mom, who runs the reception at the practice, popped me onto a cancellation list.

When I finally got a booking in mid-December, Jeff spent two hours with me, investigating WHY this problem filling kept falling out. He devised a treatment plan. Lined my cavity with a hardening substance, put a temp filling over that, and told me to come back in two months once the hardening agent had cured.

When I got back to his chair in mid-February, just before my bithday, he got to work on the real business of giving me a lasting filling. He completely reconstructed my tooth, using about four separate layers of material, including strategically-placed metal screws that he embedded in some of the substrate.

This filling is incapable of falling out. Furthermore, he constructed it in such a way that it does NOT trap food in the crevice. Previous dentists who botched this tooth also botched the crevice.

The tooth is still sensitive. But every day it's settling down more. The reason it's sensitive is cos the cavity was so deep that the drilling went very close to the nerve. Jeff's treatment philosophy begins with 'First do no harm', followed by, 'If we can save the nerve, we'll do that', followed by, 'The natural tooth material is the best material for your mouth'.

The dude is a sculptor. I recommend him fiercely.

These four pics started out as black and white drawings in my PaperBlanks Moleskine-substitute notebook. I drew them while Jeff was working in my mouth. The colour-work came later, in PhotoShop CS3.

Jeff Eitzman -- Uber Dentist -- Colour (1 of 4)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:20:10 GMT

Jeff Eitzman -- Uber Dentist -- Colour (1 of 4)
Thanks to @MarkStraw for recommending Jeff Eitzman to me.

Jeff's a brilliant dentist. He takes a lot of time to get to understand his patients' mouths. And then he takes the right, considered, skillfully executed action.

In November, a relatively new filling applied by 'Dentist X' in Fourways fell out. I sought opinions from friends. One bud recommended 'Dentist Y' near Cresta/Northcliff. The filling lasted exactly three days. Another bud -- the aforementioned Twitter-bud, @JackStraw -- gave me Jeff's number.

A good sign is that Jeff was booked up till February. But his mom, who runs the reception at the practice, popped me onto a cancellation list.

When I finally got a booking in mid-December, Jeff spent two hours with me, investigating WHY this problem filling kept falling out. He devised a treatment plan. Lined my cavity with a hardening substance, put a temp filling over that, and told me to come back in two months once the hardening agent had cured.

When I got back to his chair in mid-February, just before my bithday, he got to work on the real business of giving me a lasting filling. He completely reconstructed my tooth, using about four separate layers of material, including strategically-placed metal screws that he embedded in some of the substrate.

This filling is incapable of falling out. Furthermore, he constructed it in such a way that it does NOT trap food in the crevice. Previous dentists who botched this tooth also botched the crevice.

The tooth is still sensitive. But every day it's settling down more. The reason it's sensitive is cos the cavity was so deep that the drilling went very close to the nerve. Jeff's treatment philosophy begins with 'First do no harm', followed by, 'If we can save the nerve, we'll do that', followed by, 'The natural tooth material is the best material for your mouth'.

The dude is a sculptor. I recommend him fiercely.

These four pics started out as black and white drawings in my PaperBlanks Moleskine-substitute notebook. I drew them while Jeff was working in my mouth. The colour-work came later, in PhotoShop CS3.

Bluetooth Access Point brings text messaging, voice messaging, email to the friendly skies

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:19:00 GMT

Bluetooth Access Point brings text messaging, voice messaging, email to the friendly skies
Whether you covet your Irish friends' ability to make in-flight cellphone calls or value your aerial naps too much to care either way, you must admit that the promise of in-flight SMS, MMS, voice messaging, and text email is tantalizing. To this end, the kids at Asiq have announced a little something called the Bluetooth Access Point. This device uses the aircraft's satellite link to send data to your respective carrier, eliminates the need for a picocell, and boasts up to 3Mb/s speeds. Now let's see how quickly this bad boy gets approved for use! (Or not.) PR after the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth Access Point brings text messaging, voice messaging, email to the friendly skies

Bluetooth Access Point brings text messaging, voice messaging, email to the friendly skies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Scoop | | Email this | Comments

Astros notes: Offense aggressive against Mets' ace - Houston Chronicle

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:10:27 GMT

msnbc.com

Astros notes: Offense aggressive against Mets' ace
Houston Chronicle
Arias will be backed off baseball activities, receive treatments the rest of the week and see a physician this weekend. Brett Myers continued to challenge ...
Santana, Though Rusty, Passes Test New York Times
Matsui, Feliz homer to pace hit parade MLB.com
NY Mets' Johan Santana hit hard in first spring start The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
Sebastian Sun - New York Post - Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 160 news articles »

GSN’s “Baggage” Greenlit; 40 Episodes Taping

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:03:10 GMT

This is about as official of a confirmation as you need. Casting websites like RealityWanted are hunting people for GSN’s new dating game show Baggage. Last post I saw said they were looking for at least 200 people, and each gets $500. The latest one, on RealityWanted, is saying the show is taping 40 episodes and I’ve heard rumors about this one for a while, so this is just about as firm of a go as you can ask for before putting out a press release.

