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Does Apple have special plans for the 10th Anniversary of the Apple Store?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Rumors,
Is Apple planning something for the tenth anniversary of the Apple stores?
According to a source cited by The Boy Genius Report, it is.
What's interesting isn't that the company allegedly plans something for the Thursday the 19th anniversary, but that it apparently is going to celebrate right through the weekend.
Some of the plans include a Saturday to Sunday overnight shift, apparently to restock the store, new hardware, and mysterious black curtains to hide whatever's inside.
Click to continue reading Does Apple have special plans for the 10th Anniversary of the Apple Store?
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A look at Sony’s Playstation Network “Welcome Back” freebie package
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Hot Deals, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, Sony,
When Sony started restoring its PlayStation network this weekend, it promised a welcome-back consolation package for users who have been patiently waiting for its return since it went dark on April 20.
This afternoon, the company provided some details on what returning users will receive, including free games, movie rentals, and virtual items.
"We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!" Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications and social media, wrote in a blog post. "This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service."
What do you get? All PlayStation Network customers can choose two of five PS3 games: Dead Nation; inFAMOUS; LittleBigPlanet; Super Stardust HD; or Wipeout HD + Fury. PSP owners can select two of four games: LittleBigPlanet; ModNation Racers; Pursuit Force; or Killzone Liberation. All games will be available for 30 days after the store is restored and can be kept forever.
Click to continue reading A look at Sony’s Playstation Network “Welcome Back” freebie package
Comic Con International 2011: Traffic Update
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials,
"If I can just get off of that L.A. freeway without getting killed or caught…"
Jerry Jeff Walker, L.A. Freeway
So it's probably safe to say that the city of Los Angeles might be kinda bummed that they didn't succeed in luring Comic Con International away from San Diego.
But do they hold a grudge?
Oh, I think so. I can't prove it of course, but this being the internets means I don't have to.
Click to continue reading Comic Con International 2011: Traffic Update
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Amazon has the 32 GB iPod touch for 18% off!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Music,
For about the next 30 minutes, Amazon's featured Gold Box deal is the 3rd gen 32 GB iPod touch. They're selling it for 18% off, which makes it $244.99, and shipping is free. Hurry if you want in!
Read More 
| iPod touch deal
Deal of the Day: $50 off iPod nano
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Hot Deals, Portable Audio / Video,
Today, eBay is offering a great deal where you get a full 33% off the 6th gen iPod nano. You pick your choice of color for the nano, which usually sells for $149, so this deal brings it down to $99, saving you $50. Even better? Shipping is free. If you're interested, head on over:
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals, or you can Like TechPromos on Facebook.
Read More | iPod nano sale
Netflix to add Miramax titles to Watch Instantly starting in June
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Movies,
Netflix on Monday announced that it has inked a multi-year agreement with Miramax that will add some of the movie studio's most popular films to Netflix's Watch Instantly platform.
This deal marks the first time that Miramax movies have been available through a digital subscription service, Netflix said.
Starting June, subscribers will be able to access movies Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Bad Santa, Scream, Spy Kids, The Piano, and Kill Bill. Netflix will add "hundreds" of Miramax titles, which will be added to Watch Instantly on a rotating basis, the company said.
"From day one, we've been very clear about the importance of digital and our desire to respond to the significant pent-up demand for our films—delivering to consumers whenever and wherever they want," Mike Lang, CEO of Miramax, said in a statement. "This agreement is an important first step in our digital strategy. Netflix has always been a trailblazer, with a tremendous track record of innovation and quality customer service. We're thrilled to now be in business with them as we build and revitalize the proud Miramax brand."
Click to continue reading Netflix to add Miramax titles to Watch Instantly starting in June
Fortune’s “Inside Apple” article is a must-read
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News,
Fortune magazine recently published an in-depth piece on the highly secretive culture and inner workings of Apple. It's in the latest Fortune 500 issue, and isn't yet available freely online, however, you can download it from the Kindle Store for 99 cents to read it on a Kindle, PC, Mac, or any of the smartphone platforms they support (iOS, Android, etc.) For a buck, we'd consider this one a must-read. You get a lot of juicy tidbits about the company, including just how disappointed Steve Jobs was about the horribly botched launch of MobileMe:
According to a participant in the meeting, Jobs walked in, clad in his trademark black mock turtleneck and blue jeans, clasped his hands together and asked a simple question: "Can anyone tell me what MobileMe is supposed to do?" Having received a satisfactory answer, he continued, "So why the **** doesn't it do that?"
