Tag: zune
The Power Geeks #73
by DarthMolen on Oct.27, 2010, under The Latest Shows
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
We are LIVE on Ustream . Tonight, PSP rumors, Caprica getting cancelled????, horrible costumes, and yet more Chinese paranoia and this time they’re playing with Nukes! and much much more.
Items of Interest
- Best Geeky Costumes (udg)
- And some worst (udg)
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- FiberglassFreaks creates officially licensed 1966 Batmobile replicas and they are FREAKIN HAWT! I think every kid that has seen the original episodes at one point thought “When I grow up I’m so gonna drive one of those!” Now, for a mere $150,000 you can.
- Speaking of famous geek cars (if you want to segue to it from Batmobile? btm)
- James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from “Goldfinger” & “Thunderball”
- Auctioned in London for 2.9 Million Pounds ($4.9 Million USD)
- Many of the secret weapon gimmicks work
- revolving number plates
- twin machine guns (non-firing)
- bullet-proof shield, etc.
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
- first Piece revealed and accompanying t-shirt @hefnatron
- Ellen campaign!!
- NEW TOP-SECRET: There will be baskets of UDC goodies for X-mas
- UberDorkCafe is planning to put together some special goodies in basket form for people that both want to support the cause AND give an awesome present to their loved one for christmas.
- I heard something about wookie cookies among other super secret things
- Today in Geek History
- JebApps (owned by our own Jeremy Puent) released their latest app, Today in Geek History
- Gives you factoids based upon date, spanning all sorts of geekiness
- For example, did you know on October 6th, 1967 – The Star Trek episode ‘Mirror, Mirror’ airs, introducing the Mirror Universe and the evil goatee.
- This app is available for Android in a Lite version for free or a paid version, all on the Marketplace
- Check out the lite version, but the paid version for .99
- Also, Golden Pic and Golden Pic Lite for Android devices
Deals of the Week / New Releases
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- Hurry! Ends tomorrow night!
- PSP GO Price Reduced
- WALKING DEAD STARTS!!!! (udg)
- Be sure to check out the videos of Walking Dead events around the world.
- http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/10/26/zombies-take-manhattan/
- http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/10/26/the-walking-dead-all-over-the-world/
- http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/10/26/more-walking-dead-all-over-the-world/
- Fable 3 Released, Ginormous review
- Apparently a little more funneled than the first
- If you liked Albion in the first 2, you’ll love it in the third
- Gun/melee/magic 1 button presses
- Force Unleashed 2 Released on Steam
- and the rest of the world…
- Continue as Starkiller, throw stormtroopers around,have great fun
- FINALLY- ebooks at a price I can hang with… FREE (udg)
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- Wowio is an eBook publisher after my own heart. The one catch with the free? You have to put up with ads. I can completely handle that! I do it with the mags I read all the time.
Geek Speak
- TV Wars: Internet Style
- Remember when the networks blocked Boxee from pulling Hulu?
- They’re doing it again, this time with Google TV
- You can’t watch shows from abc.com, hulu, or any of the other network sites
- So, you can watch all that content from you computer, just not the set top boxes
- What are our current viewing habits?
- Will we eventually end up paying for TV on the Internet?
- How will streaming outside the normal channels effect regular TV streams?
- Natali’s quick Public Service announcement… Next week is voting time. Get your ass to the polls. I don’t care who you vote for, but the right is there… exercise it! If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem and if you don’t vote, you have no right to bitch about the state of anything.
That is all.
- Breaking news SyFy cancels Caprica. (btm)
- Prequel to hugely popular BSG was slow to build audience
- Caprica sequel/BSG prequel “BSG: Blood & Chrome” focusing on “Ensign” Adama still a go
- (Continues tradition of canceling shows that I watch.)
Tech,Gaming, and Geek News
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- A simple-to-use Firefox plugin presented this week has hit the security world with the realization that squabbles about Facebook’s changing privacy settings and various privacy breaches simply miss the point.
