We are LIVE on Ustream!!! This week we talk Gamification, Twitter news, people getting sue-happy, and 1080p on your phone! that and much more

Items of Interest

• (JP) Big O Pc/ Xbox 360 console combined
  • Monster Pc with Built in XBox 360

• • Starting at $7,669, the Big O features a double-wide case with all the bells and whistles. base configuration, the CPU, both GPUs, and the motherboard all come liquid-cooled. Upgrade options include up to two six-core Intel Xeon X5680 CPUs, two 1,000-watt power supplies, and up to four graphics cards. All of that while impressive, is nothing compared to the bottom edge of the system, where Origin has built in a liquid-cooled Xbox 360 Slim.

• (SM) Infinite Adaptive Mario

Gold Sponsors:

UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka @UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Woookie Coookies – a piece of UDC before there is even a physical cafe
• UberDorkCafe – Auction Sept. 11th – DC,Tampa Bay,Online
• first Piece revealed and accompanying t-shirt @hefnatron
• Ellen campaign???

• Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices

• • Both are available in the Android Market for Android devices running 1.5 or later
  • Lite is a free version (ad supported) with slightly limited functionality
  • Full version is only $1.99 USD
  • Go Buy it! or try it, then buy it!

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Free Ringtone HEAVEN! (udg)

• • http://www.brinked.com
  • Account is free (hint: use fake phone # for security purposes. Retyping their example # works just fine)
  • Upload and edit your own songs
  • Import & edit YouTube clips! (Yes I made the “Junkpunch: YOU KNOW WHY!”)
  • Download tone, sync phone and you’re set. Jinkies it’s awesome!
  • Ok, SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY addicting
    • (JP) I use Audiko.net same thing, no account required!

• iOS 4.1 Released and now in the Wild
  • Game Center (not including 3g)
    • (JP) no games using it yet… even one update moments ago that claims to have it, doesn’t show up in Game Center yet
  • HDR Photography
    • Slick. I love HDR, so this will be a cool feature
  • Various fixes around bluetooth

• Atari Restickable wall decals!!! (JP)
  • Asteroid, Centipede, or PONG!!!
  • Plus… use code PONG for $10 off a $30 order, good through 9/10/10 at 11:59 PM ET.

Geek Speak

Companies Adopt Gamification

• Good games sell better.
• developer’s goal is to design a structure and system of rules in which players will a) enjoy the process or journey, and b) create a sense of added value.
• fun process coupled with a system for incentives or rewards for a job well done can become downright addictive. (WoW, zinga games, mini ipod games that status twitter or fb)
• Ppl are seeking to take RL lessons from games

• • Nike +
  • Mint.com
  • Foursquare
  • etc?

How do we gamify our lives?

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• Gearbox buys Duke Nukem Rights (JP)
  • The story, and game, that just won’t buy gets a new chapter
  • Gearbox announced this bombshell at PAX proper
  • DNF is their first game, but more to come
  • Original creator, Alan Blum, now works for gearbox
  • Release date: xmas 2020

• Borderland raises their level cap by 8 (SM)
  • (another Gearbox)
  • There’s new DLC for one of our favorite post apoc FPRPG
  • “Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution”
  • What it won’t include is a new level cap raising and rebalancing
  • Good News? They’re giving those out for free
  • They plan an 8 lvl raise for all players, current cap is 61….

• New Parody RPG Fantasy University Aims to give Zynga a run (udg)

• • I’ve long stated FB game “addicts” have no right to call themselves “hardcore gamers.” The games just don’t qualify period. Until now?
  • Simutronics is hoping their new game Fantasy University will live up to the standards real gamers (yea I said it) look for.
  • It’s a parody-driven role playing game that mocks pop culture.
  • Players move around a game world, gathering quests and fighting beasties one whack at a time. But there’s more to the game than flavorless hack-and-slash. Fantasy University is funny, stylish and smart; in short, it’s no FarmVille.
  • With an art style created by Tracy Butler, the artist behind the web comic Lackadaisy, and a plot brimming with pop culture references, the game feels like Mad magazine’s take on the fantasy videogame.
  • Game is in beta test right now, which I have signed up for and from what I’ve seen looks pretty awesome.
  • Can it achieve it’s goal of drawing hardcore gamers into FB gameland? I think only time will tell. All I know is it’s not Zynga and that alone makes me root for them.

• Captive Freed by Twitter (SM)
  • Well, nobody knows if the twitter was what really aided in his release
  • Japanese journalist, not heard since Apr. 1, sends 2 tweets from prison.
  • i am still allive [sic], but in jail,” and “here is archi in kunduz. in the jail of commander lativ.”
  • Low lvl captor had an N70, wanted to use it to see Al Jazeera, journalist activated it for him, and then tweeted from it.
  • A days later he was free back in Japan
  • See? Twitter can save your life
  • Speaking of saving your life, this guys tweeted a live heart attack
  • Tommy Christopher, White house reporter for mediaite.com, suffered a major heart attack that was almost fatal
  • His response to the event? Live tweeting! “I gotta be me. Livetweeting my heart attack. beat that”

• Journalist Benched Over False Twitter Report (JP)
  • Mike Wise, Journalist at The Washington Post didn’t think Twitter was that big of deal
  • To emphasize his point, he posted a fake tweet on Ben Roethlisberger (Pitt QB)
  • Instead of making his point, he got suspended when readers did their own fact checking and called him on his false report
  • 1/4 of all posts contain a link, 190 million unique visitors monthly
  • definitely a valid source of news finding
  • recent scoops: (us airways hudson river, dominican republic earthquake, Iran elections, fort hood shootings)

• Comic God Mark Millar Starts His Own Kick-Ass Magazine (udg)

• • You’re one of the hottest comic book writers on the planet. Wanted and Kick-Ass were already turned into A-list Hollywood movies and Nemesis scored its movie rights being snatched up after only 2 issues, so what’s next?
  • A print magazine of course!
  • British stores will be stocked w/ CLiNT, Mark Millar’s new monthly mag for “dudes.”
  • Will only be available to us US peeps via subscription for now.  Excited? So was I until the $61.99 stopped me.
  • Millar’s new passion project is the quest to create the ultimate magazine for young guys.
  • Will feature articles on movies, music, tv, as well as serialized comics.
  • One of the most awesome things? One of those comics will be the debut of his Kick-Ass sequel- Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall.
  • Ok, umm so what’s up with the name? Well rumor has it when the name Clint was printed in comic books in the early 60’s poor print quality made it look like a certain other c-word.
  • Wanna read a breakdown/review of the first issue? Check out what Comics Alliance had to say here.

• Windows XP Dying Oct. 22, Dell rushes it to grave (SM)
  • Oct. 22 is the final moratorium on XP downgrades for PC Makers
  • Dell is retiring it a month early in preparation
  • Sales of XP in stores was first halted in 2008
  • 60% of the personal computer market is still XP
  • 30% is a combo of Vista and Win 7
  • Apple? Up to 6%

• PS3 Blocks Jailbreaking with firmware update (JP)
  • Surprise Surprise, PS3 Jailbreak USB stick no longer works w/ new update
  • Sony calls the update “minor” but doesn’t really say whether it was to stop jailbreaking just unspecified “security features”
  • Prediction: There’s gonna be a war over the PS3 because it is more open than the XBox 360

• Microsoft Co-Founder Sues Everyone and Their Mother (udg)

• • Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen has gone on quite the insane little patent lawsuit run
  • Whose on his hitlist? Only Google, Facebook, eBay, Apple, Yahoo, AOL (seriously do they have anything left???), Netflix, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and YouTube (umm… doesn’t Google own it??)
  • The patents he’s citing describe tasks like:

• • • • “A site to offer suggestions to consumers for items related to what they’re currently viewing.”
      • “Enables ads, stock quotes, news updates or video images to flash on a computer screen peripherally to a user’s main activity.”

• • • • “allows readers of a news story to quickly locate stories related to a particular subject, among other things.”

• • There are sooo many things wrong with this on so many levels. Is the $18 BILLION he is currently worth not enough? Why now?? And how the Hell did AMAZON and a zillion other sites escape this mad spree?
  • Here’s a thought- let’s stop suing everyone and focus on making ummm… I dunno…. GOOD TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE CAN USE TO BETTER THEIR LIFE. Or a faster way to buy a new toaster. Either way, I’m calling bullshit on this one.

• 1080P in your Phone via Dual Core Processors (SM)
  • Already in the pipeline, should hit next year
  • 5x the graphics power, allows for both recording and playback @ 1080p
  • 2 x 1ghz arm processors, new graphics processor, faster memory (up to 64GB)
  • Dual Proc actually reduces the power consumption of more intense applications
  • Samsung, Tegra, and Quallcom all have announced different new processors
  • (SM) These will be SMOKIN!

Intarweb Goldmine

• Welcome back to school! Here’s your porn pen! (sm)

• • To sweeten their first day at primary school German children are normally given a cardboard cone filled with sweets, but schoolchildren in Essen this year opened their cones to find pens which project erotic images.
  • Who do the kids (and their screaming parents) have to thank? Why the Communists! No, seriously.
  • In a press release the German Communist Party stated that it had purchased the pens from a discount store, which had said the pens lit up at the push of a button. Oh something lights up alright, but it’s not the pen.
  • Don’t worry though, the Commies have offered to exchange the pens for something “more suitable for children.” And who says Communism is bad?

• Specially submitted by everyone’s favorite Geek Girl Kristin (JP)
  • Man calls 911 demands hugs and Hot cocoa and suprise, gets arrested
  • homeless man in Oregon was arrested for trespassing after sneaking into a local hot tub and calling 911 to request “a hug and a warm cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows,”
  • Officers responding to the bizarre call arrived at the Beaverton, Ore., neighborhood pool to find Mark Eskelson sitting naked in a hot tub. According to statements made to police, he had been sitting in the water for around 10 hours and began to worry for his health when he realized he had no dry towels.

• Venezuelan Politician Offers A Bizarre Raffle Prize (udg)

• • For under $6 you could win the chance at a shiny new pair of…. breasts.
  • Gustavo Rojas, who is running as an alternate for the National Assembly in Sept. 26 elections is the genius behind this plan.
  • With over 30,000 implant surgeries a year in the image-conscious Venezuela, this costly procedure is in high demand.
  • Rojas admitted it’s a little unusual but followed it up with “it’s like raffling off a TV set or a telephone.”

