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Latest Gear Live Videos
Game Companies Plant Advertising
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Internet, Microsoft, Video Games,
Product placement is no longer restricted to movies and TV sitcoms. Pay attention as you zoom past the Pontiac billboard next time you play “Need for Speed: Carbon.” As new cars become available, the image changes. The devices are also featured in “Project Gotham Racing 3” and “Forza Motorsport 2.” Microsoft’s Massive Unit is in charge of updating in-game advertising and claims that the average age of a gamer is now 33. Amazingly, they also find that studies of the players show that 69% said they were more likely to consider purchasing a car they had seen in a game. We hope this trend doesn’t get so distracting that your gaming runs you right into one of those virtual billboards.
Read More 
| USA Today
Gallery: Game Companies Plant Advertising
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Discover Bollywood With iTalkies
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Internet, Movies, Music,
iTalkies has adopted Netflix’s idea and the company, which is based in Seattle, has been delivering Bollywood titles since 2004. Now they have expanded and are available to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Shaiwal Singh, the company’s founder and CEO, says that there are over 5,000 titles of Indian films in seven languages and features both popular films and award-winners. We like this idea and wonder if it could be the beginning of a trend that will include such individualized online services as iChickFlick and iFreddyKruger.
Read More | Hindustan Times
Gallery: Discover Bollywood With iTalkies
Teen Unlocks iPhone
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Videos,
George Hotz decided to spend some time this summer unlocking an iPhone, so that he use it on his own network, T-Mobile. Partially inspired because his friend had just gotten one, the change of service fee, and the $20.00 monthly fee from AT&T for using an iPhone, he soldered two wires together and replaced the SIM card, although we are sure that the project is more complicated than he makes it sound in this CNBC video. It took about 500 hours to complete with the aid of four others online.
Being the kind fellow that he is, rather than selling his idea, he has posted it for free on his website, just in case you want to give it a try. Although he planned on selling one hacked iPhone on eBay, complications arose so he traded it for a Nissan 350Z and three 8GB iPhones. George left this weekend to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where he will major in neuroscience or what he calls “hacking the brain.”
Read More | cell phone digest
Gallery: Teen Unlocks iPhone
Google Sky Now Available
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet, Science,
Who needs a planetarium when you can explore the Google Sky? With it you can view 200 million galaxies, 100 million stars, constellations, a supernova, and planets in motion. You can also see the heavens with over 120 high-res images from NASA’s Hubble telescope. All you need is a download of the current Google Earth, then click on the Sky button on the toolbar. Available in 13 languages, check out the Gallery and discover space from different sources on Earth. We think we would like to experience the Milky Way from Paris, even if it is only on our PC.
Read More | Google
Gallery: Google Sky Now Available
Sony to Offer GPS for PSP
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: GPS, Handhelds, Internet, Video Games,
During the Leipzig Games Convention this week in Germany, Sony announced that they will be releasing a satellite navigational accessory for its PSP. Users will also be able to transfer recorded programs onto the game system. David Reeves, in charge of Sony’s European games unit, said the GPS will carry a price of between €100 and €150 (~$135.00 to $200.00).
The company also said an accessory for its PlayStation 3 that will allow it to record digital video will be available as well. Don’t get too excited about the changes. Although we have created our own mock-up, the real thing won’t be available until early 2008 in selected European markets.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Sony to Offer GPS for PSP
MTV URGE Melds with Rhapsody
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Internet, Music,
MTV Networks’ URGE and RealNetworks’ Rhapsody have announced that they will be combining forces to try to compete with iTunes. Naming the venture Rhapsody America, it will be accessible to computers, PMPs, and Verizon Wireless’ VCast. Beginning this September, MTV will push the new service and provide music playlists as well as other programming. Michael Bloom, former GM of URGE, will be in charge and said that for now, URGE customers can use both services. There is no word yet on how much Rhapsody America will cost its subscribers.
Read More | examiner
Gallery: MTV URGE Melds with Rhapsody
Plan an Adventure Without the Hassle
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Internet, Transportation,
Andrew Playford loves adventures, but would rather not have to plan all the details. With a little effort, he came up with Signature Days, over 3 thousand different trips that completely supply everything for the traveler. Think of being able to give a someone a hang gliding, scuba or helicopter lesson, or sending your kid away to Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy Camp in New York for a week. And, if you want to hint around for a gift for yourself this upcoming holiday season, tell your loved ones that you want a VocationVacation so that you can become a dude rancher, pit crew member, or Schooner captain.
There are all kinds of options on the site with prices to fit every budget, and each experience is provided by an independent verified partner. You can also opt for a gift voucher that will allow the bearer to choose her/his own adventure. Andrew’s words say it best, “You can create the charade that you are the most thoughtful, creative person on earth and disguise your inherent complacency with a few well placed clicks.”
(Thanks, Tony)
Read More | Signature Days
Gallery: Plan an Adventure Without the Hassle
Let the iClone Games Begin
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Last week we told you about LG’s new inexpensive Aloha cell phone, this week we see that they have an iPhone clone in the works. Landing in the UK before traveling on to other parts of the planet, the U990 (KU990 in London) has high-speed 3G HSDPA connectivity, a 3-inch, 400 x 240 pixel, 262k display touchscreen, a 5 megapixel cam with digital zoom and video recording, stereo Bluetooth capability, and 170 MB of internal, expandable memory. It also allows video and audio downloading and streaming, Internet access, and video calling. No mention of price yet, the U990 is expected to be released this October.
Read More | Tech.co.uk
Gallery: Let the iClone Games Begin
John Lennon Collection Available on iTunes
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Internet, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Pay attention, Apple. While we were checking out the new John Lennon Collection at the iTunes Store, we got their release intact, but when we clicked on specific info about it, we ended up with their download page in French. It has since been corrected, but if you should encounter the same faux pas, be content in the knowledge that Lennon’s music will be on sale for $0.99 a track, with exclusive video content included for 30 days on some of his albums.
Read More | Apple iTunes
Gallery: John Lennon Collection Available on iTunes
Microsoft Increases Hotmail Storage
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Microsoft,
Microsoft has decided to more than double its Hotmail service capacity and will now store up to 5 GB of e-mail messages and images. They are undoubtedly hoping that this move will take them from the number 2 spot and unseat their rival Yahoo. The company also says that its performance will speed up, it will combine duplicate contacts in its address book, there will be a new “report phishing button,” and an option to log in straight to your inbox from the home page.
“We know this is going to be a big hit with a lot of you out there in blog land,” said Ellie Powers-Boyle, a program manager for Windows Live Hotmail.
It certainly is a big hit with those of us who like our Hotmail and have stuck with it despite the mini-storage for all these years.
Read More | Post-Bulletin