Baggage appears to be a pseudo-dating game where contestants are called upon by different levels of “baggage” they have, like living at home, having lots of cats, etc. I made fun of the show before because a ton of casting calls said contestants won’t go on a date and they don’t need to be single. They just have to appear single. I bet one of those $500 appearance fees that they harp on the singles factor despite this. RealityWanted says it’s not a dating show but a show about dating. Sorry, you know as well as I do that it’s a dating show and this just an easy way to get out of hunting down 200+ singles that the GSN audience can care about. And looking over the format, this looks unbelievably similar to the MTV dating show Singled Out. Anyone remember that one? It’s a very guilty pleasure of mine from the 90s. It’s got Jenny McCarthy in it, and anything with her is automatically awesome and if you dare say no I will come and hurt you. Very funny show. Take a look.

No official network confirmation yet but this is just about as official as you can get. Think this’ll go any better than their massive failures that have plagued them for just around two years? If they can keep it light, fun, and funny than I think it can. If they either decide to tense it up or make it really corny and cheesy, I’m not so sure.

Mets' notebook: Pelfrey bruised, but ready for Red Sox - TCPalm

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:34:19 GMT

The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Mets' notebook: Pelfrey bruised, but ready for Red Sox
TCPalm
... visit tcpalm.com/baseball/, or click below for any of our special features. PORT ST. LUCIE — New York Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey is back on schedule ...
Mets pitchers Pelfrey, K-Rod back on mound Greenwich Time

all 37 news articles »

Apple iPhone als Universal-Fernbedienung im Wohnzimmer - Mobilfunk-Talk.de - News

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:29:11 GMT

Mobilfunk-Talk.de - News

Apple iPhone als Universal-Fernbedienung im Wohnzimmer
Mobilfunk-Talk.de - News
Ein interessantes Extra bietet der Vorschlag von Apple. Das iPhone soll Szenen speichern können die den Zustand aller Geräte festhält. ...

EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:04:00 GMT

By and large, EA Sports' Season Opener event here at GDC was underwhelming, but one glimmer of newness did manage to shine through. Nearly a year after Active hit stores (video after the break) and encouraged Wii gamers to drop those unwanted pounds before hitting the soft sand in the summer, the company has announced that Active 2.0 (a working title) is currently in development for Wii, PS3, iPod touch and iPhone. We're told that a "new suite of fitness products" will be launching in the fall, with the Active 2.0 program delivering "true fitness results by featuring an innovative wireless control system powered by new leg and arm straps with motion sensors, a heart rate monitor to capture intensity and a new online hub to track and share workout data." Outside of that, details are nonexistent (like how exactly the iPod / iPhone components will factor into this equation), though we get the feeling that Xbox 360 owners may be left out of the party. Here's hoping we're wrong.

Gallery: EA Sports Active 2.0 accessories at GDC 2010

Continue reading EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore

EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Let’s Curdle - $10.00

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:07 GMT

Milk, Milk, Lemonade

‘Round the corner, love is made

Some things just go together. Like whiskey and vermouth. Or peanut butter and jelly. Or peanut butter and chocolate. Or peanut butter and banana. Boy, peanut butter gets around, doesn’t it? It wasn’t until just now that we realized what a whore peanut butter is.

It’s nice to have a natural match. But equally nice—or maybe even nicer—is to find yourself in an unexpected hook-up that nonetheless works. Here’s to odd couples! To Murtaugh and Riggs! To jalapeño and chocolate! To Rachel and Finn! To Bono and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill!

Because what’s more delightful than an unlikely pair?

Just about nothing, that’s what.

Wear this shirt: after smelling it to make sure it hasn’t gone bad.

Don’t wear this shirt: unless it’s been properly refrigerated.

This shirt tells the world: “TEACH LACTOSE TOLERANCE”

We call this color: Royally Cute Royal Blue

Design Placement: Centered

Design Size:
3X – S: 10” x 9.63”
WXL - K4: 7.5” x 7.22”

Pantone Colors: White – 189C – 601C – 3945C – 7409C – 635C

Please check our sizing chart before you order. The Woot Tee follows a classic closer-fitting style. If you prefer a baggier look, order a larger size. If there is not a larger size, consider starting a belly-hanging-out trend.

Discuss this product

Price: $10.00

I want one!

St. Supery - Three Pack - $59.99

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:06 GMT

Beware The Odes Of March

Rosés are light red and some cheeses are blue. The title joke is inaccurate, but what can you do?

St. Supéry, St. Supéry,
We find your wines remarkably
Enticing, so it brings us glee
When we are told we will get three
Of your fine wines, St. Supéry.