For the next half-hour Jobs berated the group. "You've tarnished Apple's reputation," he told them. "You should hate each other for having let each other down."
Harsh, but those are the actions of a man who seemingly doesn't tolerate failure, and aims to exceed expectations. In fact, he doesn't want to ever hear excuses from any of the Apple VP-level employees:
The janitor gets to explain why something went wrong. Senior people do not. "When you're the janitor," Jobs has repeatedly told incoming VPs, "reasons matter." He continues: "Somewhere between the janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering." That "Rubicon," he has said, "is crossed when you become a VP."
This is some good stuff, and Fortune has a lot more in the full-length article. If you're at all interested in Apple, either from a consumer standpoint, or just interest in the management style that makes them so unique, give this one a look.
Read More | Inside Apple
Sony Playstation Network back online in most areas
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, Sony,
Sony Online Entertainment brought its PlayStation Network back online (after a major security breach took PSN down) in parts of Europe and the U.S. Saturday, but some 12 hours after the announcement many PSN customers were left wondering when it would be their turn.
At about 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Sony announced it would begin a "phased" return of PSN services to customers following a three-week outage caused by a hack of the network that forced the company to take it down. But a map of the U.S. that Sony is updating to reflect when its network goes live in individual states was left with numerous states without service in the Midwest, South and Northeast as of about 8 a.m. ET.
Several hours after the initial announcement, readers in Texas, Illinois and other states were complaining that PSN service had not been restored to their areas. Sony had warned that it would "take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country."
Meanwhile, PSN customers in Australia and the Caribbean wondered when their areas would go back online. Sony's Saturday announcement only referred to Europe and North America.
The company issued a further notice to PSN customers whose service had been turned on but who still weren't able to access the network:
Click to continue reading Sony Playstation Network back online in most areas
Exoskeleton allows paralyzed Berkeley student to walk at graduation
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Science,
UC Berkeley's Austin Whitney has been paralyzed since July 2007 as the result of a car accident that hospitalized the 22-year-old for a total of 41 days. And now, thanks to the research project of a team of Berkeley engineers, the history and political science double-major was able to stand up out of his wheelchair and physically walk across the stage to accept his diploma at the university's May 14 graduation ceremony.
"Ask anybody in a wheelchair; ask what it would mean to once again stand and shake someone's hand while facing them at eye level," said Whitney in an interview with Berkeley's NewsCenter. "It will be surreal, like a dream."
The exoskeleton project, run by Berkeley professor of mechanical engineering Homayoon Kazerooni, focuses on user comfort and affordability as its two chief design points. Instead of, "over-engineering" the machine, as Kazerooni and his team of researchers note, they designed the exoskeleton to seamlessly work with as few components as possible. That means fewer motors to impact movement, which necessitates a smaller amount of sensors to track movement, which leads to a simpler device that costs less than the current market price of a typical exoskeleton: $100,000 on up.
Click to continue reading Exoskeleton allows paralyzed Berkeley student to walk at graduation
Rumor says iPhone 5 will land on T-Mobile and Sprint as well
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cameras, Rumors,
More Apple rumors for you to chew on today! A new research note from Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek suggests that Apple isn't going to be performing a significant upgrade to the connection capabilities of its new, to-be-released iPhone 5—namely, no 4G LTE support.
Whenever the next version of Apple's smartphone hits the market—we're already nearing the one-year anniversary of the iPhone 4's launch with no hint of a new product in sight—Misek suggests that the device will only have incremental upgrades compared to the iPhone 4's specifications. Heck, it's practically keeping the same name.
"We believe the likelihood of the iPhone 5 launch in September including LTE is now remote," wrote Misek in a research note on May 13. "According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support."
The bigger news on Apple's side is Misek's suggestion that the company will be pursuing an expanded carrier lineup for its iPhones. His "industry checks" indicate that Apple will be launching the iPhone on both Sprint and T-Mobile in time for the holidays—remember, although the latter is in the process of being purchased by AT&T, T-Mobile currently remains a separate company from the larger carrier. In other words, no iPhone yet.
Click to continue reading Rumor says iPhone 5 will land on T-Mobile and Sprint as well
