Archive for September, 2009

Steve Jobs returns. Apple releases blah blah blah…

Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Steve Jobs on the stage at the Apple Let's Rock Event

Steve Jobs on the stage at the Apple Let's Rock Event

To be toally honest the only real story from last nights ‘Let’s Rock’ event staged by Apple in San Francisco, was that the almost Jesus-like Jobs took to the stage to introduce some product updates. Looking gaunt, and sounding hoarse, Steve Jobs received a standing ovation when he began his hour long presentation.

He then set about introducing iTunes 9, amongst which includes the following new features:

iTunes LP – Better cover art, photos, liner notes and lyrics. Essentially Apple’s attempt at redefining the LP format, in an attempt to persuade users to purchase entire albums.

App Management – allows you to sort out the apps on your iPhone/iPod Touch in a more intuitive way.

There are other less impressive additions, you can find out more here.

He also introduced a camera to the iPod Nano, which seems to be an attempt to target the Flip camera market. However it seems like the technical problems that rumour sites were reporting in the run up to the event were correct as the feature was lacking from the iPod Touch.

New iPod with video

To sum up, the event was a dissappointment but not a surprise. Jobs attendance was reassuring but also showed just how much he has been through. It was a first for a man so keen to keep his private life separate from his work, to address his health head on. I just hope that by the new year he is fit enough to launch the anticipated Apple tablet with all the energy seen in previous product launches.

Samsung unveils facebook toaster

Monday, September 7th, 2009
Facebook Toaster

Facebook Toaster

Twitter/facebook/myspace/bebo (delete according to age, economic status and nationality) may seem all pervasive now, but if Samsung has its way, there truly will be no escape. The IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin saw the firm demonstrate its commitment to helping people chatter inanely and document aspects of their lives even mum doesn’t care about, by introducing social networking features to gadgets including cameras, TVs, digital photo frames, printers and mp3 players. Ok so I made the toaster up.

Not that facebook is all bad of course, after all, it can help Bollywood directors embarrass themselves with a spot of vaguely saucy chat, and allow girls trapped in storm drains to contact the emergency services when they’re too stupid to just dial the number (so much for it making you clever).

OnLive beta is live!

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
OnLive box and controller - beta testing launched today

OnLive box and controller - beta testing launched today

Big news in the on-demand game-streaming service department today as the revolutionary yet controversial OnLive has opened up it’s beta phase to testers in the US.

In it’s first big test since it’s launch at the Games Developer Conference in March earlier this year. The service will allow users to stream top-tier games over the net to a small box connected to their TV with all the processing done server side. It has faced a lot of skepticism from folks in the industry as some say it is technically unrealistic with server lag, a required internet connection being it’s major drawbacks. However some think should the algorithm (developed by the brains behind QuickTime) that powers it work, and the service not suffer any scalability issues on launch then it could alter the landscape of the entire games industry.

This is just a quick post just now, will cover this topic in more detail shortly.

GTA sex scene costs developer $20 million

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Grand Theft Auto Screenshot

Grand Theft Auto Screenshot

Probably the most expensive of all sexual encounters, Take Two Interactive Software today stated that is has finally settled it class action lawsuit against it that had arisen from a hidden sex scene, found by a hacker in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The suit, filed by investors, was brought about due to the collapse of Take Two’s stock value after news about the sex scene and the ‘hot coffee’ mod required to unlock it, hit the net like wildfire in 2007 and some douchebag parents in the States got pissed.

Yeah, because a rubbish CGI sex scene is the most offensive thing about a game that to win requires you to hijack cars and commit mass murder.

Oooh sorry, I’ve just cum

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

I’d be utterly remiss if I didn’t give in to my (not very well hidden) inner geek and post this. Yet more spaff-worthy content from one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year. Throwing knives and host migration, woooo.

101 Uses for Social Media

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Gina Ricobene and friends, need we say any more?

Gina Ricobene and friends, need we say any more?

#1 – Debt collecting via the daughter’s MySpace page

Don’t mess with JPMorgan if you miss your car loan repayments, as they seem to hire a debt collecting agency that target defaulters children. Financial Times’ Alphaville Blog is reporting that the firm had been looking for James Ricobene after he missed a few payments, but seem to have stumbled on his daughters MySpace page while trawling the internet for leads. Seizing on the opportunity of social media savvy yoof, they posted this friendly message…

We have been retained by, JPMorgan Chase Bank, to locate and repossess their missing collateral a 2007 Mercedes GL 450.

Please contact our office immediately so we can discuss the peaceful recovery of the collateral. Failure to contact me will result in further action against your father James Ricobene. Failure to comply with this notice of surrender is a class 5 felony and carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for two years plus all applicable surcharges. You must contact the writer within 5 days to prevent this action from taking place.

Awaiting your immediate response.

Chris Flanagan
Senior investigator

Wow, daddy’s Merc is getting repossessed, that’s credit crunch in Beverly Hills for you. For comedy value Gina’s MySpace pic is below.