Saturday, May 5, 2007
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YouTube Pay for Play Could Trigger Revolution
1:30PM Seamus Byrne | YouTube will start paying some “select” uploaders, doling out wads of hard cash to video makers with ongoing series that have proven to be popular with viewers. YouTube’s mentioned this idea before, and is still not saying when the largess of its parent company Google will start billowing out, but it’s now asking for all interested YouTubers to speak up and start begging for the alms. Hope the company is set for a deluge, because anybody who makes a video thinks it’s just ahh-some, don’t they? Come to think of it, this is going to be revolutionary. The prospect of pay-for-play could create a whole new class of videomaker, not a dweller of the Ivory Tower of broadcast but a middle-class erstwhile vid-volunteer who will suddenly be awash in cash. With the prospect of a hit video that pays big, this adds a whole new element to the uploading jones. Roll the open, cue the upheaval. – Charlie White YouTube starts paying ’select’ uploaders [The Register, via CrunchGear] More »
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Barnum Dept: Nothing On Sale for $6.28
1:00PM Seamus Byrne | It had to happen. Someone is now selling Nothing, and undoubtedly, some suckers are buying it. It’s a piece of packaging with a clear plastic sphere sticking out of it that contains absolutely nothing. Well, there’s something in there, but it’s just the same as what’s outside it: thin air. And get this: It costs $6.28. It’s Nothing for something! Heck, if Seinfeld could makes billions of dollars on an entire TV series about nothing, certainly some enterprising entrepreneur can swipe a few thousand from those who want to send a message to their “loved ones.” But if there’s actually something in there, then this is not nothing, it’s something. So besides being a poor value, it’s mislabeled. Might be worth $2 worth of laughs, but not $6.28. Is this that “nothingness” Camus and Hemingway wrote about? – Charlie White Product Page [I Want One of Those, via Oh Gizmo] More »
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Add Remote-Controlled On/Off to Your Original Xbox
11:45AM Seamus Byrne | Whenever there’s an announcment about getting more file types to play back on the Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii, a lot of you always seem to want to remind everyone else that you’re already running XBMC on your original Xboxes. Okay, we get it. It’s great. Whopee! But if you are using XBMC, this $35 DIY kit can add IR-controlled On/Off to your beloved console. With this installed, you can turn your Xbox on directly from your couch using the remote—or probably any universal remote—without having to run up and hit the power key. We wish our PS2 had this, since those three seconds of exercise are too much for our atrophied little hearts to bear. – Jason Chen Remote [XIR] Instructions [Awooga via eHomeUpgrade] More »
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Belkin iPod Cases Support Fight Against Breast Cancer
11:28AM Seamus Byrne | If you or your lady were going to buy an iPod nano armband or an iPod Nano case anyway, why not buy a pink one and support breast cancer research at the same time? These aren’t pink because Belkin’s trying to appeal to ladies (though that could be a side benefit), they’re pink because of the breast cancer connection. Please, protect your iPod and the boobies. Especially the boobies. Steve Jobs doesn’t come out on stage and whip a new one of those out of his pocket every year. – Jason Chen Press Release [Belkin] More »
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Update: Microhoot/Yahoosoft! a No Go?
11:16AM Seamus Byrne | According to the WSJ, it looks like Yahoo is going to turn down Microsoft yet again. They claim that Yahoo just wasn’t feeling the MS vibe. These two star-crossed lovers seemed to be doomed to a world just friendly-flirting. And thanks to the reader, only known to us as “Dean”, for envisioning what the possible merger could of looked like down the road. Mmmm, pie.– Ben Longo Microsoft, Yahoo Discussed Deal [WSJ via TechCrunch] More »
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Intel UMPCs: 24-Hour Battery Life with Moorestown
10:40AM Seamus Byrne | Just when we thought we had seen all the new UMPC platforms, Intel goes and springs another one on us. The Moorestown platform is claimed to let UMPCs last for up to 24 hours with normal/mixed use. It’ll combine the GPU, CPU, and memory controller into one chip. It’ll also support DDR3 memory and come in single or dual core flavors. Graphics-wise, it’s expected to outperform Menlow by 50%. Personally I’d like to see lower prices as well, otherwise I’ll continue using an ultraportable laptop (which lets me do more) over a high-priced UMPC. – Louis Ramirez Intel Announces Moorestown UMPC Platform [DailyTech] More »
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Wii Zelda Shield and Sword Accessory
10:00AM Seamus Byrne | Although we finished the Zelda Twilight Princess game for the Wii back in November, we’re kind of regretting the fact that we didn’t wait until this Zelda Sword & Shield accessory was out before playing. By slipping the Wiimote into the sword and Nunchuck into the shield, the realism level would have been so high it would be like we were actually plugged into the Matrix. Except instead of dressing up in all black, we’d be wearing our girlfriend’s green dress so we can look like Link. Finally, an excuse! – Jason Chen Product Page [Outpost] More »
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Battlebot Road Rage on Craigslist
9:20AM Seamus Byrne | Always wanted to own your own Battlebot but don’t have the engineering skills or the wife’s permission to build one? Well, now you can buy a pre-mad Battlebot “Road Rage”, who fought in two actual seasons of the show and won three matches. Best of all—as if owning a Battlebot wasn’t cool enough—it’s only going to cost you $300 or best offer! And if you know CL, that means people are lowballing him left and right with emails like “I’ve only got $235, can I pick it up tomorrow?” – Jason Chen Craigslist [Thanks Joe!] More »
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Mother’s Day: Outline Vase Might Make Mum Smile
9:00AM Seamus Byrne | Stick a rose into this Outline Vase by designer Yuko Tokuda, and you’ve suddenly got yourself a first-class sight gag. Even though your mom may not be a big fan of gadgets, she still might dig a nice little piece of design like this. The short one’s $34 and the tall one is $48. And keep in mind, you still have plenty of time to get ready for Mother’s Day on May 13, still more than a week away. – Charlie White Outline Vase [MOMA Store, via The Uber Review] More »
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