The Merlot, first, it’s quite tasty
Or, at least, it seems to be,
Because we read of black cherry
And hints of currant, raspberry,
And a kiss of smoke concludingly
Plus ripe plum that we’ll find toasty
And cinnamon, cedar, and briar, oui?
Your Merlot is quite fine by me,
So thank you much, St. Supéry.

Up next, the Cab, so please agree
The mouth feel comes luxuriously
A mix of current and then cherry,
plush cassis and some blueberry
It’s young, but age it and you’ll see
It will come out so beautifully,

Malbec! Malbec! It’s wine three!
Grown 2006, in January
When rains came down like Heaven’s sea
And cool wet weather, perfectly
made this nice Malbec from St. Supéry.
It smells of clove, and rose hip, whee!
Tobacco too, but let it breathe
Then unfurl for you will blueberry,
A hint of chocolate, and cherry,
And smokey tannins, but gently!
This wine will save quite happily.
So let it evolve naturally,
And in a decade you will be
Drinking a glass in ecstasy.

St. Supéry, St. Supéry,
Your wines make us oh so happy
Especially since we’re getting three
You must have gone to intercede
With Bacchus, god of wineries
And to you, oh blessed St. Supéry
And all your wines, of which there’s three.
We dedicate our poetry,
And now a drink we need. Really.

2004 Napa Valley Merlot

Appellation: Napa Valley
Blend: 76% Merlot 23% Cabernet Sauvignon,2% Cab Franc
pH: 3.65
Total Acidity: 6.30g/K
Residual Sugar: <0.5 g/L
Wine Alcohol: 14.3%

2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Appellation: Napa Valley
Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon,
1% Petit Verdot
pH: 3.76
Total Acidity: 5.7 g/L
Residual Sugar: <0.2 g/L
Wine Alcohol: 13.9%

2006 Napa Valley Malbec

Appellation: Napa Valley
Blend: 75% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cooperage: 79% French Oak, 21% American Oak
pH: 3.79
Total Acidity: 6.00 g/L
Residual Sugar: <0.02%
Wine Alcohol: 14.3%

Rules and restrictions:

Wine sold by winery (or a retailer in your state where necessary)
You must be 21 or older to order
Whoever receives the package must be 21 or older
If you're drunk when the package shows up, you will not be allowed to receive it
Wine cannot be delivered to a P.O. Box
We highly recommend you use a business address as your shipping address

Thanks to stick-in-the-mud buzzkilling state legislators, wine may only be delivered to the following states:

Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District Of Columbia
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

If your state's not on the list, you're out of luck... for now. Keep up with the ever-changing laws over at ShipCompliantBlog.com, and/or sound the alarms with your state assembly person through FreeTheGrapes.org. Meanwhile, all Federal, state and local laws are complied with in providing this wine.

Discuss this product

Price: $59.99

I want one!