- “When it comes to user privacy, SSL is the elephant in the room,” said Eric Butler, the developer of the extension in question, dubbed Firesheep.
- By installing and running it, anyone can “sniff out” the unencrypted HTTP sessions currently allowing users on that network segment to access social networks, online services and other website requiring a login, and simply hijack them and impersonate the user.
- Was this impossible to do before? Nope, but it did require skills and knowledge the average web surfer wouldn’t have had.
- “Websites have a responsibility to protect the people who depend on their services. They’ve been ignoring this responsibility for too long, and it’s time for everyone to demand a more secure web. My hope is that Firesheep will help the users win,” says Butler.
- Whether he will succeed in pointing out the need of full end-to-end encryption and spur websites into action, it remains to be seen. Among the websites whose cookies Firesheep can identify are Facebook, Flickr, Amazon.com, bit.ly, Google, Twitter, Yahoo, WordPress, and many others.
- So, will this be another Twitter incident where a person tries to tell a major site something, the site ignores it, the person politely points it out but nasty people actually exploit it??? What will it take for these sites to take notice and make changes?
- Steps to protect yourself
- Use a browser with extensions: EFF, HTTPS Everywhere, Secure Sites, or Force TLS
- These work by forcing you to use the HTTPS version of that site
- Obvious problem? If a site doesn’t have SSL enabled, this won’t protect you, also not all browsers have extensions
- Don’t use open networks (you never know who is watching)
- If you’re really adventurous, use a tunneling protocol such as SSH. You can check out the instructions for Meerkat here
- Use a VPN, such as Witopia
- Macs can’t get viruses, right? (might go with Filesheep story? btm)
- Latest malware trojan targeting Macintosh uses Java to attack Mac OS X via Java (trojan.osx.boonana.a)
- Growing trend of malware affecting Mac OS X
- Users on social sites like Facebook click on link “Is this your video”
- Runs Java applet that bypasses password verification and downloads files
- Launches automatically on startup and communicates with its control servers
- Uses your computer to spread itself as spam
- Also affects Windows machines
- MacSecure reports they have a fix, but the best protection is to not click shady links.
- IPod 9th B-Day, Sony Cassette Dinosaur Dies (SM)
- IPod first unveiled Oct. 23, 2001
- Mac-only, Firewire 400, 5 GB of space, $399, only 1000 songs in itunes
- At the same, Sony killing Walkman cassette in Japan
- Guess the release year of the Iconic Walkman?
- Yes, still available in US for your 80’s costuming pleasure
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- The rumor that surfaced back in August is getting ready to hit the market soon. It is likely boasting Android 3.0 (aka Gingerbread), along with a custom Sony Marketplace which will allow you to purchase and download games designed for the new platform.
- It’s also sporting a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 (a chip similar to the one found in the G2, but 200MHz faster), 512MB of RAM, 1GB of ROM, and the screen is in the range of 3.7 to 4.1 inches. The handset has a long touchpad in the center which is apparently multitouch, and it bears those familiar PlayStation shoulder buttons. For Sony buffs, you’ll be interested to know that there’s no Memory Stick slot here, but there is support for microSD cards.
- The device could still be headed for a 2010 release- maybe in time for the holidays? But 2011 is looking much more realistic.
- (SM) Sony has been going this way since the released the discless PSP and there have been rumors since that release of a phone in the works
- Also, don’t forget the PSP2 rumor
- No Apples pass these Gates (btm) (or “How do you like these Apples?”)
- New York Times Q&A with Melinda Gates reveals no Apples in her house.
- If you don’t subscribe to New Times online, read it here also.