• Frankenstein Cited For Monstrous Behavior in Ohio (jp)

• • Ohio police say a Toby Keith fan named Forrest Frankenstein threatened them and beat his head against a partition in their cruiser after his arrest.
  • When the judge asked 39 yo Frankenstein why he “went crazy” at the Aug. 27 concert in Cincinnati. Frankenstein replied that he had been drinking and didn’t really remember anything.
  • Frankenstein, of Hamilton, is being held on $80,000 bond on counts of menacing, disorderly conduct and vandalism.

Extra Links

• TI-84 to hack a PS3
• XBLA on Win 7
• Other info on M4R format

Contact Info

• On Twitter: Steven is @DarthMolen and I am @JPuent Natali is @UberDorkGirlie
• email us: darthmolen@thepowergeeks.com and jpuent@thepowergeeks.com and uberdorkgirlie@thepowergeeks.com (yay!)
• And Become a Fan

Sponsors

Prof. Mordarm’s “The Wandering Geek Con Journal”

• Kickstarter Project by Lorenzo R.(aka @Prof_Mordarm), create a useful medium to inform people of Geeky Cons across the U.S., both big and small.
• Series of physical journals that will be written in and by the geeks, the panelists, the cosplayers, the vendors, & the fans. Everyone & anyone at a Con can write in this journal Allowing good, bad, and geeky experiences to liv on
• When enough content is gathered, these experiences will be published into easy to read (online, PDF, & hardcopy) editions each year. It will be the Geek’s version of the Farmer’s Almanac, but for Geeky Cons!
• To help get your own TWGCJ and/or support or if you have questions, check out the Kickstarter @ http://kck.st/cNUADw & also follow the project creator on Twitter for updates.

http://luxurylanesoap.com, @KyleeLane, GORGEOUS, IMAGINATIVE, HANDCRAFTED, GEEKY Soap

• Can I say any more superlatives? You will love her products.
• (We Do! They’re Geekalicious! but don’t eat them… they are SOAP!)

We are LIVE on Ustream!!! This week we talk InterventionCon, Apple Media Press Conference, Commodore 64 rising from the ashes and MUCH MORE!!!

Items of Interest

• Jack from Mass Effect 2 CosPlay !!!! (JP)
  • Super impressive costume! Must see!

• Historic Nasa Pictures come to Flickr “Commons” (SM)
  • Nasa posts free pictures on Flickr Commons of some of the most historic moments in its history
  • a GREAT trip down memory lane for any space nuts out there
  • Goddard, JFK, Von Braun, LBJ, John Glenn, Lots of rockets and xp planes
    • (JP – What an awesome collection of pics… Geeks and space geeks alike should dig this!)

Gold Sponsors:

UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka @UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Woookie Coookies – a piece of UDC before there is even a physical cafe
• UberDorkCafe – Auction Sept. 11th – DC,Tampa Bay,Online
• first Piece revealed and accompanying t-shirt @hefnatron
• Ellen campaign???

• Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices

• • Both are available in the Android Market for Android devices running 1.5 or later
  • Lite is a free version (ad supported) with slightly limited functionality
  • Full version is only $1.99 USD  (On Sale till Midnight Monday Central for only $0.99 for Labor Day Sale!)
  • Go Buy it! or try it, then buy it!

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Dragon Age: Origin Awakenings XPack now on Mac (JP)
  • Did you know one of the best RPG’s out there was on Mac? DAO = the win
  • Awakenings now available on their store, its the xpack that has been out for awhile now
  • (Research a bit about the story)

• Thriller- The Entire Series on DVD (UDG)

• • Originally aired 1960-62, hosted by Boris Karloff
  • Guests included Shatner, Richard Chamberlain and other soon to be stars
  • Many of the program’s writers, including such icons of the genre as Robert Bloch (“Psycho”) and Richard Matheson (“I Am Legend”)

• Pinball FX2 comes to XBLA (SM)
  • Pinball? In this day and age? Original Pinball FX was one of the most bought and downloaded games on XBLA
  • FX2 is a “platform” meaning, you get the engine for free, you can import all your original FX boards and then the new boards come as content that u can purchase
  • New Achievements for old tables, Multiplayer support over XBLA, Leaderboards
  • (sm) Pinball tip of the week – Every Chuckie’s i’ve been to has 1 pinball machine for 1 token plays, boot the kids off it and camp the sucker

• Mirror’s Edge, Puzzle Agent coming to IPhone (SM)
  • Already on the IPad, now moving to IPhone
  • $4.99 for the Parkour style Adventure game

Geek Speak

• InterventionCon

• Apple Event (JP)

  • New AppleTV delivers on $99 price point, streaming

  • a smaller form-factor that clocks in at 1/4th the size of its first-generation sibling.
  • power supply is built into the Apple TV along with HDMI (at 720p cap) and Ethernet connections, and onboard 802.11n WiFi support. It also includes an Apple remote.
  • The Catch for $99 bucks? All Rental model… no purchases.
  • Netflix and YouTube streaming is available, along with photo streaming from Flickr and MobileMe.
  • new AppleTV will also be able to stream content from an iPad using the just-announced AirPlay in iOS 4.2 that’s slated to come out in November.
• iTunes 10 (available for download starting today)
  • New logo, few interface tweaks
  • Most of the new release’s focus is on Ping, a social network for music. “It’s like Facebook and Twitter meets iTunes,” Jobs said

• • iOS 4.1 announced, available next week

• High Dynamic Range photos: The phone will take three photos in rapid succession — one at what the phone thinks is the normal image, one underexposed and the third overexposed. The image is then combined to create the high dynamic image. Mel Martin demonstrated the power of this type of program in July.
• Bug fixes including those relating to the proximity sensor, Bluetooth and the iPhone 3G.
• High-definition video upload over Wi-Fi.
• TV show rentals and purchase
• Game Center debut

New iPod Nano
It’s hip to be square. the newly introduced iPod nano finally dispenses with the wheel because now the control surface is the iPod touch. The new model is so small that like the newly announced iPod shuffle, it has a clip that allows it to be worn and has a 24-hour battery life.

What isn’t there: the video camera that was included in the last release of the nano a year ago.

Other features include:

• VoiceOver
• FM radio
• Nike+ and pedometer

It comes in six colors, two more than the shuffle. It will cost $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB.
New Shuffle
The new iPod shuffle is smaller than the 2nd generation device and brings back buttons!
The new shuffle has a click wheel
It will hold 15 hours of music, is available in 4 colors and sells for US$49.
4th Gen iPod Touch
FaceTime. It isn’t just for iPhone any more.
Apple has just introduced a new generation of iPod touch with an new chip (the same A4 that powers the iPad and the iPhone 4), a better display (the iPhone 4′s double-resolution Retina display), and a built-in, front-facing camera that introduces FaceTime video conferencing capabilities.
a hefty refresh for an already great device,
lots of new features that really expand the way you can use the device.
newest iPod touch units bring nearly all of the iPhone magic to a Wi-Fi only platform.

Preorders start today, and they’ll be shipping within a week
Prices start at $229 for the 8GB version.

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• Intel a Busy bee (SM)
  • First, the purchase of Mcafee for $7.68 billion
  • Now, Infineon’s wireless unit for $1+ billion
  • Who is Infineon? make certain Iphone / IPad parts
  • Even intel sees writing on wall and is scrambling to be relevant

• HP writes a painful $55 Million check. (udg)

• • Have agreed to pay the US govt $55 million to settle charges that it paid kickbacks to tech partners for recommending their products to federal agencies
  • This final agreement, announced Mon, by the Dept of Justice follows a tentative settlement earlier in the month where HP agreed “in principal” to resolve the case.
  • “Contractors must deal fairly with the government when doing business with federal agencies,” Tony West, assistant attorney general for the civil division of the Department of Justice, said in the statement. “As this case demonstrates, we will take action against those who seek to taint the government procurement process with illegal kickbacks.”
  • The case stretches back to 2004 when two whistleblowers–Norman Rille, then a senior manager with Accenture, and Neal Roberts, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers–filed a civil complaint alleging that HP had doled out kickbacks. The suit, which also included Sun Microsystems and Accenture, was launched under provisions of the False Claims Act (PDF) in which private citizens can file actions regarding fraud on behalf of the U.S. and share in any money recovered.
  • In 2007, the DOJ joined the investigation and charged that the defendants used affiliate relationships “to enrich themselves through a kickback scheme.”
  • The settlement also resolves charges that a 2002 contract between HP and the GSA was falsely priced because HP failed to provide complete information during negotiations with the government.
  • HP’s response to the whole thing? “HP denies engaging in any illegal conduct in connection with these matters. We believe it is in the best interest of our stakeholders to resolve the matter and move beyond this issue.”

• Commodore 64 Rises from the Ashes (JP)
  • Commodore USA announced right to make branded computers 6 mos ago
  • Then promptly went back under that radar as a deal couldn’t be hammered out
  • Now popped back up with full blown computer hidden in a authentic commodore 64 shell, right down to the huge keys!
  • PC64, 4GB DDR3, SATA 1TB HDD, HDMI, Blu-Ray or DVD
  • Want more modern? Go w/ the Phoenix or Amigo
  • All OS’es (including Amiga emulation)
    • (JP – I want one!!!)

We are LIVE on Ustream!!! Tonight we break out the zombies, Lightning Rock’n’Roll, high tech garbage, and stalking gets easy, all this and more!

(JP) With gratitude and much respect, best birthday wishes to Mr. Declan MacManus aka Elvis Costello.