TiVo Series 3 High Definition 250GB THX Certified DVR - $169.99

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:02 GMT

I’m Never Going Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming At last, I can watch my favorite commercials without sitting through all those annoying shows. Concise storytelling. Striking visuals. Hapless, overfed man-children in comical situations. These are the things I love about television – or rather, used to love about television, before it turned into a cheapo cesspool of “reality” freakshows. Nowadays, the real artistry comes in thirty-second chunks. Turns out that soda companies, breweries, car-insurance firms, and fast-food chains are the only entities left with enough money to make anything worth watching. And I’ll be watching, believe me, with this TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR. How satisfying it is to fast-forward past Bret Michaels and Simon Cowell to get to the latest humorous vignette about that scamp Jack in the Box. This TiVo’s 250GB hard drive can store approximately a hella-ton of commercials for savoring over and over. I’ve practically worn out the pause button examining the mise-en-scene of that Dr. Pepper commercial with the midget KISS impersonators. Eat your heart out, Fellini. Even better, this TiVo Series 3 HD DVR doubles as a YouTube player (with a home network with Internet access). Have you ever seen how many commercials are on that site? I could literally watch them until the sun expands and engulfs the Earth in flames, without ever repeating one. It also streams Netflix, Blockbuster, and Amazon video, but until they offer more commercials, I’m not interested. First, though, I had to have 2 CableCARDs installed so my TiVo Series 3 DVR could handle digital and HD cable. You’ll want to check with your cable provider first, because many of them require that the cards be installed by their technicians. If you’re lucky, while you’re on hold, you’ll get to listen to commercials for the cable company. I love radio commercials even more than TV commercials because they have to be twice as aggravating to make up for the lack of video. I really only have one complaint: TiVo, can you exert your influence to require broadcasters to devote more time to commercials? Even on the most ad-heavy cable channels (I love you, TV Land), there’s still 40 or more minutes of programming every hour. This shocking imbalance means important voices are not being heard. Somewhere out there, some scrappy young filmmaker is coming up with the next “smunchy” or “wazzzup”, and I want to see it. Over and over and over.Authorized for SquareTrade Extended Warranty Warranty: * 90 Day TiVo Labor * 1 Year TiVo Parts Features: * Control Live TV - Record, Play, Pause, Rewind, Skip Ahead, & Slow-Motion with razor-sharp HD clarity * Season Pass Recordings – Record every new episode of your favorite show * BLOCKBUSTER On Demand – Browse and rent the movies you want to see from the comfort and convenience of home * Amazon Video on Demand – Download movies and TV shows directly to your TiVo box * Netflix – Stream a library of 17,000 movie titles and TV shows through Netflix’s Watch Instantly Service (with a Netflix unlimited membership) * YouTube Videos – Watch millions of YouTube videos directly on your TV * Rhapsody – Access 4 million songs in your living room with a subscription to the Rhapsody service * Online Scheduling and TiVo Mobile – Schedule last minute recordings from a PC or a cell phone * Home Media Features – Access internet radio, podcasts, movie times & tickets, and digital photos & mp3 music files on your TV * TiVo Search (an exclusive TiVo feature) – Use this powerful internet based tool for search and discovery of broadcast and broadband programming content * Multi-Room Viewing – Start watching your favorite show in the living room and finish it in the bedroom * TiVoToGo – Fill your iPod mobile digital device or other portable media device with movies and TV shows for free! * Internet Video Downloads – News, sports, weather, technology, music, education, and more sent directly to your broadband-connected TiVo DVR–free of charge * 250GB of disc capacity for 300 hours of standard recording time or up to 32 in HD * Expandable Storage – Increase storage capacity with TiVo Verified external eSATA storage available from Western Digital * Dimensions: 12.6" (D) X 3.3" (H) X 16.5" (W) * Weight: 13 lbs. Specifications: * Surround Modes: THX * Compatible Formats: 720p, 480p, 480i, 1080i * Remote Control: Illuminated Full Function IR 36 Button * Tuner: (2) CableCard, ATSC Inputs and Outputs: * 2 CableCard Card Slots * 1 Rear HDMI Output * 1 Rear Optical Output * 2 Rear RF Inputs * 1 Rear RJ45 Ethernet In/Out * 1 Rear SATA IN/Out * 1 Rear RJ11 (Telephone Line) In/Out * 1 Rear Analog Audio/Video Output * 1 Rear Component Video Outpuut * 1 Rear S-Video Output * 2 Rear USB Port In/Out Additional Photos: * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR Front Controls * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR Rear Ports * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR Remote Control * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR Box In the box: * TiVo Series 3 HD THX Certified 250GB DVR * Remote Control * Users Guide * Composite Cable * Component Cable * HDMI Cable * Phone Cable * Phone Splitter * Coax Cable * Power Cable * 4 AAA Batteries TiVo® service is required for the TiVo DVR to function and is sold separately. TiVo service and payment are subject to the terms and conditions available at www.tivo.com. TiVo service is accessed through a standard telephone line or broadband connection. In some areas, local and long-distance toll charges may apply. Considerations: * Certain features require a wired or wireless home network with Internet access (wireless home network connection requires the purchase of a separate TiVo Wireless Adapter) * A TiVo Series3 DVR requires CableCARD™s (provided by cable operator) to work with Digital and HD Cable * To receive two digital cable channels at the same time and record up to two channels simultaneously, the TiVo HD DVR requires the installation and activation of either two (2) Multi-Stream CableCARDs (M-Card) or two (2) Single-Stream CableCARDs (S-Card) * Many cable companies require the CableCARDs to be installed by their technicians * Supports virtually all cable operators, Verizon FiOS, and ATSC antenna * Does not support satellite service, AT&T U-verse, or cable Video On Demand Discuss this product Price: $169.99I want one!

Delicious Chrome Extension Early Beta Now Available

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:46:42 GMT

Bookmarking service Delicious has just rolled out a Google Chrome browser extension.

Like other Chrome extensions we love to play with, this one is lightweight, fast and useful. There's no bulky sidebar here. Bookmarks can be created and saved with a miniscule "TAG" button and they can be searched from Chrome's excellent omnibar. So, do you think this will prompt loyal Delicious users - many of whom had been holding out on Chrome in favor of Firefox - to switch to Google Chrome entirely?

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This is what the button and simple form for bookmarking a page look like:

While this extension doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some of Delicious' other browser add-ons, the team noted that the public demand for a Chrome extension prompted them to release a beta earlier than they would have liked.

"It doesn't have all the API's needed and it's missing a good chunk of the functionality we believe it needs, but we're getting so many requests for the Chrome extension that we're going to make this available sooner than we originally planned...

"As soon as Chrome is able to support the functionality needed we'll ensure the features of this extension matches that of our other browser add-ons. There are still some interactions we're not quite happy with that we'll address shortly, but we wanted to give you an official Google Chrome extension as soon as possible."