- Says she won’t allow her kids to have iPods
- “You may have a Zune” (I’m guessing a brown one)
- Barnes & Nobles Announces a Color Nook (SM)
- Based on Android and a 7” LCD color screen (not color e-ink or mirasol tech)
- Meaning = brighter but less reading time (only 8 hrs continuous reading time)
- 8 GB of memory w/ SD slot available, Almost a full pound, Wi-Fi (no 3g), $249
- EPub, PDF, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint can all be read on this device
- No android marketplace though
- Being branded as a reader tablet
- Natali’s Weekly Paranoia Report (udg)
- An engineering failure at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (the base that is a main locus of the United States’ strategic nuclear forces) in Wyoming that took 50 nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), one-ninth of the U.S. missile stockpile, temporarily offline on Saturday.
- According to the peeps briefed on the situation,a squadron of ICBMs suddenly dropped down into what’s known as “LF Down” status, meaning that the missileers in their bunkers could no longer communicate with the missiles themselves. LF Down status also means that various security protocols built into the missile delivery system, like intrusion alarms and warhead separation alarms, were offline.
- “We’ve never had something as big as this happen,” a military officer who was briefed on the incident said. Occasionally, one or two might blink out, the officer said, and several warheads are routinely out of service for maintenance. At an extreme, “[w]e can deal with maybe 5, 6, or 7 at a time, but we’ve never lost complete command and control and functionality of 50 ICBMs.”
- The cause of the failure remains unknown, although it is suspected to be a breach of underground cables deep beneath the base, according to a senior military official.
- It is next to impossible for these systems to be hacked, so the military does not believe the incident was caused by malicious actors. A half dozen individual silos were affected by Saturday’s failure.
- An administration official said that “to make too much out of this would be to sensationalize it. It’s not that big of a deal. Everything worked as planned.” (Yup, that’s what they ALWAYS say!!)
- National Journal’s Megan Scully contacted a spokesperson for Sen. Jon Kyl, a top GOP critic of START, who said that “We don’t know what happened and why.” The spokesperson refused to comment on “media reports.” Okay, I just wanted to say Scully
- Are six movies in a trilogy too many? How about nine? (btm) (see also: io9 report, primary link being hammered with traffic, (SM) but they are essentially quoting iesb, hmmmmm. We could intro this as a possible rumor and then talk about if we really want. Also, this is kind of suspect because they are still talking as if the live action is going to be filmed and Lucas has already put the nix on that production citing soaring production costs and wanting to wait until the tech is cheaper)
- iesb.net is reporting based on reliable sources that after the 3D re-releases of the Star Wars saga Lucas is planning to release 3 new movies
- story to be set long after the existing movies
- will not involve Skywalker family
- start date would be after the 2015-2016 completion of the 3D re-releases
- Man Prosecuted for jailbreaking XBox (SM)
- It’s legal to jailbreak your IPhone, but not your gaming console?
- Matthew Crippen is facing 3 yrs jail sentence for running a xbox mod company
- His company was selling mods for $60 – $80
- Got caught performing surgery on 2 undercover agents machines
- Charged under the anti-circumvention provisions of DMCA
- Andrew Huang, author of “Hacking the Xbox: An Intro to Reverse Engineering”, wants to testify showing how easy it is to mod (if its easy, anti-circumvent doesn’t apply)
- He’ll probably be blocked because his demo is a bit superfluous.
- Akira Toriyama is back!! (udg)
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- Shueisha Publishing Company of Tokyo has convinced legendary manga creator Akira Toriyama to come back and restart the Dragon Ball comics franchise.
- Since 1995, the creator has only returned to the well for comics once, for a one-off crossover with One Piece. His other works have been shorter, more personal pieces, though he has continues to oversee new animations, and his studio are working on a Dragon Ball Online MMORG for release soon.
- Most speculate that it’s because of the game that Toriyama has been persuaded to return – to promote it. Whatever the reason, I look forward to seeing his return.