Jeremy brought it up, Prof. Mordarm made the pic

Items of Interest

• You’ve seen Steampunk…helloo MarvelPunk (udg)
• • 19 yo Zachariah Perry Cruse, a sculpture student of Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, Indiana has created an Xbox 360 mod Tony Stark would be proud of.
  • It started as a rusty, fat Falcon HDMI Xbox 360.
  • It has its own Arc Reactor that glows in cool white when the console is turned on, in addition to a ring of light around the Arc Reactor that looks like the console’s power button.
  • Available on ebay, the sexy beast comes with matching red controller and a 120g hard drive with “Stark Industries” label.
  • Looking to bid on this? Good luck- current top bid is $3,200.
    • I think Microswerve should hire this kid immediately… his consoles beat any of the custom faceplate models on the market to date (JP)

• Walking Dead Official Trailer (SM)
  • (SM)I am officially in love with this series and its not even out yet
  • We saw pieces of this from SDCC
  • That they would keep Kirkman around speaks volumes towards how they want to get this right
  • Watch all the other stuff at that site… Zombie school? Count me in
    • (JP) So Glad Darabont is attached to this. He has done the best adaptations of Stephen King novels… He has a great way of handling horror/suspence subject matter. This should be amazing! now I have a new reason to look forward to Halloween!
• Age of Empires Getting a new treatment for online linked to Xbox360 and Windows Games Live (JP)
  • Sign up for the Beta at the link in the show notes…
  • Under an NDA for now, but as soon as  I can talk about it… I will
  • I can say I have always love AoE games and am excited about this…

Gold Sponsors:

UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka @UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Woookie Coookies – a piece of UDC before there is even a physical cafe
• UberDorkCafe – Auction Sept. 11th – DC,Tampa Bay,Online
• first Piece revealed and accompanying t-shirt

• Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices
  • Both are available in the Android Market for Android devices running 1.5 or later
  • Lite is a free version (ad supported) with slightly limited functionality
  • Full version is only $1.99 USD
  • Go Buy it! or try it, then buy it!

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Tactical Bacon - ‘Nuff said
  • Delicious bacon, canned, so it has a 10+ year shelf life.
  • Approx. 18 servings per can (1 serving = 3 slices of bacon).
  • Net Wt.: 9oz
  • a must have for every Zombipocalypse survival kit!

We are LIVE on Ustream!!! Tonight we talk with Sillof.com about his custom figures, amy geek Star Wars Celebration V, 7 ways the zombie apocalypse won’t happen, Star Wars on Blu-Ray, Radios in Cell phones (are you kidding me)

• Possible hacked iPhone saga- weird call+5 images on camera roll+ 1.6gb data uploaded to her phone + Apple “not so” genius +AT&T (need I say more) = still no clue. I’m telling ya- CHINESE!

Gold Sponsors:

UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka @UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Woookie Coookies – a piece of UDC before there is even a physical cafe
• UberDorkCafe – Auction Sept. 11th

• Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices

• • Both are available in the Android Market for Android devices running 1.5 or later
  • Lite is a free version (ad supported) with slightly limited functionality
  • Full version is only $1.99 USD
  • Go Buy it! or try it, then buy it!

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Toshiba releases Dual Screen Tablet / Laptop
  • Released in Japan first, now available here in the U.S. as of Monday as pre-order, Aug. 29 in some stores
  • Based on Windows 7, Clamshell device, 1.8 lbs, 7 inch
  • Bottom window is a touch screen keyboard and a monitor when needed
  • Bit pricey, $1099
    • (JP) One very cool feature (reading like an actual book) and one very disturbing song in the video ad at the link
      • Lyrics “You need me, you want me, come touch me, come hold me” Is this a porno ad?

• First Lara Croft & The Guardian of Light DLC Free for 30 Days Upon Launch on Xbox 360
  • Square Enix brings good news to those looking forward to Lara Croft’s first downloadable adventure.-the first content pack will be offered for free on the Xbox 360 for the first 30 days after launch, once it is released.
  • The Xbox 360 timed-exclusive is set to launch today as the final title in the 2010 Summer of Arcade promotion on Xbox Live.
  • (JP) WTF May go on tiny soapbox for a minute here. five DLC already when game dropping tomorrow??? Ripoff? Why not included in game… this isn’t like a map pack add on)

• Apple Releases Snow Leopard Graphics Update 1.0
  • Solves specific issues regarding frame rates in Portal and Team Fortress 2 on certain Macs, as well as issues that could cause StarCraft II or Aperture 3 to quit unexpectedly or become unresponsive.
  • Also corrects image corruption issue when connecting/disconnecting external displays
  • The update is 69.2MB and is available via Software Update for Macs running Mac OS X 10.6.4.

• DEXTER SEASON 4!! (udg)
  • Ok, I NEVER watch TV, but I’ve seen every episode of Dexter. It freakin’ rawks and season 4 is no excepction.
  • You will never look at John Lithgow the same way again.
  • Get it now while it’s a steal.
  • Trailer for Season 5 premiered at SDCC but I can’t link it cuz MAJOR SPOILER.
  • You’ve got til Sept 26 to cram it in before Season 5 premiers  (JP – Can’t wait!! Love DEXTER too!!!)

Geek Speak

• Sillof.com Guest Appearance
  • Jamie aka Sillof

• SWCV Rundown – (hopefully amy_geek – dm sent)
  • Top 5
    • Break out cosplay best and worst

• Trinkets and stuffs

• Knock off Merchandise, Social Media and Starwars – Panels,

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• Star Wars on Blu-Ray (SM)
  • Announced at SWCV when Jon Stewart asked the question
  • Deleted scenes, all 6 films, extended features
  • Only the “Special Edition”, original not included (HAN SHOT FIRST)
  • 2011 (WAAAAAA!)

• PS Plus Games go bye bye after subscription ends (JP)
  • Prchased a 3-month subscription to PlayStation Plus and wondering what will happen to the free games you’ve downloaded once your subscription runs out?
  • those “free” titles will cease to be accessible once the subscription expires.
  • Wanna play them again? Ante up for another subscription or purchase the game in the store.
  • Strangely, PSone games still work once the Plus subscription ends even though the games are clearly marked as “Expired.” Guessing this is a glitch so expect a mandatory firmware update.

• Xbox Live Titles For Windows Phone 7 Finally Revealed (udg)
  • Have finally announced a full list of launch titles for WP7 handsets, including Castlevania, Halo: Waypoint, Star Wars, Crackdown, and Guitar Hero, alongside a handful of newer properties like the ultra-cute ilomilo, produced in-house by Microsoft Game Studios.
  • In total, there will be over 60 game titles, with new offerings appearing every week in the Xbox Live Marketplace, just like its big brother console version
  • Microsoft has also shown off the full feature set of Xbox Live integration in Windows Phone 7, and users of the service should be pleased to discover that there’s not much missing from the version they know and love.
  • Will allow for full avatar integration (we’re talking fully rendered, interactive avatars) along with customization (clothes, accessories, and more). Messaging, friend lists / status, achievements, and leaderboards (with friend comparisons) are all here as well, making for a pretty complete mobile Xbox Live experience.
  • And also just like the console, every game will have a try-before-you buy demo to check out before spending your hard-earned cash.
  • You can visit the link in the show notes for a full review of the features that Engadget was able to preview. While many of the features were still very much in development, the review crew had great things to say about it and site a promising future for Xbox fans.
  • 

• Radio,RIAA Ask Congress for Radios in Cell Phones (SM)
  • There’s no money in radio anymore, user base dwindling
  • Most advert goes to either TV or online
  • Radio currently is only paying a portion of the licensing, online pays the full amt
  • Music industry is looking to make another 100 million from radio
  • Music business hurting, so squeeze radio, radio hurting, so make mobile device manufacturers build radio receivers in each device they make?
  • Have these ppl ever heard of I <3 radio??? Also, WTF with FM? Its power and bandwidth hungry
  • (JP) I love me my XM Sirius Radio. I only listen to Audible or XM in my car anymore

• MagicTalk = Free local phone calls to and from Computer? (JP)
  • Most services charge a fee to register a phone number and make calls to or from it on your computer (see skype and vonage)
  • Simple reason? It costs them money to register that phone # and act as a real telephone company
  • the Makers of Magic Jack want to change that by giving you a number for free tied to their software
  • How do they make money? They charge the phone companies when you receive a call and they charge for international calls
  • VOIP is one of the reasons the broadband providers want to regulate their bandwidth
  • JP – friend runs asterisk at home, and has a script that uses Google talk to make all outbound, his number from a similar service is free for incoming calls, but charges for outgoing calls. so this way, every call is an incoming call.

• The Zombie Cookies Plot Thickens (udg)
  • If you’ve been listening to our shows over the last few weeks, I mentioned an issue of some big names using technology that brings cookies (not noms, the ones on your computer) back to life and some people being not so happy about that. The plot has thickened.
  • Disney’s internet subsidiary and several of its partners are now being sued.
  • The attorneys representing people who browsed websites that employed the technology claim it was used to track them in ways that violate the sites’ privacy policies.
  • It appears as though the trackings, (including many minors) weren’t exactly random. The habits of one individual who browsed articles on depression, were uniquely tracked across a network of partners, according to the complaint.
  • The suit was filed in US District Court in Los Angeles against Walt Disney Internet Group, Clearspring Technologies, Warner Bros. Records, and several other companies that shared the cookies.
  • Seems they have an “information-sharing agreement” they failed to tell their users about.
  • The suit (which is seeking class-action status) was filed in US District Court in Los Angeles against Walt Disney Internet Group, Clearspring Technologies, Warner Bros. Records, and several other companies that shared the cookies
  • The suit alleges the companies violated a raft of laws, including the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the California Computer Crime Law, the California Invasion of Privacy Act and trespass and personal property statutes.
  • You may read a full copy of the complaint here
  • Flash cookies can store up to 100kb of data, which is roughly 25 times that of reg cookies.
  • To Adobe’s defense, company officials have stated in comments (PDF) submitted to the FTC that their policy “condemns the practice of using Local Storage to back up browser cookies for the purpose of restoring them later without user knowledge and express consent.”
  • (SM) for the record, Silverlight also has a local storage option… its a common and necessary technology from a developers standpoint
  • (JP- so do most of the aps on your smartphone .. .see Stevens previous note must for devs.)

• Blizzard Wins $88 Million Lawsuit Against Private Server (SM)
  • Lady ran a private server that people could connect to
  • Sold items online via paypal
  • IT WAS A MULTI-MILLION dollar business (3 million in profits)
  • This wasn’t a small operation, 32,000 players in one day
  • 427,393 strong in the community (x$200 for each circumvention)
  • She didn’t even show up in court to refute the claims
    • (JP – was she on a beach on her own private island sipping Mai Tais?)