What do you think? Does the new Delicious extension make you want to use Chrome more? Or if you're a Chrome fan, does this move give you a renewed interest in Delicious? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Discuss

Open Thread: Should Social Media Experts Be Required to Know Their Tech?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:20:44 GMT

Social media gurus: We all know one. If you're lucky, you know only one.

They are the attendees of tech parties, the "Twitter consultants," the armchair generals of the Internet, and their numbers grow by the day. Yet most of them couldn't distinguish a line of code from a badly punctuated haiku.

What's to be done with the social media experts? Accept that their blathering may contain some wisdom? Or require technical exams for all Twitter users with more than 1,000 followers. You decide! And make the NMDs among us take this "technical' quiz.

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There is always grave danger when amateurs turn overnight into experts. This sub-professional clown town is where B movies and Soulja Boy come from. It's also the birthplace of every blowhard who tells you you're "doing it wrong" without any technical knowledge or original thought to back it up.

Sometimes, it's not such a bad thing - in fact, there are a great many non-technical social media folks who are doing a great job of creating quality content and helping brands get themselved situated on the Web. But most of the people I can think of who fit this description have been doing their thing for so long that they've had to pick up a few technical tidbits along the way to ensure their continued success and to ensure they weren't sounding like idiots.

However, I hold the strong opinion that if you're working in technology - even as a PR flak or social media consultant - you should be able to understand some of the terms, concepts and people that make your business possible. Otherwise, you risk your own reputation by taking the chance that you're scarily wrong or laughably vague, and you risk gumming up the works for your clients by not knowing how to communicate with their audience, many of whom are very technical folk.

Ultimately, taking the time and effort to understand the technology you use is simply a matter of taking pride in your work, just like the barista who knows all the ins and outs of the perfectly pulled free-trade organic espresso or the skilled sommelier who, though he may not make the wine himself, knows everything about who did and where and how.

Take this quick survey, my social media gurus. (Techies, don't take the survey; you'll skew the results.) If you can't work out the answers, you might be sounding like an idiot - I tell you this because I'm your friend and I care about you. And remember, when you cheat, you're only cheating yourself, so no Wikipedia for you.

Let me know in the comments what you think about the issue. Am I being an elitist prig? Did I not take my rant far enough? How much do you think a social media expert should know about tech? Would you work with someone who couldn't sail through this "technical" survey?

View Survey

Discuss

Mets Shortstop Jose Reyes Is Diagnosed With Overactive Thyroid - Bloomberg

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:16:33 GMT

SILive.com

Mets Shortstop Jose Reyes Is Diagnosed With Overactive Thyroid
Bloomberg
Reyes sat out most of last season with a hamstring injury, appearing in 36 Major League Baseball games. The Mets went 70-92 in 2009.
Tests on Reyes confirm overactive thyroid MLB.com
Tests Confirm That Reyes Has Overactive Thyroid Gland New York Times
Mets say Reyes has hyperactive thyroid New York Post
Off the Record (blog) - ESPN - New York Mets
all 69 news articles »

Phonebooth Launches Free Google Voice Competitor for Startups and Small Businesses

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:01:00 GMT

Phonebooth.com, a VOIP service for individuals and small businesses, just launched a free version of its service. Phonebooth, just like Google Voice and Ribbit Mobile, provides its users with a free local phone number that can be forwarded to any cell phone and landline. Phonebooth also offers voicemail transcriptions. What makes it stand out from it competitors, however, is that it offers an auto attendant feature that allows you to route callers to different employees.

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It's worth noting that Bandwidth.com, the company behind Phonebooth, has been providing infrastructure services to other VOIP services, including Voxeo and Yext, for more than three years. The company's VOIP network delivered almost 4 billion minutes in 2009. Bandwidth began a beta test of the paid version of Phonebooth.com last year and now has over 1,000 customers.

Features in Phonebooth's free version:

Free local phone number for your business
Includes an auto attendant (Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support...etc.)
Unlimited extensions for your employees or partners
Read your voicemail, with VM-to-email & text transcription
200 free minutes of inbound calling (6¢ additional)
Includes new Contact Us Plus feature

A Free VOIP Service that Will Grow With You

Starting today, Phonebooth will offer a free service geared towards individuals. The company also announced the general availability of its $20/month/user option, which offers a fully featured phone system in the cloud. One of the advantages of using Phonebooth over similar services like Google Voice or Grasshopper is that the company allows users to upgrade their phone system over time. Once your company outgrows Phonebooth's basic plan, you can easily switch to a higher-end phone system (Phonebooth on Demand) with hardware IP-based phones.

Phonebooth's users will be able to choose local numbers from virtually everywhere in the U.S. (the service us U.S.). Sadly, though, there is no way to make your Phonebooth number appear on the caller ID for outgoing calls from your landline or cell phone. Phonebooth doesn't currently offer any mobile apps, though the company told us earlier today that mobile apps are definitely on Phonebooth's roadmap.

