Filed under: News

There are a lot of rumors that simply don’t end up on PS3 Fanboy. Why? Because some lack any semblance of credibility whatsoever. One was a recent report that 40% of 40GB PS3 systems were failing … days after the system’s launch. The reports were limited to a number of unknown websites, and details were slim.

David Reeves from SCEE responded to these reports, telling Kotaku “We are very proud of the quality and reliability of PLAYSTATION 3 and are disappointed that such extremely sloppy journalism has resulted in this totally inaccurate story … Since launching the 40GB PS3, we have experienced a fantastic jump in sales and the failure rates have remained at the very low level that we not only strive for, but have been achieving since the launch of PS3.”

“Sloppy journalism” and “totally unfounded rumors” do seem to go hand in hand, especially on the internet.

[Via Three Speech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Lionsgate Films, Movie Marketing, Games and Game Movies, Posters

ComingSoon got an early look at the first teaser poster and some of the artwork for the new techno-thriller, Game. Written and directed by Crank creators, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the film stars Gerard Butler as the consummate player of a virtual game with some pretty heavy real-life consequences. The story is “set in a dystopian future of implanted nano-devices, where the ultimate online simulation environment is humans remote-controlling other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming. The lead character, played by Butler, is a worldwide sensation, and the top-ranked warrior in a game called “Slayers.” With his every move tracked by millions, he battles to regain his identity and bring down the entire system”. Joining Butler are Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) and Dexter’s Michael C. Hall as the game’s evil creator.

Butler has been picking up parts right and left after the success of 300; everything from romantic weepies to crime drama — and I know which one I’d be more inclined to shell out my hard-earned dollars for, how about you? Butler is going to have one less commitment to worry about this year since it turns out he will not be taking on the role of Snake Plissken in the update of Escape from New York. Christopher brought us the ‘good’ news recently citing ‘creative differences’ as the catalyst for Butler leaving the project. So that film is now officially without a director or a star. So I don’t think it is just me, but I wouldn’t count on seeing Escape any time soon considering the rate people are dropping from the project. As for Game, the film is currently in production and expected to be released in 2009.

UPDATE: It seems the artwork has been taken down; not sure why. Sorry about that folks.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

Apple’s already shown its interest in tactile touch screens, but it looks like Nokia is a bit further along in its own touchy feely endeavor, with it now showing off a prototype of its so-called “Haptikos” system. According to Red Ferret, Nokia’s system is also a good deal more advanced than some similar ones already on the market, with it actually allowing for a 0.1 mm movement in the screen itself. That, combined with a pair of sensor pads under the screen, supposedly allows it to “mimic exactly the sensation of pressing a real key,” complete with a “clunky click and tactile snap.” What’s more, it seems that the technology isn’t all that far off, with Nokia’s upcoming S60 handset apparently first in line to get it.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Share This

Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, Celebrities, YouTube

Now that he’s stopped doing commercials for Nationwide Insurance, early-’90s rapper/dancer M.C. Hammer had to find a new way to keep from having to move into a trailer park. The one-time superstar who brought us “You Can’t Touch This” is firing up his own Web 2.0 startup called DanceJam with members of the Flock browser team.

DanceJam is a site where users can upload videos of themselves dancing. Videos are rated and shared just like on any other video hosting site such as YouTube. The site will even have face-offs between dancers.

M.C. Hammer is just latest in a line of former celebrities who have looked to the tech world to make some post fame cash. After being “Blinded By Science” in the early ’80s, early-techno-pop artist Thomas Dolby formed Headspace, a digital music company that created its own format. Dolby was also in on the ground floor of Beatnik Inc. and Retro Ringtones, companies that specialized in mobile music and ringtones.

And back in 1999, Andrew Shue of ‘Melrose Place’-fame co-founded ClubMom — a mother-to-mother social network — with Meredith Viera.

From TechCrunch and ABC News

Related Links:

• Prince Sues His No. 1 Fans
• Oprah Launches her Own YouTube Channel
• Top 11 Celebrity Messes Online

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Vegetables, Recipes, The History of…, Comfort Food

According to many, Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City was the first real restaurant in the United States, opening in 1827 (it’s also believed to be the first to use a separate wine list). A lot of great food was invented there, including Delmonico Steak, Eggs Benedict, and Chicken a la King, but today let’s talk about Delmonico Potatoes. After the jump is a recipe from about.com, or you could try this one from Emeril Lagasse.