• One Step Closer to Robots Taking Over (udg)
  • Researchers in the U.K. are working on a robot that will develop emotions as it interacts w peoples
  • Scientists at the University of Hertfordshire announced this week that they have finalized a prototype of a robot capable of learning how to express emotions
  • It is designed to form attachments, interact with people and show emotions through bodily expressions.
  • So far it’s mastered happiness, sadness, fear, excitement and pride.
  • The robots are designed to learn how to respond to humans by feeding off of facial expressions and other social cues
  • Modeling emotions and learning on children and chimpanzees (ut oh!)
  • Increase in speculation that robot companions will hit the market soon
  • Companions and caregivers= ok future. Spouses, not so much.
  • David Levy, British Artificial Intelligence Researcher predicts people will be marrying robots by 2050?!?
  • Dating and mating one is already almost possible thanks to TrueCompanion.com (you do need to bee 18+ to view their site)
  • I took one for the team and Roxxxy is only $1,495 right now- $5,000 off her base price.
  • Rocky, the male version is not yet available. Oh. Darn.
  • Ok, the FAQ even creeped me out.
  • But not as much as the video did. JINKIES!!!

• 5,000,000 Legitimate domains infected by Malware (SM)
  • Network solutions hosts a widget that serves up malware after you install it on your hosted site (Small Business Success Index)
  • One catch, this widget is installed by default on all the parked domains for Network Solutions…
  • Google it and thats like 500,000 parked domains serving up malware
  • Yahoo says 5,000,000…
  • Scary part? only 50% of the virus scanners can detect the malware…
  • You would think a HUGE company like Network Solutions would be more diligent on one of their base pages.
  • Read our link for full details on what the malware does and how prolific the problem is
    • (JP – Laundry list of things this touches is frightening!!!)

Intarweb Goldmine

• Melting IPod halts rush hour train
  • Smell of smoke made them stop the train for 8 minutes to find the source
  • Apparently an IPod exploded in someone’s hand
  • Not the first time, lawsuit in progress by mother of 15 year old claiming one had blown up in her sons pants.
  • 60 instances of overheating w/ 4 injuries recorded in the US alone
  • (SM) Is that an Ipod in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

• Boardng for the Lord
  • A Hungarian Roman Catholic priest has become a YouTube hit with his method of spreading the word on wheels.
  • The Reverend Zoltan Lendvai, 45 believes skateboarding can open the way to God for young people.
  • The video of him in action, Funny Priest Skateboarding, has so far attracted close to 170,000 hits and now also has a music version.
  • He learned his skills at the age of 14 at school but it was only later, when he served as a priest  and ihad 3 boyrs btwn the ages of 16 & 18 who’d never gone to chuch but started coming regularly after he showed him a few tricks, that he realized the impact his skill could have on youngsters.
  • His first board bore the papal coat of arms and he has since given away at least six to his young parishioners
  • Video here
  • (JP – This may be proof of a miracle… no cars wreck in the background of the video… I must admit if I was driving down the road and saw a priest on a board I would probably crash my dang car! also… rather hilarious that the song they edit to this video has cursing galore!!)

• Sumo Suit Athletics World Championships Went Down This Past Weekend
  • Began in 2008 and founded on the profound basis of “it just seemed a fun idea when suggested in the pub one day “
  • The premise is simple: you don a sumo suit and compete in a variety of events over an afternoon.
  • Medals are awarded for each individual event and also for the overall ‘athlete’ of the day.
  • Video here
  • Only one question… WHY?

• Robot That Sells Ice Cream, Reason #4,393 I Love The Japanese (udg)
  • Robots + Ice cream (“???????”) = EPIC WIN
  • Yasukawa-kun is currently working a Tokyo Summerland.
  • While the video is awesome, going to see Yasukawa-kun in action live is yet another reason a trip to Japan is #1 on my Bucket List.
  • For the record, I will try to translate the song for you all, but it’s hilarious!
  • And hells yeah I’m following him on Twitter.
  • Another clip of “Robo Cream”
  • Unfortunately I won’t be seeing Yasukawa-kun as Tokyo Summerland (a water park) lists the following warning on its site “Management strictly prohibits the entry of persons affiliated with crime syndicates and persons with tattoos (including non-permanent body stickers and body paint) into Tokyo Summerland. “
  • I have a permanent ban as well… (JP) I have been accused of being Yakuza on multiple occasions due to my ink.

Extra Links

• 8 and 16 bit demakes
• Top 10 SWCV Moments
• Healthy Bento Boxes
• Stewart grills Lucas (Polish 501st FTW, Lucas: It helps to be nuts)

Contact Info

• On Twitter: Steven is @DarthMolen and I am @JPuent Natali is @UberDorkGirlie
• email us: darthmolen@thepowergeeks.com and jpuent@thepowergeeks.com and uberdorkgirlie@thepowergeeks.com (yay!)
• And Become a Fan

Sponsors

FanboyScouts.com

• Ever wanted to award your loved one for the Kessel Run?
• Ever braved a Danger Room and wanted to show your friends proudly?
• Now you can with merit badges from fanboyscouts.com! 11 collectible badges
• Get ‘em while they are hot, and limited

Prof. Mordarm’s “The Wandering Geek Con Journal”

• Kickstarter Project by Lorenzo R.(aka @Prof_Mordarm), create a useful medium to inform people of Geeky Cons across the U.S., both big and small.
• Series of physical journals that will be written in and by the geeks, the panelists, the cosplayers, the vendors, & the fans. Everyone & anyone at a Con can write in this journal Allowing good, bad, and geeky experiences to liv on
• When enough content is gathered, these experiences will be published into easy to read (online, PDF, & hardcopy) editions each year. It will be the Geek’s version of the Farmer’s Almanac, but for Geeky Cons!
• To help get your own TWGCJ and/or support or if you have questions, check out the Kickstarter @ http://kck.st/cNUADw & also follow the project creator on Twitter for updates.

http://luxurylanesoap.com, @KyleeLane, GORGEOUS, IMAGINATIVE, HANDCRAFTED, GEEKY Soap

• Can I say any more superlatives? You will love her products.
• (We Do! They’re Geekalicious! but don’t eat them… they are SOAP!)

We are LIVE on Ustream!!! This week we talk GENCON!!! UberDorkGirlie gives her rundown of the venerable geek conference, but no PICS of the famed slumber party, and much more…

(JP) Happy Birthday to WOZ!!! Steve turns 60 today! so we wish him a Power Geeky Birthday!

Gold Sponsors:
UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka @UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Kickstarter site for UberDorkCafe, these places just don’t build themselves
• Woookie Coookies – a piece of UDC before there is even a physical cafe

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World hits theaters Friday. (udg)
  • Based on comic Scott Pilgrim by Brian Lee O’Malley
  • Looks like a whole lotta awesome that does the comic proud

• JP – Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices
  • Both are available in the Android Market for Android devices running 1.5 or later
  • Lite is a free version (ad supported) with slightly limited functionality
  • Full version is only $1.99 USD
  • Go Buy it! or try it, then buy it!

Geek Speak

• Gen Con- The best 4 days in Gaming

• • Indy this past weekend Aug 5-8 43rd year
  • I’ve not been to one since it left Milwaukee
  • Media Guests of Honor- Felicia Day, the cast of The Guild and Will Wheaton. Checked in to get my press pass, hit the goodie table, turned around – Felicia
  • )
  • Cos Play-
  • s
  • Tons of great artists, I’ll have to compile a list of all of them for ya for the site.
  • 

• • Jackass Chef there WHY? Hello stereotypes. I wanted to junkpunch.

Oh wait, there were games!

• Magic: The Gathering celebrated “Summer of Mulitplayer” with 5 multiplayer events each day
• True Adventures (producers of True dungeon live-action gaming event) raised $9,000 for the Gary Gygax memorial to be raised in Lake Geneva, Wi- the birthplace of Gen con.  (JP – I met Gary at GenCon in Indy like 20 something years ago… he introduced me to the 100 sided die! )
• Atari announced they are working on something new. Wouldn’t say what, but based on new domain names they recently registered, it points to a Neverwinter Nights MMO on the horizon.
• So… AWESOME weekend!!! And lots of hugs for everyone…

• • !
  • !

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• Rubiks Cube Solvable in 20 Moves (SM)
  • Did you know that most human’s can solve a rubiks cube in about 40 moves?
  • What you are actually doing when you combine rubiks twists is called an algorithm
  • Well, the magic number for the fewest twists is called “God’s Number”
  • It only took 35 total years of google computer time to get to it

• 12 Core Mac Pro Now Commercially Available (JP) – The Sticky note of infamy was up on the Store page the other day… MAC refresh was there when the sticky was gone.
  • You’re gonna pay a cool $5k for the low end of this system
  • two 2.66GHz six-core Intel Xeon Westmere processors, 6GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and an ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card (up to 3 monitors, dx11 support)
  • 21.5” iMac
    • i3 processor, discreet graphics, 1080p
    • $1099, No blu-ray option (Steve says this isn’t coming to any MAC despite demand from user base)

• Cookie Headset- I can haz any cookie? (udg)
  • “Meta Cookie” is an “interactive gustatory display” by Takuji Narumi of the University of Tokyo
  • Helmet with goggles connected to a camera
  • Person chooses whatever cookie they want out of ones shown to them
  • Handed plain cookie. Airtubes attached to helmet pump smell of desired cookie into nose
  • Wrong… just plain wrong I tell you.
  • (SM) This is a perfect way for Vegetarians to try Woookiee Cookies!
  • Speaking of Wookie Cookies… I think the postman ate mine! JP

• Droid 2 to release on Verizon with Special Star Wars R2D2 Edition (JP)
  • the worst kept secret from Verizon the Droid 2 will be available for pre-order aug 12th and will ship with Android 2.2
  • Amusingly, Motorola and Verizon also announced that they will offer a special edition Star Wars version of the Motorola Droid 2 in September. The R2D2 Droid 2 will come with Stars Wars content and it will be made to look like R2D2 Astromech droid from the Star Wars film. Motorola didn’t share a picture of the R2D2 version of the Droid 2
    • (side note regarding 2.2 FroYo on current droids – 2 hrs ago )

• Netflix getting closer to streaming 1st run movies (SM)
  • Paramount, Lion’s Gate, MGM
  • It’ll cost Netflix nearly 1 billion to do so
  • The deal will commence Sept. 1.
  • Ted Sarandos, taking a “pile of money” from USPS, giving it to studios ($600 million)

• Facebook hacked, Names and photos revealed (udg)
  • A bug in FB’s login system allows attackers to match unknown email addresses with users’ first and last names, even if set to private
  • If the address belongs to any one of the 500 million active users the site will return the full name and picture associated with the account.
  • Facebook has been under repeated attack for revealing way too much private info about it’s users over the past couple of years.
  • Their response was giving users more control over who could see what.
  • The name-to-email address extraction bug proves that doesn’t really work.
  • We can expect to see a fix to this soon?