- Hobbit Who? (btm)
- Sylvester McCoy to portray Radagast the Brown in upcoming Hobbit movie
- made announcement to fans at Armageddon Expo in Auckland, NZ
- no contract signed yet
- rumors of David Tennant not verifiable, listed only as a “potential”
- Cast List Here
- Adobe releases HTML 5 Video Player (SM)
- In response to Apple blocking their flash player, Adobe now has a player that will run HTML 5 for systems that can support it and switch to flash when they can’t
- Cross-browser, Cross-platform so works on IPhones, IPads, and other devices.
- Other similar non first-party plugins available (brightcove and Vimeo) but first party trumps all
- Built into the Dreamweaver Creative 5 suite
- Not a user? u can use Adobe’s free Widget Browser app (air app)
- This after Apple announces to officially ditch Flash pre-install on all Macs
- HP Releases Slate 500 A Year Late (SM)
- It’s essentially a PC in a tablet form factor
- Intel Atom (1.8ghz), 2GB RAM, 64GB Flash Drive, 1024 x 600 screen, SD Card slot, Integrate Wi-Fi, 2 cameras, and a measly 5 hrs runtime
- Targeted for businesses, not the “user friendly” version touted a year ago
- No easy video conf, e-reading, or anything, just straight Win 7 w/ touch support
- (SM) Wonders how this will do better than a standard netbook
- Hide your kids, Hide your wife (btm) (I’ll intro this as a PSA and then let you take it Ben)
- BeenVerified.com has released a new mobile app for iPhone and Android users that helps locate registered sex offenders in your area (just in time for Halloween).
- uses the sex offender registry with geolocation and “augmented reality“
- partnered with the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RANN) and Antoine Dodson (of the “Bed Intruder” video and song from YouTube) to promote awareness.
- app is $1.99
- run and tell that
Intarweb Goldmine
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- An Australian man has made a habit of collecting his navel lint, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- The Australian librarian started “harvesting” his fluff in 1984, at a youth hostel in Brisbane. After 26 years, the complete collection now weighs 22.1 grams, or .77 ounces.
- “I became curious about how much navel fluff one person could generate (enough to stuff a cushion, maybe?), and the only way to find for sure was to collect it and see,” he wrote on his blog feargod.net.
- Each day, the 45-year-old plucks the lint from his navel before he gets into the shower, and stores it in a clay pot. At the end of the year, he adds the harvest to his main collection, which is housed by color in glass jars and then labeled by date.
- Barker sold three of his jars to a museum for an undisclosed sum and is a quarter of the way to filling a fourth, Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper reported. Despite his place in the record books, Barker plans to continue collecting his navel lint, and hopes to fill another five jars.
- According to his site “I don’t just collect lint – there are also pages featuring my collections of Beard Clippings, Bogus Names, and Bakery Bags, amongst other things.”
- When hiccups turn deadly? (SM)
- Girl has continuous hiccups in 2007 … up to 50 a minute
- Shows up on NBC, Goes to doctors, Finally gets cured
- FF to 2010 and this girl then lures a guy off a social site and then 2 accomplices rob and kill the guy
- Mother’s quote? “Honestly, the best way I can describe it, is that they call it a case of the hiccups, but I call it the curse of the hiccups,” she told the newspaper. “It felt like a nightmare.”
Extra Links
- IPhone passes RIM in market share
- RIM = 16.1% , Apple = 18.3%
- Just passed Q3 2010
- Nokia still has a commanding lead at 34.4% (large presence in asia and europe)
- Why is this important? news raised stock to $421 a share
- Predictions? Iphone will continue to rise Win7Mo won’t go anywhere w/out strong app store, RIM will continue to fail and if IPhone ever goes enterprise, GG
Contact Info
- On Twitter: Steven is @DarthMolen, Ben is @RealityAmuck, Natali is @UberDorkGirlie
- email us: darthmolen@thepowergeeks.com and jpuent@thepowergeeks.com and uberdorkgirlie@thepowergeeks.com (yay!)
- And Become a Fan
- http://racomics.com
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