Contact Plus Widget

In addition to the free VOIP service, Phonebooth is also launching a new widget for small businesses - Contact Us Plus - that allows potential customers to use Phonebooth's VOIP service to initiate a call right from the website. In addition to initiating phone calls, the Phonebooth widget can also feature additional contact info (Twitter account, email etc.), as well as your address and a map. Phonebooth's users can also opt to show phone numbers for different departments in their company in the widget.

Discuss

Leaked Dell Mini 5 flyer shows multitude of color options, confirmed specifications

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:53:00 GMT

There's no denying that the Mini 5 is real, but up until now, we've had to provide all of our own promotional material. At long last, it seems as if the suits in Round Rock are finally getting around to crafting the first advertisements for the upcoming slate, and while we knew about the 5-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, capacitive touch front buttons, front-facing VGA camera (for video chatting) and the 30-pin docking connector, we weren't aware of Dell's plans to reveal a slew of vivacious color options. If this here flyer proves legitimate, we could eventually see the Mini 5 available in an array of premium finishes and hues (thanks, Design Studio!), and we're hoping for a few different spec builds as well. So, are you opting for the pink, or are you crossing your fingers in hopes that Dell allows you to print that embarrassing shot of you and Mr. T on the rear of one?

Leaked Dell Mini 5 flyer shows multitude of color options, confirmed specifications originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax gets official with 40 megapixel 645D medium format camera

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:38:00 GMT

We had a hunch that Pentax was readying a 645 Digital, and sure enough, the company has come clean with that very camera today. The May-bound 40 megapixel 645D is a medium format beast, but unlike similar options from Hasselblad, this one won't actually destroy your hopes of sending four generations of offspring to college. Boasting a 44mm x 33mm sensor, a 3-inch rear LCD and a virtually indestructible chassis, this monster promises high res images that only pros can appreciate, and there's a pair of SD / SDHC card slots for those who love to surround themselves with options. You'll also get a newly designed 11-point AF sensor, a fresh dust removal system, 77-segment multi-pattern metering system and a battery good for around 800 images when fully charged. 'Course, with a retail price of ¥850,000 ($9,442), you'll also expect amenities like an HDR mode, dynamic range expansion and an HDMI output, all of which just so happen to be included. Oh, and if you're in the market for some new glass, there's also a 55mm F2.8 lens that'll ship alongside of this here body for the princely sum of ¥100,000 ($1,110).

Pentax gets official with 40 megapixel 645D medium format camera originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball: Twins' Joe Nathan has elbow-ligament tear - San Jose Mercury News

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:06:31 GMT

Washington Post

Baseball: Twins' Joe Nathan has elbow-ligament tear
San Jose Mercury News
Street says he visited the doctor in Toronto in 2007 and 2008 while the right-hander was playing for the A's. Mets: Shortstop Jose Reyes has an overactive ...
Nathan injury is enormous blow to Twins FOXNews
Daily Dose: Terrible News for Nathan RotoTimes.com
2010 Fantasy Baseball: Camp Talk 3/6 OPENSports.com
Bleacher Report - Bradenton Herald
all 1,039 news articles »

SXSW 2010 for Web Celeb Stalkers

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:56:18 GMT

A ReadWriteWeb Guide

OMG! Kevin Rose just touched my shirt!

Don't lie - we know you get butterflies at the thought of bumping into iJustine or Robert Scoble at a tech conference. We've pulled together a nice little cheat sheet just for you, friends. Whether you want a simple handshake, and autograph on your iPhone or a chance to pitch your idea for the Next Big Web App, here's ten places, panels and parties where you can track down the Internet famous at SXSW 2010. Don't forget to leave your tips in the comments!

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This is part of a series of ReadWriteWeb guides to SXSW Interactive 2010. If this guide isn't your cup of tea, be sure to check back for more information soon!

Justine Ezarik, a.k.a. iJustine

Longtime lifestreaming queen iJustine is famously an Apple fangirl, but it's Intel that's giving you the key to tracking her down at SXSW. She's and Intel Insider, and she might be stopping by some of the Intel Insider events, like Frank Gruber's Johnny Cash party or Chris Heuer's Social Media Clubhouse. We don't have hard and fast details on Ezarik's whereabouts, but wherever she is, she'll probably be tweeting, so keep an eye on her Twitter accounts.

Christopher Poole

Pool may not be a household name in and of himself, but there's nary an Internet user who hasn't been in some way effected by the fun and foul play on 4chan. "4chan - often referred to as a 'meme factory' - has been responsible for the creation of countless Internet memes but is perhaps best known for its exploits. In this conversation, we'll explore the game mechanics of online communities. What fosters creativity in an online community? What design elements can we incorporate to increase interaction? How is the game played?"