• Games responsible for 5 billion of US economy (JP)
  • A study commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) found that the video game industry added about $5 billion to the US economy in 2009.
  • Entitled “Video Games in the 21st Century: The 2010 Report” [PDF link], claims the industry directly employs about 32,000 people in the US and indirectly employs 120,000 (GameStop employees, video game media, manufacturing and distribution).
  • Average industry employee makes $89,781 a year. Obviously that’s not the GameStop employee, but that is the average of them all.  (Kiddies this means video game programming pays… testing… not so much!)
  • CA lays claim to 41% of the employees in the industrty
  • The annual growth rate of the industry exceeded 10% between 2005 & 2009

• Starcraft 2 Tourneys offer $500k total (SM)
  • We know how South Korean’s love their starcraft
  • One TV network locked down Blizzard broadcast rights in SK, GomTV
  • New league, Global Starcraft 2 League, hellbent on luring SC 1 players over to 2
  • Offering $125,000 PER TOURNAMENT, 64 player field, 1 a month for rest of 2010
  • Plans for grand finale in 2011, Nothing says progress like money
  • Scintillating Starcraft commentary

Intarweb Goldmine

• Prisoners thank Plants vs Zombies (udg)
  • Where? Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
  • The guard actually left the keys lying around while he became engrossed in a round of Plants vs. Zombies,  DUH!! Hello Prison Guard 101
  • Four of the inmates were caught soon after the escape, but one still remains at large
  • interesting side note… the guard should no longer have access to his idevice since he’ll be rooming with some of his former wards!! hahahaha

• Guy wants a roomate in SoHo who isn’t a Mac Fanboy (JP)
  • An ad posted to Craigslist yesterday is from an open-minded sort of guy who wants a roommate for an apartment in Soho. Sounds typical, right? Here’s the catch: He insists that prospective roommates not have an iPhone or an iPad.
• The ad states that “I refuse to live with anyone that has sold their immortal soul to Steve Jobs.” He’s also looking for a guy with Starcraft II experience, and wants any potential live-ins to post a link to their battle.net profile and to prove to him that they don’t own an iPhone.
  • The New York Observer found the guy, Vince Thomas, and he said he currently lives with another fellow who is a Mac fan, and Vince says he “just can’t take it anymore.” Vince has a Droid phone from Motorola, and apparently he’d rather talk about that instead.
• Vince has a point. Some of us love our iPhones. In social situations I don’t bring it up unless someone asks. I’m even feeling a bit guilty about the ‘Sent from my iPhone’ tag on my mail. If I write Vince I’ll be sure to change it to ‘Sent from my wonderful Droid, which is so much better than the iPhone I ditched.’
  • (JP) my bet is… this guy is no picnic to live with either!
  • (udg) Are you sure this guy’s name wasn’t Steven????

• Woman driven mad by McDonalds
  • Woman in Ohio gets incensed because MiccyD’s is serving b-fast and can’t get nuggets
  • Reached through drive-thru and punches 2 employees then smashes Drive-thru window
  • Gets 60 days in jail
  • Proof that fast food and McDonalds CAN drive ppl nuts…

• Woman quits job in style
  • Was sexually harassed at work
  • revealed her quitting in 33 pictures
  • Kicker? Her boss installed a spy for monitoring web traffic
  • He himself played 19 hrs of Farmville a week
  • UDG- SORRY THIS IS A HOAX!!! (woulda been awesome though)

Extra Links

• Net Neutrality: Argument For
• Geek Love: Edgar Wright Talks Scott Pilgrim

Contact Info

• On Twitter: Steven is @DarthMolen and I am @JPuent Natali is @UberDorkGirlie
• email us: darthmolen@thepowergeeks.com and jpuent@thepowergeeks.com and uberdorkgirlie@thepowergeeks.com (yay!)
• And Become a Fan

Sponsors

FanboyScouts.com

• Ever wanted to award your loved one for the Kessel Run?
• Ever braved a Danger Room and wanted to show your friends proudly?
• Now you can with merit badges from fanboyscouts.com! 11 collectible badges
• Get ‘em while they are hot, and limited

http://luxurylanesoap.com, @KyleeLane, GORGEOUS, IMAGINATIVE, HANDCRAFTED, GEEKY Soap

• Can I say any more superlatives? You will love her products.
• (We Do! They’re Geekalicious! but don’t eat them… they are SOAP!)

We are LIVE on Ustream!!!  This week we bring on the Geek Scouts, Talking some really cool action figures, Getting all tin foil hats about China, and our first racy Intarweb Goldmine. Click here to download this episode

We are LIVE on Ustream!!! We talk Blizzard Real ID (man, people hate this one), Zombies, Iphone and Android stuff, and much more! download edited show || unedited show.

(SM) Story about my boy: First geek utterance: “This rock is my precioussss”

Gold Sponsors:

UberDorkCafe

• Will be THE place for Geeks to hang out
• What is UberDorkCafe? It is the brain child and DREAM of Natali, aka UberDorkGirlie from twitter, and it blends art + science = geek
• Place to hang, eat, have awesome kid parties (if thats your thing), or to get your gaming on
• Natali was nice enough to come on the show last week, and bear our presence.  and tell us all about UberDorkCafe. We loved her voice so much that we brought her back this week to tell us what has gone on since last we talked
• Kickstarter site for UberDorkCafe, these places just don’t build themselves

Deals of the Week / New Releases

Gov 2.0 Mobile Apps

• FBI’S Most Wanted- (udg) Cuz ya know the stalkers like me. Totally got distracted for a second by the $1.99 “study for the FBI Exam app” Next time!!
  • Features the 10 most wanted (Seriously this really large old Ukaranian dude is #1? How hard can he be to catch? ), Top Terrorists, and Missing Kids (huge sad face).
  • You can submit a tip straight from app or click through to the “official page” on each person.
  • Also contains links to the official FB, Twitter and YouTube’s for the FBI.
• Fema App – (JP) odd… I tried installing the FEMA app but it said it’ll take at least three weeks before it shows up on my iPhone??? What the hell?
• Recall App (SM – Android and web)
  • Scary stuff… makes me not want to buy anything ever again
  • One consequence of a toyota valve spring cover recall – “The engine could fail and stop suddenly while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash” *yikes*
  • (udg- if only people came w/ warning labels and could be found on here!)
• DVD releases this week:
  • Brooklyn’s Finest
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (english subtitles – if Ihave to read, I’ll read the best seller book)
  • A single man

Geek Speak

Blizzard’s Real ID – Casting Anonimity aside (big topic for gamers)

• SC2 and Facebook Integration
• Are we ready as gamers, to cast our anonimity aside?
  • (JP) – I am good and confused by some information out there?
• Story on GameSpot (JP)
  • This story seems to have some very inflammatory words regarding this service
    • IE Required, or automatically shared
• info from Battle.net on this (JP)
  • Real ID is a completely voluntary and optional level of identity that keeps players connected across all of Battle.net. When you and a friend mutually agree to become Real ID friends, you’ll have access to a number of additional features that will enrich your social gaming experience in new and exciting ways.
  • This seems reasonable and actually useful, however if it is more of the facebook approach than what I am reading at this link… I imagine a lot of people will be upset and possibly leave….
• SCII Forums, Real ID will be mandatory
  • “The official forums have always been a great place to discuss the latest info on our games, offer ideas and suggestions, and share experiences with other players,” a Blizzard representative posted in a separate thread explaining the changes. “However, the forums have also earned a reputation as a place where flame wars, trolling, and other unpleasantness run wild. Removing the veil of anonymity typical to online dialogue will contribute to a more positive forum environment, promote constructive conversations, and connect the Blizzard community in ways they haven’t been connected before.”

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• Final Fantasy XIV Release Announced (udg)
  • Looks pretty sweet!
  • Collector’s Edition PC scheduled for Sept 22- $74.99
  • Reg PC edition scheduled for Sept 30- $49.99
  • PS3 version not scheduled until March of 2011 but GameStop has preorder up?
  • Producer Hiromichi Tanaka has said it won’t be appearing on the Xbox 360, citing       problems with the “closed” nature of Xbox Live
  • While the lack of an Xbox release is not new, the fact that the PC vs is being made available 6 months before PS3 vs has left sony faithfuls pretty pissed.

• Google Developing FB Killer (SM)
  • Details still very sketchy, no denials but no thumbs up either
  • (SM)Yet another Buzz? (their twitter killer)
  • (JP) I saw this and thought the same thing… but then I thought maybe they learned from Buzz

• Cisco Promises WiFi Flip, and would love to make it FaceTime enabled (JP)
  • Cisco disclosed plans this week to loaunch a new Flip video camera that is WiFi enabled This will probably enable all sorts of sharing direct to InsertSiteHere Widgets
  • JP – short talk about this camera
  • They have also said they did not buy Flip for it to be strictly a video camera and would love to integrate it with Apple iOS devices
  • Cisco also hinted that they are working on a video client that will be submitted to the app store soon
  • Cisco has also started working on a Video transcoding system. the Media Experience Engine will work inside Carrier or Enterprise networks to automagically convert Flash video into formats supported by iOS devices like iPhones and iPads.