Continue reading Delmonico Potatoes

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: On the Blogs, Lists, Health & Medical, Fast Food

Of course, a lot of people would say “just avoid fast food altogether!” But sometimes you just need a Wendy’s double cheeseburger and fries.

The folks over at A Calorie Counter have looked at the nutritional info for all of the fast food outlets (McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, A&W, Arby’s, Hardee’s, In-N-Out Burger, Jack in the Box, Little Caesars, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, White Castle, Popeyes, Del Taco, Carl’s Jr., and Dairy Queen) and have compiled a list of the 88 worst foods you can buy, in terms of the amount of trans fats. After the jump, the 10 worst. The link above gives you the whole list.

Continue reading The 88 most unhealthy fast food items

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

The Zipit is a device that breaks a kid into the world of instant text messaging, and this could be happening even before they learn to write! That’s putting the cart before the horse, but other parents might beg to differ. The Zipit handheld device provides an instant messaging service without a computer, as it flips open just like a cellphone, supporting MSN, AOL and Yahoo! Messenger. Parents will be pleased to note that there aren’t any monthly subscription fees with this thing. Features include a miniSD memory card slot to store images and music as well as the ability to stream tunes directly from the Internet. The $150 price tag is rather prohibitive, however, as throwing in a little bit extra will be able to net you a cellphone that does IM and more.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Share This

Filed under: PlayStation Store, PlayStation Network, News

If you don’t remember the PSN title Pain it’s all right, we won’t blame you this time. The game is essentially a ragdoll fun-time game, where you slingshot, catapult, or somehow hurl a person into the air and watch as pain is inflicted upon said person. A lot of previews spoke highly of it, so we’re sure there’s a little more to it than that.

Sony has confirmed that game is scheduled to come out around the end of November, but if a worldwide release date is scheduled, that date may move back into the beginning of December. Basically, we expect the game in December. We just hope its arrival isn’t overshadowed by the block of other games arriving around the same time.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), Cisco Systems (CSCO), China, Initial public offerings

Alibaba more than doubled on its first day of trading in Hong Kong today. After the trading day ended, Alibaba took its place as Asia’s second largest Internet company behind Yahoo! Japan. All in, Alibaba is now valued at over $23 billion.

With shareholders including Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), Alibaba joins other high-flying Asian IPOs in 2007. I wrote briefly yesterday about the PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) IPO, which after it saw its value triple, is now the world’s first trillion dollar company.

Part of what makes the Alibaba IPO so interesting is the firm’s growth prospects. China’s largest Web trading site for companies predicts profit will almost triple this year on increased spending in the world’s fastest growing major economy.

Hot? Yes. According to Bloomberg data, Alibaba’s IPO was the biggest by a Web company after Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) $1.9 billion float in August 2004.

Says Bloomberg, “Clients can advertise or buy products using Alibaba’s Web site for free. The company charges suppliers from China and Hong Kong an annual fee to become so-called premium members, which enable them to gain preferential access to buyers.”

China was home to 162 million internet users at the end of June, second only to the U.S., according to the government-backed China Network Information Center.

DISCLOSURE: I personally own shares of GOOG.

Zack Miller is the lead equity analyst for America Israel Investment Associates, LLC., the managing editor of IsraelNewsletter.com and a former equity analyst for a leading multinational hedge fund.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Gaming

We’ve certainly gotten cranky after being denied some quality gaming time, but 16-year-old Cory Ryder took it to the next level by attempting to hire a hitman to kill his parents after they took away his PlayStation and denied him television. Seems young Cory had been making threats around the house, so his mom hired a cop to pose as a hitter — and Cory took the bait, offering up his dad’s truck as payment. After a couple rounds of “negotiations,” the officer revealed himself and arrested Cory for attempted murder, for which he’s now awaiting trial. Of course, you’d think that having a hitman conveniently show up after you’d been threatening to kill your parents might set off an alarm or two, but Cory’s apparently not the brightest bulb around — his PlayStation was confiscated due to failing grades.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Share This