Baratunde Thurston

In "How to Be Black," The Onion web editor and star of Popular Science's Future Of series Baratunde Thurston will "touch on the black online experience (if there is such a thing) included memes, statistics on usage patterns, popular destinations and issues of representation. For example, are black people as represented among the creators, developers and builders of our future or are we more consumer oriented than average?"

Violet Blue

Our favorite sex blogger will be kicking off SXSW with a presentation on "How to Not Be a Douchebag at SXSW[...] Aimed at both first-time and long-time attendees to SXSW Interactive, this biting and humorous, yet useful panel takes a look at the common actions and behaviors to avoid if you don't want to be described as 'doing it wrong.'"

Kevin Rose

This year, the Digg founder returns to host Diggnation Live at Stubb's. The Bigg Digg Shindigg was certainly one of the largest events at SXSW 2009, with fans crowding around the large outdoor stage to take pictures and watch Rose shoot the Diggnation episode. But don't expect to meet the man himself unless you've got VIP status for the party.

Chris Messina

In his talk, "ActivityStrea.ms: Is It Getting Streamy In Here?," Messina will explore the nuances of the real-time web. "From Facebook's newsfeed to Twitter's relentless real-time updates, the metaphor of the 'stream' has taken social networking beyond blog posts and on to rich social activities. Learn about ActivityStrea.ms - the open format adopted by Facebook, MySpace, and Windows Live - and how it's fundamentally changing the social web."

Leah Culver

This young developer and successful entrepreneur will be hosting the Web Framework Battle Royale. "Which web framework will rule them all? As an audience member you pick the winner! We will present an introduction to a variety of web frameworks including Rails, Django, Catalyst and Sinatra. You can vote for the best web framework in categories such as URL handling, database integration, forms, HTML templating, documentation, testing and deployment."

Gary Vaynerchuk

The WineLibraryTV founder is a true Web guru and an inspiration to entrepreneurs and content creators around the globe. He'll be giving one of his signature, unforgettable presentations again this year as part of the Interactive Speakers Series.

Three years after his web app hit it big at SXSW 2007, Twitter co-founder Ev Williams takes the main stage to be interviewed by Havas Media Lab director Umair Haque in front of a live audience . All we have to say is that you'd better get there early if you don't want to get stuck watching a simulcast in an adjacent room!

Molly Wood

A last-minute stand-in for Natali Del Conte, Wood has a fanbase of her own. "CNET's Buzz Out Loud will broadcast live from SXSW. While discussing the day's tech news, hosts Tom Merritt, Jason Howell, Molly Wood and others will chat with the audience and invite special guests to talk about what's happening at the show and beyond."

Bonus Round! If you stalk him on Twitter, Foursquare, Plancast and Gowalla, you might get to bump into Robert Scoble, as well. Or, you can catch him at the Rackspace party Monday evening. And of course, while we don't consider ourselves celebrities, the RWW crew will be present and accounted for at the PBS/NPR/RWW party Sunday night!

Those are our SXSW Interaction recommendations for web celeb stalkers of all stripes. If you've got suggestions or feedback, let us know in the comments! See you in Austin, folks!

Discuss

MSI starts shipping two 12.1-inch, AMD-powered Wind12 U230 netbooks

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:37:00 GMT

It sure took 'em long enough -- just over four months if you're keeping score -- but MSI has finally shipped its next-generation netbook. The AMD-powered Wind12 U230 has left the docks today in two distinct flavors (the U230-033 and U230-040), with both touting Windows 7 Home Premium, a 12.1-inch WXGA (1,366 x 768) display, ATI's Radeon HD3200 graphics, 2GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a 6-cell battery and a 1.3 megapixel camera. The duo also features three USB sockets, VGA / HDMI outputs, an Ethernet port, audio in / out, a 4-in-1 card reader and a chassis that weighs in at 3.3 pounds. As for the differences? The former ships with an AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 under the hood and a 250GB HDD, while the latter sports an Athlon X2 L335 CPU and a 320GB platter. Both are available for the taking right now at NewEgg, though it's on you to decide if the the second model is really worth the extra $50 over the $429.99 base price.

Continue reading MSI starts shipping two 12.1-inch, AMD-powered Wind12 U230 netbooks

MSI starts shipping two 12.1-inch, AMD-powered Wind12 U230 netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Launches Apps Marketplace for the Enterprise

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:38 GMT

Google launched an application marketplace today comprised of services from third-party providers that integrate with the Google Apps ecosystem.

The news has been anticipated for some time. In particular, it shows how much Google is embracing open-standards and leveraging its search and Google Apps platform to attract third-party developers.

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Google made the announcement at its Google Campfire One event tonight. The emphasis Google is putting on the enterprise is apparent in how much attention the company put into the event tonight. Over and over we heard that Google passed the 25 million customer mark over the weekend.