• Take That England! Our Zombies are better! (udg)
  • On Sat July 3rd, over 4,200 Zombies marched in Seattle to set a new record
  • Prev “Guinness Record for World’s Largest Zombie Walk” was held by England 4,026
  • They took it from Seattle
  • This Saturday Sacramento is gearing for it’s own take over of the record (Seriously, I lived in the Bay Area and have been to Sacramento, this would be the ONLY reason to go there.)
  • If they are successful, Seattle will challenge again in Oct when ZomBcon comes

• Wow: Cataclysm Close Beta Starts (SM)
  • (SM) Yours truly is in Don’t hate the playa, hate the game
  • 2 levels, 3 areas, 1 dungeon, plenty of patching

• Droid suffers another set back in the war against iPhone for mobile supremecy (JP)
  • The HTC Incredible gets delayed again, new release date is August 5th
  • What’s the real cause some are claiming parts shortages, some are claiming Verizon pushed it because of the release of the Droid X next week
  • Forums are abuzz with all sorts of ideas, and apparently everyone who calls gets a different answer from the fine folks over at HTC… so go put your tin foil hats on and contribute to the hysteria.

• The only place IPhone doesn’t reign supreme: China (SM)
  • More expensive than the knock offs ($730 – $1003)
  • Only 1 carrier currently distributes (China Unicom)
  • 100,000 units distributed (compared to the 146 million person base)
  • No wi-fi support because there’s no proprietary WAPI installed in the OS
  • Lenovo appreciates your reticence (released their own smart phone – LePhone)

• Futurama Debut Successful (JP)
  • 2.9 million viewers
  • Highest rated for young men on all TV + highest rating for network all year
  • Only bigger program? Southpark (3 million viewers regularly) (JP – remember it’s not fat… just big boned)

• Flying car for the marines (SM)
  • Hello Jetsons!
  • Made by Logi Aerospace and called the Tyrannos
  • Designed specifically for the military- fly above roadside bombs
  • “Shrouded Propeller” allows it to take off vertically
  • Logi’s site describes it as a “s a four-person SUVish sort of thing ‘that anyone can literally drive into the air.’ (Arial attacking soccer moms??)
  • Logi’s press release turned from patriotic to talk of transforming “modern lifestyles.”
  • It can cut the commute from Santa Barbara to L.A. from 2 hours down to 35 min.
  • And it’s “eco-friendly” cuz it can land on battery power only.
  • (JP) hmmm.. having beena US Marine… I have an issue with the conceptual design presented here…. it doesn’t appear very… WHat’s the word I’m looking for??? sturdy?
  • I think a small child with some rocks could possibly take that thing down.

• $10 Cellphone Microscope Winning Awards (UDG)
  • Aydogan Ozcan of UCLA has developed a lightweight & cheap attachment that turns cellphones into mini medical labs.
  • Can analyze blood and saliva samples for microparticles, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and water borne parasites.
  • Won 3  prestigious awards for the device: a Grand Challenges award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (worth $100,000), the National Geographic Emerging Explorer award (worth $10,000), and the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation ($400,000).
  • The team is taking the attachment to Africa for testing in hopes to revolutionize global medicine.
  • It uses an LED to illuminate a sample and then analyze the sample’s shadow to get information.
  • Someone in the field takes a blood or saliva sample, places it into the device and sends the picture to an automated database which will return data on the required information.

• Netflix Streaming gets First-Run movies (SM)
  • One studio so far, Relativity Media, “Get him to the Greek” and “Grown Ups”
  • Plans to release 20 movies over the contract lifetime
  • All will come within the TV PPV window
  • Cites dwindling DVD rentals and wanting to get on the next gen streaming wagon

• Hulu Plus Announced (SM)
  • Full Seasons (not just the last 5 trailers)
  • Availability on multiple platforms: PC, IPhone, X360, PS3
  • $9.99 a month, Full HD ABC,NBC,Fox Series
  • X360 will only be available to gold subscribers, extra amenities, next year
  • PS3 will only be available to plus during preview period
    • (JP) – this is quite a bit pricier than I expected… Are you willing to pay this much for free tv shows?

Intarweb Goldmine

• Vuvuzela Hero (udg)
  • The infamous instrument that annoyed the world this summer meets Guitar Hero.
  • Please Activision, just say no.

• In one of those headlines you have to read twice… and then again….
  • Ohio woman poses as 14 yr old Boy… to have sex with a girl
  • Authorities say 31-year-old Patricia Dye of Franklin used the alias Matt Abrams as the girl’s boyfriend, and that the girl did not know Dye was a woman.
  • Dye is charged with unlawful sexual conduct with and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is being held in the Butler County jail on $100,000 bond.

• Kick Ass for Realz Tennessee Style (udg)

• • 20 yo college student Christian Tyler Hardee is (by day) pursuing art and chemistry majors at Union University in Jackson, TN
  • wants to be known as “The Viper”
  • Police stopped him shortly after midnight cuz wearing a mask is illegal in Columbia, Tennessee
  • The self-professed comic book nerd was armed with a utility belt housing a screw driver, wrenches and a cell phone. Ninja stars were found in his car though.
  • He told the local TV station Monday that , “I am just a guy trying to do what’s right, in tights.”   (JP – I’m afraid to ask… but what? is right for a GUY in tights?)
  • Rock on lil tight wearing comic nerd! May wanna add some heavier artillery in your belt though and I suggest some kevlar over the tights.

• • Does Megan Fox have a Big toe for a thumb? (JP)
    • Hot as she is… she’s not perfect this story claims she has “Murderer’s Thumb” which was the old Gypsy fortune tellers name for Brachydactyly type D Also known as stump Thumb, club thumb, toe thumb, potters thumb and many others!
    • (SM) Plus she can’t keep her mouth shut…..

Extra Links

• Geek Girls Tweetup at SDCC
• Best.Xmen.Comic.EVAR
• TechNewsWorld Talks Why Mobile App vs iPhone vs Others for New Gov Apps.

Contact Info

• On Twitter: Steven is @DarthMolen and I am @JPuent Natali is @UberDorkGirlie
• email us: darthmolen@thepowergeeks.com and jpuent@thepowergeeks.com and uberdorkgirlie@thepowergeeks.com (yay!)
• And Become a Fan

What’s new for Geek Girls Network? um…San Diego Comic-Con!!

• “Geeks Girls Exist” Panel on Thursday:
  • 5:30-6:30 Geek Girls Exist – Really? Kristin Rielly (Geek Girls Network – @geekgirls) leads a discussion about growing up geek, turning passions into careers, and who shot first. Representing the many awesome aspects of the geek culture, panelists Morgan Romine (The Frag Dolls), Bonnie Burton (The Star Wars Craft Book), Marian Call (Singer-Songwriter), Sarah Kuhn (One Con Glory), Jill Pantozzi  (Has Boobs Reads Comics), Veronica Belmont (Qore), and Kiala Kazebee (GeekWeek) will school you on what it means to be a real geeky girl and even make you LOL IRL. Room 8
• Geek Tweet-Up on Friday:
  • Join the biggest Geek Tweet-Up event of all time on Friday, July 23rd from 8pm-11pm at Jolt ‘N Joes (Gaslamp location) in San Diego.
  • Hosted by @geekgirls, @thenerdybird, and @geekgirldiva, this Tweet-Up is sure to be even bigger and better than NYC!

Sponsors

Wow4Cure.com

• Plans to play non-stop to level 40 and raise $10,000 for cancer
• Scheduled to take place Aug. 6th and they will continue playing if the donations keep coming
• Check out their website, we’ll talk more about them in the weeks to come

http://luxurylanesoap.com, @KyleeLane, GORGEOUS, IMAGINATIVE, HANDCRAFTED, GEEKY Soap

• Can I say any more superlatives? You will love her products.
• (We Do! They’re Geekalicious! but don’t eat them… they are SOAP!)

Shout out to the chat room – http://ustream.tv/channel/the-power-geeks Wednesday 9 PM Live

LuxuryLaneSoap.com of @KyleeLane fame

• POWERGEEKS for 20% off in her store!
• Her Han Solo soap is going global!!!
• Sci Fi Wire, WSJ Digital Network, Geekologie
• Even got invited on TV!
• Awesome creative soaps Check her out

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Lord of Ultima: Free to Play MMO (think Evony? still need to play)

• ScrAppbook. It is no. 5 today in the US Appstore under the category for Photography and it is possibly more importantly now in the New and Noteworthy section of the App Store homepage. Still only $.99 and we have a code to giveaway still… (not sure if anyone sent pics to FB fan page??) – We’ll give it away in the chat room (SM)

• Free Comic Book Day on Saturday
  • Does not mean you get the latest Superman…
  • Companies make a special book for the day and what you get depends on the publisher
  • This year there will be 10 gold comics to collect. Everything from Ironman and Thor action to GI Joe
  • 23 Silver ones will be rarer to find but will have some of the “out there” stuff if you are already a huge comic collector
  • Can anyone say fraggle rock flip book?

• Tecmo Bowl Throwback Released for XBLA
  • Mmmmm. Tecmo bowl, how we missed the walter payton run!
  • This is the only sports game that I played the heck out of, besides “Pro-Wrestling” (STARMAN FTW!)
  • Its back on xbla. you can either play “classic” or “3-D”!!!! definitely a must by
  • Promises all the old gameplay including seasons!

• SteamPunk 3D Goggles
  • although I think 3D tv at home is a fad… These are COOL!
  • 

  • and

    

    

Geek Speak

• Microsoft unveils webcomic site

• Tell your IT horror story and get paid!!! (100 lbs / Sony Vaio X)
• some absolute hilarious ones on there…

SM – My “Tech” letter, Internet support

JP – Old desktop days… power….

Geek Speak Topic from JP Interactive Clothing… (SM)

• email counting interactive TShirt
• Dress that taps your shoulder when you get a facebook update
  • you can program different taps for different people’s updates…
• ForceFeedback Gamers Jacket (feel when you get virtually shot…)
• Shape Memory clothing
  • Apply a current and the fabric takes a certain shape… apply a different current and the fabric takes a totally different shape…
• Where we can see uses for this? Where can we see this going wrong???
  • (Interactive undergarments…) ewwwww
• What interactive clothing would you like???

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• MW2 PC Version of Stimulus Announced (JP)
  • May 4 is the new date on STEAM
  • $1.50 off the $15.00 price for pre-orders+ because PC is cool like that

• Activision hit with $500 million MW2 lawsuit (SM)
  • 39 employees have banded together in a class action suit to get their royalties
  • Claim that the bonuses have been withheld so that they won’t jump ship
  • Already there is a lawsuit by the IW heads for $36 million (they left to form Respawn entertainment)
  • That whole debacle went down in full site of everyone. He said / he said, you’re not getting your bonuses for nitpicking. blah blah blah
  • How will this effect MW3?

• Gizmodo Reporter Home PC’s Confiscated by Law Enforcement (JP)
  • 1st amendment evoked, not so fast though…
  • Apple Inc is on the steering committee for Join Task force
  • Thoughts on free speech vs. criminal activity

• Google Backs off Verizon Nexus One (SM)
  • No real explanation as to what fell through here… No execs available to answer ??’s…
  • odd for Google to be so quiet, perhaps they just don’t like any talk about their ‘failures’
  • The good and the bad of this….
  • Google created a great Os that can allow phones to compete with the iPhone, but they tried to hamstring their partners
  • Nexus one initiative was doomed from the start and now with companies standing up to them it shows..

• Cell Phone Exploits Exposed (JP)
  • pair of security researchers has discovered a number of new attack vectors that give them the ability to not only locate any GSM mobile handset anywhere in the world,
  • but also find the name of the subscriber associated with virtually any cellular phone number,
  • While most people are screaming for privacy concerns stalkers all over the world jumped for joy
  • Paris Hilton doesn’t understand what the fuss is about since everyone always knows where she is anyhow? HAHAHHA

• Futuristic Non-touch interface ahoy (JP)
  • uses a camera to read your gestures…
  • cool tech, still a ways away… this is one of many approaches out there right now being researched
  • eventually a lot of things are headed this way… not all will be hits…
  • funniest thing to me is when the reviewer says this looks like it will take some getting used to… Didn’t they say the same thing about the iPhone multitouch???
  • how many people have adapted to that now?

• RIM unveils new OS (SM)
  • Trying to make themselves more IPhone-y yet still enterprisable
  • Webkit browser (similar to Android)
  • Multi-touch, HTML 5, brand new home screen, still no firm real features yet (screen sizes, proc speed, memory, etc)
  • Is it enough to stave off IPhone and Android to keep the #2 position?
  • Guess #1? (Nokia – Symbian OS 47% of smartphone sales in 2009)

• Spongebob saved this girls life
  • she learned the heimlich while watchin sponge bob dislodge a clarinet…
  • her friend choked on some gum
  • She remembers goes around back , and does the procedure that saves her friends life
  • So when your kids say that Spongebob is quality educational programming, you better believe them!

• Man gets the Mike tyson treatment for calling a woman fat… she bit off part of his right ear!
  • Way to crush that stereotype and not eat everything in sight?!?!?!? WTH????
  • Note to self… don’t call anyone fat in Nebraska…
• Also from Nebraska…. Man robs store disguised by TP
  • Yes, some guy wrapped his head in Toilet Paper and robbed a store getting away ‘clean’

• Star Trek Barbershop Quartet
• He who lives in glass house, should not throw the first stone
• How Steve Jobs COULD have reacted to the Gizmodo fiasco
• Jason Chen’s computer’s dissected

Contact Info

greek mythology, lots of zombies, comic reviews and live blogging (hopefully) from SOBcon 2010 next week

Sponsors

LuxuryLaneSoap.com of @KyleeLane fame

• POWERGEEKS for 20% off in her store!
• Her Han Solo soap is going global!!!
• Sci Fi Wire, WSJ Digital Network, Geekologie
• Even got invited on TV!
• Awesome creative soaps Check her out

#1    FaceFighter HD Face2Face iPad app – Appy Entertainment is willing to spot us 2 codes for free downloads – giveaway in the chat room. first 2 ppl to name DarthMolen’s favorite type of email

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• Moo1 + 2 on GoG for $5.99
  • Best Classic Space 4x ever!!! Turn based, build your own empire / ships / armadas / diplomacy…

• Lord of Ultima: Free to Play MMO (think Evony? still need to play)

• Battlefield Heroes gets Jetpacks!
  • New xpack for free that gives a whole map and jet packs
  • Capture the V2 rocket, new game mode
  • Still free to play, but pay to excel

• Pro Audio Deals @ B&H (full disclosure: iKDR is an affiliate)
  • Blue Yeti USB Microphone and Shure SRH240 Headphone Kit
  • KORE 2 and KOMPLETE 6 – Controller/Software Bundle

• IronMan Prop Auction:

• Propworx/Marvel Studios Iron Man Prop and Costume Auction Totals Skyrocket

  57 items still to be auctioned Sunday April 25th Online at Propworx.com
  

  Iron Man fans at C2E2 in Chicago and online worldwide participated in a day that saw bidding on the iconic props from the movie reach amazing heights. Bidding was intense and ended after a short delay at item 163 due to an internet failure at the convention center. Due to time constraints, Propworx will auction the remaining 57 lots online on Sunday, April 25 at 6:00pm PST through online auction partner LiveAuctioneers.com. Go to Propworx.com for registration and auction details.

  On April 25th, items up for bid will include props from the first Iron Man movie and costumes worn by Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, and the iconic smoking jacket worn by the Generalissimo himself, Stan Lee.

  Last Sunday’s auction saw bidding skyrocket: the Mark III Helmet sold for $13,200, the huge Iron Monger at $19,200 and the Hero Mark I RT Unit and Mark II RT Unit, selling for over $10,000 each. Hundreds of fans bid live from Chicago’s C2E2 and online through Liveauctioneers.com. More details on the auction and a full recap available at www.propworx.com.

Geek Speak

• A-Team
• Friday 13, Freddy Krueger
• Clash of the Titans
• 30 more schedules:
• Police Academy, Short Circuit, Private Benjamin, Fright Night, Poltergeist,
• Escape from new York, Robocop, Red Dawn, Footloose, Karate Kid, Masters of the Univerxse
• Sequels: Beverly Hills Cops, Ghostbusters
• Other bankrupt ideas that are getting reboots?
• Fantastic 4, Godzilla, Daredevil
• Drivers: Star Trek, Batman Begins, Casino Royale
• Flops: Punisher (x2), Rollerball, Death Race, The Bad news Bears, Fame

• Anybody here believe that a very important prototype was taken out to a bar and then subsequently “lost”?
• Found on a bar-room floor, Lost by Gray Powell
• Was running an OS, no longer functions
• Front-facing high-res camera
• Ceramic clear back (patent circa 2005)
• Fit into a 3GS factor to disguise it
• Eventually given back to Apple
• iKDR – will talk about the theory that it exists, it was a lame marketing ploy, and how Gizmodo must have cottonmouth from continually blowing Apple (giz-apple? gizmacintosh?)

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• 10 Gov’ts call on Google to “Be more Private”
  • After Buzz fiasco that revealed ur “most-mailed” contacts and Google Street view photos revealing private moments
  • 10 government privacy agencies put together letter to Eric Schmidt
  • - Collect and process only the minimum amount of personal information necessary to achieve the identified purpose of the product or service;
  • - Provide clear and unambiguous information about how personal information will be used to allow users to provide informed consent;
  • - Create privacy-protective default settings;
  • - Ensure that privacy control settings are prominent and easy to use;
  • - Ensure that all personal data is adequately protected, and
  • - Give people simple procedures for deleting their accounts, and honor their requests in a timely way.

• PS3 looking to introduce 3D Gaming (SM)
  • June, there’s a planned firmware upgrade to enable 3D support for games
  • PAIN, Super Stardust HD, and Wipeout HD all get the 3D treatment at launch
  • Which game type feels right in 3D (let the co-hosts guess)
  • What about 3D movies? – Nothing this summer in the firmware upgrades to support movies (question from derek alfonso)

• Video games keep ‘nerd rage’ at bay (iKDR)
  • after the constant hype that video games turns teens into killers, its so nice for someone to point out the truth…
  • “Let’s drop the “video games plus kid equals psychopath-in-training” failblog equation and look at things realistically.”
  • “Competitive gaming can be an outlet for aggression, just like tackle football (only without the criminal behavior some members of the University’s football team exhibit) or a night of self-flagellating exercise at the gym.”

• Adobe Throws White Flag for IPhone Development (SM)
  • There’s been hate for awhile with no flash on the apple devices
  • Adobe came out with a flash-to-iphone converter for their developers
  • Apple then made that illegal
  • CS5 still has functionality but no go-forward products will support the IPhone
  • “If you want to develop for the iPhone you have to be prepared for Apple to reject or restrict your development at anytime, and for seemingly any reason,”

• Video Games Before Bed May Not Shortchange Slumber (iKDR)
  • Study found it took teens only few more minutes to fall asleep
  • Australian researchers found that it took teens a median of 7.5 minutes to fall asleep after playing Modern Warfare.
  • In comparison, it took them about three minutes to nod off after watching March of the Penguins. (i dont understand why they didnt pass out immediately??)

• Mcafee Bricks XP with a patch (Prof Mordarm)
  • The 9 am patch on April 21 misidentified a windows OS file and quarantined it
  • This caused a loop of death for users where they get endless reboots
  • Mcafee says its fixed, but the users are still complaining
  • 1/3 of RI hospitals were forced to stop serving patients because of problem
  • XP SP3 (yet another reason to migrate to Win 7)

• Library of Congress plan for Twitter: a big, permanent retweet (iKDR)
  • Internet scholars say those everyday recordings are useful to researchers, who will comb through the 50 million messages — known as tweets — spouted each day to provide a snapshot of our culture, in real time.
  • This information provides detailed evidence about how technology-based social networks form and evolve over time,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. “Anyone who wants to understand how an ever-broadening public is using social media to engage in an ongoing debate regarding social and cultural issues will have need of this material.”

• Get a Slurpee..and a used Video Game (SM)
  • The program will be running at more than 3,000 7-Eleven® stores, representing 50% percent of the U.S. stores operated and franchised by 7-Eleven, Inc.
  • This isn’t their first foray into gaming, they’ve been selling blockbuster games at their registers for awhile now
  • Good or Bad Idea?