It is that mark that Google is using as its hook for attracting developers to its platform. Developers will be charged $100 to join the program. With that entrance fee, the developers may add as many apps as they wish to the Google Apps Marketplace.

The marketplace supports OpenID to provide a single sign-on for developers. Authorization is integrated into the platform. The customers get access through OAuth, the open standard for authorizing users.

A "manifest page" is the foundation for the service. The developers provides information when adding the application to the marketplace that identifies it. Developers then provide additional information about the product.

The system is a controlled marketplace. Application developers submit the app for approval, which might take a few days.

Intuit provided an example of how the system works by showing how payroll would be managed. The customer accesses the account. With Google Apps integration, the customer accesses their account where they have the employee information. It's that collected contact network that is then integrated with the payroll application.

Atlassian showed how Studio, its project management application would integrate with GMail and Google Apps. Again, if the company is standardized on Google Apps, the information is available through the network. It is this network availability that demonstrates the effectiveness of the Atlassian application.

Manymoon is another project mangement application that was demonstrated. It is using Google Apps to develop features such as a calendar feature, showing how a startup can leverage Google Apps to add features to its service.

Other companies part of the initial launch include Socialwok and Appirio, which demonstrated perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the marketplace.

The apps in the marketplace can be integrated with contextual information. An email can show information about the sender that gives the recipient business intelligence that can help determine what action to take.

In all, the Google Apps Marketplace shows the modern view that Google is taking with its approach to the social Web. It integrates with OpenID and OAuth.

But at its core, the marketplace at its base is built upon Google's search capabilities. Google Apps can be extended with the applications in the marketplace. In turn, developers have access to the built-in capabilities of Google Apps.

Perhaps the greatest value to customers will be if they are centralized on Google Apps. If so, they can get some pretty powerful capabilities of the Google Apps Marketplace.

Discuss

Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:55:00 GMT

Surely you remember those Sixense motion controls that we caught lounging around at Razer's CES booth, right? Yeah. Today at the Game Developers Conference, both outfits have teamed up in order to distribute the Ultra-Precise Motion Controller SDK and FPS utility library via Steam, which should give devs the ability to create new games and port existing titles for use with the aforementioned sticks. We're told that these new tools will require "require virtually no knowledge of the inner workings of the controller," enabling coders to craft titles that take full advantage of the six degrees of freedom. Will this turn the PC into the next Wii? We kind of doubt it, but at least someone's looking out for non-console gamers who have a secret obsession with Nintendo's Wiimote.

Continue reading Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankie may go back to glasses - MLB.com

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:13:02 GMT

New York Times (blog)

Frankie may go back to glasses
MLB.com
Cleared to return to baseball activity and the Mets' clubhouse, too, Frankie Rodriguez will return to work -- pitching ninth innings -- shortly, ...
Things clearing up for Mets' Rodriguez Vero Beach Press-Journal (subscription)

all 74 news articles »

Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:10:00 GMT

We know you've barely recovered from our Devour review, but Moto just threw another Blur-ified phone in our laps this afternoon - the CLIQ XT. We've been playing around with the Android 1.5-based, Flash Lite-supported, multitouch-capable handset for the last couple of hours -- but before we grace you with our first impressions, just a fair warning: we don't yet know the price of the new T-Mobile Android handset, though Motorola did promise us that it will hit shelves this month. With that said, hit the break for a quick rundown of our early thoughts.

Gallery: Motorola CLIQ XT with MotoBlur hands-on

Continue reading Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on

Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft shows off XNA games running on Windows Phone, full 3D is a go

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:50:00 GMT

Alright, we're going to be straight with you: you're not going to like this. See, Microsoft just showed us a pair of 3D games running on its ASUS Windows Phone prototype and built with its brand new XNA Game Studio 4.0, but wouldn't let us nab a single photo or video of the process. What we can tell you is that they exist, they work, and at least Microsoft tossed us some screenshots to wave in your face. The two titles are The Harvest (pictured), a good looking touch-controlled dungeon crawler with destructible environments, being developed by Luma Arcade; and Battle Punks, a less impressive one-on-one sword fighting Facebook game by Gravity Bear that's being ported over. We didn't get to see any full motion 3D camera moves, since Battle Punks is just composed of two characters duking it out, and The Harvest has a fixed camera and some pre-rendered elements, but there were indeed some real polygons being crunched before our eyes at a full resolution (no upscaling), alpha-rev, choppy framerate, and we were assured that full screen 3D was possible. We also got to see one of our first glimpses of universal notifications on Windows Phone: Achievement unlock notices (also pictured above) that slide down from the top of the screen in a black bar and then slide back, and can't be interacted with. Follow after the break for some more nerdy details, along with a video of VisualStudio in action, and screenshots of the two games are in the gallery below.

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series XNA screenshots

Continue reading Microsoft shows off XNA games running on Windows Phone, full 3D is a go

Microsoft shows off XNA games running on Windows Phone, full 3D is a go originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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