• Green Gadgets for Earth Day (tomorrow 4-22-10) iKDR
  • Billboards made from recycled electronics, solar panels disguised as ivy, water pebble to guilt shorter showers out of you HERE
  • Solar powered Camcorder, printer that usies old coffee grinds as ink, water powered alarm clock and more HERE

• Stalker Clown Hired by Parents for Birthday Present
  • Parents hire the guy to “stalk” their sons or daughters
  • He shows up everywhere they are at (except work), sends them creepy texts, calls them
  • Eventually he pies them in the face
  • If they approach him or figure out the gimmick, he gives them the pie

• Guy Busted for Drunk Driving in Barbie Car
  • Had a previous record
  • Took his daughters Hotwheel out for a spin
  • Will now be without a license for 3 yrs
  • so q: was it before or after he got pulled over in the kiddie car did he realize he was drunk?

• Bar Manager Cuts Off Customer’s Nose With Sword (iKDR)
  • An Oklahoma City man had his nose cut off during a bizarre attack at a local bar
  • Zapata supposedly got mad after he thought the victim and friends were making too much noise, grabbed the 34-inch sword, chased them outside & slashed one man in the face.
  • pirate/viking vs. bar-goers

• This week in Shenanigans…(iKDR)
  
  
  

• Computer/Amp Combo Overclocks To 11
• Star Wars Lego Alarm Clock

Contact Info

greek mythology, lots of zombies, comic reviews and live blogging (hopefully) from SOBcon 2010 next week

Sponsors

Fan Mail

@girlfromcanada says  The Power Geeks make my inner and outer geek girl very happy!!

LuxuryLaneSoap.com of @KyleeLane fame

• POWERGEEKS for 20% off in her store!
• @CreeHawk wins the Han Solo Soap!!!

And now introducing a new section – Holy SteamPunk Batman

• Steampunk ‘Victorian Organ Control Desk’
• 8GB Steampunk USB drive is a functional art prodigy
• Artist Makes Steampunk Gizmos Out of Dead Animals

• 

  Is it powered by steam?

Geek Speak

• Pro’s of PC gaming
  • No real DEV hardware kit needed (this is extra cost)
  • No need to go through a third party to get to your customers
  • Pretty wide open how you publish and what kind of game you can write
  • Steam, facebook, popcap, Stardock, and even storefronts through traditional publishers
• Con’s
  • Very Niche because of cost of rigs for real high end gaming
  • Hard to write for hardware that is constantly changing, you kinda have to pick your lowest common denominator of hardware
  • Piracy is rampant because of the lack of control of the platform
  • No real standards to be able to target to control your development costs and QA costs
• Discuss!

• IPad Sells 300,000 on first day
  • Hollywood is digging it so we gotta dig it 2, right?
  • iBook vs. Kindle App, one reason I would buy into the IPad
  • This is a reminder that I need to check the IPhone OS 4 news Thursday
  • Penny Arcade gives a cogent and non-biased review of the IPad
  • Scott Kurtz IPad Breakdown
  • Also Just on it’s heels… iPhone OS 4.0 event Thursday April 8th… News to be had next week! Apple not resting on their laurels with just the iPad
  • Comic App (me wanties but are they really going to release their whole catalog….)

• Most companies block game sites
• Guess what sites I found open: ESPN.com, WSJ.com, USATODAY.com, mtv.com
• What do you consider the best solution, limited time to surf? There are companies that issue a certain amount of ‘free time’ to browse whatever you want
• some that block access to certain sites, some that monitor without telling you… and some (though few) that do nothing
  • This actually goes to one of my pet peeves… trying to get technology to enforce random rules instead of managers doing their jobs… (JP)

Deals of the Week / New Releases

• TPG Giveaway of ScrAPPbook for iPhone to someone who has a US account iTunes and an iPhone. Details here. (JP) You can go buy it in the App store for only 99 Pennies!!!

• Threadless is having a sale, tees starting at $9 !

• New to DVD:

Tech,Gaming, and Geek News

• T-Mobile Planning $350 rebate for IPhone Users?
  • Trade in any IPhone, and get a $350 in-store credit
  • Not available at all retailers but here’s how it works
  • Any working Iphone, turn it in and you could walk out with an HD2 w/ either a contract or no-contract for $100
  • HD2 is currently running WinMo6.5 but it’s been certified for WinMo7
  • Q: Is anyone crazy enough to trade in an IPhone?

• Ham Radio Operators 700,000 Strong
  • Why show this on a tech show? How u going to communicate during a Zombie Apocalypse?
  • ham radio’s aren’t quite as sexy as IPhones but they can be fun + THEY DON’T REQUIRE ANY INFRASTRUCTURE OTHER THAN AN ANTENNA AND A BASE UNIT
  • All you have to do to get certified is take a course and a test (they did away with the morse requirement recently)
  • The ultimate communication piece for your zombie kit!!!

• Net Neutrality Not Enforcable in Court
  • FCC came down hard on Comcast because they were slowing down P2P traffic on their routers
  • Sanctions imposed  in 2007 because Comcast was violating a 2005 “Internet Policy Statement” that included freedom from traffic discrimination
  • Comcast complained to the courts, the courts ruled that the statement was just a policy and not enforceable “aspirational, not operational”
  • Thoughts?
  • (SM) Congress needs to give the FCC teeth already against this type of stuff

• Privacy Ruling For Personal Email in Workplace
  • Most sane ppl can pretty much assume that everything done in the workplace is free game for IT to monitor
  • (JP) If you don’t you’re smokin something
  • A case came to the courts recently that was found in favor of the employee and their privacy
  • Supreme Court of New Jersey, Marina Stengart vs. Loving Care Agency (stengart was allegedly fired and then sued for discrimination)
  • Loving Care Agency happened to capture some emails that went out on their system through yahoo to her lawyer and used them as evidence
  • Not so fast, Courts found that she had a reasonable expectation of privacy because it was password protected and not saved on that computer\
  • Thoughts?
  • (SM)Call me cynical, but my employer already blocks all the webmail sites :s

• AOL Dumps Bebo after paying $850 mill
  • bought in 2008 for a colossal sum, $850 million, back when it was still AOL / Time Warner
  • It was a huge social networking site in the UK and Australia. AOL planned to use it to compete against Facebook
  • Never took hold in the US, AOL is going downhill anyways, so AOL is bailing, up for sale
  • Another tool for sale from the AOL portfolio? venerable ICQ (SM: my first IM client back in the day)

• HP Slate specs, price and video, they are doing it better than the iPad
  • Specs:
    • 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor
    • 8.9-inch 1024×600 capacitive multitouch display
    • 1GB RAM
    • Intel UMA graphics good for 1080p playback
    • and unlike the iPad, it has an SD card slot, SIM card tray for optional WWAN, USB 2.0 port, & inward-facing VGA webcam and an outward-facing 3MP camera
    • Weighing almost at par with the Wi-Fi iPad, the Slate will be priced at about $549 for the base 32GB flash memory storage version, and about $599 for the better 64GB version

• Someone Remind George Lucas that he’s NOT a comedian! (JP)
  • After the film prequels, the cartoon and the live musical experience it was only a matter of time before Star Wars was repackaged as a sitcom.
    (SM: Don’t forget the ever so forgettable “Christmas Special”
  • Producer, Jennifer Hill, said “With the team we’re establishing, Matt Senreich and Seth Green, it’s going to be really fun and funny to the public.”
  • Altho still in its early stages, Brendan Hay, who writes for The Daily Show, has been appointed to lead a team of up to ten writers.
  • Lucasfilm said in a statement that the series would “look at the saga’s characters with a playful and irreverent tone”.
  • i say – stop ruining the things i Love!!!!
  • SM: don’t forget that this will be animated… yeesh. Star Wars comedy can work, see Robot chicken and Family Guy

• Report: AT&T Helps Apple Fix iPhone Woes (SM)
  • with (long-standing) rumors that Apple may soon end exclusivity with AT&T and launch a Verzion version of its popular smartphone, AT&T is ramping to beef up its network in an effort to satisfy users.
  • As part of improving iPhone users’ experience, AT&T worked with Apple to reduce strain on its network, according to the WSJ.
  • AT&T reportedly flew its people to Apple’s California offices to give Apple designers a crash course in wireless networking, which ended up in regular meetings between the two parties.
  • As a result, the WSJ report says iPhones put less load on AT&T’s network when they need to find the closest cell tower or check for text messages.
  • Part of a so-called 100-day network improvement plan, AT&T added new network spectrum to help with traffic handling and repositioned antennas in many locations to aid reception in office towers.

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Game Headed to the App Store (iKDR)
  • The 2009 mashup novel, which combines zombies with the classic novel Pride and Prejudice, has been turned into an iPhone and iPod Touch game and is set to be released on the App Store “by April 2010.”
  • here’s very little detail about the game outside of the screenshots; the press release describes the game as combining “exciting gameplay, 2.5D graphics

• Kid Breaks Asteroid High Score
  • Kid sat for 3 days straights

• Underachieveing AT-AT’s – a very funny comic (JP)

• Nintendo releasing Google Wars Game in Japan on Wii
  • Group of 4 guesses which search term is more popular on google
  • adaptation of “google fight” which returns number of hits…
  • Sound scintillating? I didn’t think so either. Good thing they don’t plan to port

• Top Mac Terminal Easter Eggs (JP)
  • In honor of Easter I thought I would point out some Easter Eggs of a more geeky nature
  • My two favorites are… Tetris and the Calendar of important Historical dates that includes some from middle earth
    • Although I just tried the calendar one again and the tolkein dates are gone… I wonder if they were taken away in the latest update of MAC OSX??
• Shibaura Institute of Technology shows off ‘robo-skateboard’ (iKDR)
  • Segway-like mechanism to let you ride it by simply pressing down on the front or back and turn by leaning left or right
  • tops out at a mere six miles per hour & is a whopping 33 pounds, which explains the retractable luggage-like handle for carrying it around
  • developers are trying to get the price down to about $1000 for its release in 2013

• Kid Racks Up $1400 Debt in FarmVille (iKDR)
  • Time to add FarmVille to the list of internet addiction scares after a 12-year-old UK boy has amassed £905 in FarmVille debt
  • The debt — which is equivalent to about $1400 USD — was racked up in all of about two weeks’ worth of gameplay
  • Moms bank didn’t see any red flag b/c the purchase was on Facebook, and not a “suspicious” like a gambling site

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