In an effort to keep up with changes from Apple at a faster speed, the iPhone Dev Team is considering open sourcing AnySIM, the free unlocking solution for the iPhone. Talking to Gizmodo, iPhone Dev Team member Sam said that this move could “open a lot of possibilities for the future”, mainly in terms of the speed of the updates and avoiding sloppy and possibly dangerous binary patches. More »
Ah, the irony: a reader sends us this screenshot of the Nintendo Wii News channel admitting its own four-week “defeat” against the Sony PlayStation 3. It’s either that a) the channel editors feel they are not being paid enough, b) that Nintendo doesn’t give a damn about giving the losing side some respite, c) nobody edits the channel or d) you are all a bunch of Apple Sony fanboys. [Thanks Eric] More »
Two years after the Xbox 360 kick-started the next-gen console race on a Black Friday week, EA chief John Riccitello says this year’s Black Friday completed the transition to the (now) current-gen consoles: “It’s been the longest, hardest transition in the history of the industry…Last Friday marked one of those points where you can say something’s changed…Around the world, based on the data I’ve got, it was pretty clear that the transition is now over.
Soccer may not be the most popular sport in the US – but don’t tell that to millions of minivan-driving suburban mothers. Chances are, the kids they are constantly hauling back and forth to practice would love this soccer ball remote. Not only will it handle your TV, DVD and satellite controls, it is also a full-size, functional ball. So you can kick it around, do headers and let the TV channels fall where they may. I just hope you are a fan of English soccer. Available for around $45. [Product Page] More »
This is not the first time we have come across a wristband that alerts you to incoming calls. Some of you may recall the BlueQ from earlier this year. It worked – but not all that well. Could this device, dubbed the LM957, be a better alternative? According to the product site, the LM957 will not only discreetly alert you to an incoming call, it will also let you know when you have wandered more than 15 feet away from your phone.
We are not sure how it compares to the BlueQ in terms of functionality, but it sure as hell looks better. Even if it does work, I wouldn’t be all that interested unless there was a watch involved. Available for £23.50. [Product Page] More »
According to the Health Care System Foundation, a lack of diet and exercise combined with a sedentary lifestyle (that includes playing an upside-down Xbox 360) leads to childhood obesity and an untimely death. Yeah, the kid is definitely fat – but if I were his parents I would be more worried about the fact that he is playing games with a controller that isn’t plugged in. Could it be that an abundance of fat and Xbox 360 playing leads to insanity? [Kotaku] More »
The PS3′s still got a long ways to go to catch up to the Xbox 360 in the online space, and their next step toward it with an HD VOD service seems kind of lackluster. It’s launching next year in Japan only. And the launch content seems pretty anemic unless you’re into cars and racing: “motor-racing vids” and a BBC car documentary. Sony’s hoping it’ll get people’s motors running for Gran Turismo 5. Uh, vroom vroom? [Variety via Game|Life] More »
This isn’t the first time someone has offered a bounty to hack the Linux-based Neuros OSD, but if successful, this hack could have some very interesting implications. The goal is to get the Neuros to piggyback on the TiVo’s recording schedule and make MPEG-4 recordings that can be simultaneously transferred onto a portable device like a laptop or an iPhone. There are two segments to the bounty, with a cash reward that totals $US3500. It sounds pretty cool, but whether it can be done is up to you. [DVRupgrade] More »
The CoolIT USB beverage chiller is certainly one of the more common gadgets of this type on the market, but it does have one major flaw. The fact that the bottom of the can is the only area that comes in contact with the cooling element can result in a drink that is less than thoroughly chilled.
Fortunately, there is a DIY solution available that will give your CoolIT device a much needed upgrade. All you need is a foam can cozy and a Genisys xs 3D rapid prototyping printer. Eh…there is probably a workaround for that second part – or you could simply buy an off-the-shelf version that could do the job. But where is the satisfaction in that? Hit the link for instructions. [Flickr via Make] More »
The Great Pepsi MP3 Giveaway returns, but this time with…Amazon? Yup. Starting Superbowl Sunday (Feb. 3), Pepsi’s stuffing 5 billion bottles of Coke soda with download codes, but you need five of ‘em to get a free song. That’s right, there will be no casual Pepsi drinkers getting free songs on Pepsi/Amazon’s dime – which is about 40 cents a track, down from the 65-70 cents Amazon usually places in labels’ pockets. Consequently, not all of them may participate, which is lame-o on their part.
It’s a promotion people, come on – it helped put iTunes on the map back in 2004 and it might help Amazon’s MP3 store gain some much needed visibility. What’s interesting is that Billboard says this contest might serve as a tipping point to push Sony BMG into selling songs in the MP3 format – right now, Universal and EMI are the only two major labels doing so. If the contest isn’t an adequate carrot, Wal-Mart might be providing the stick, since it’s rumoured to be threatening to drop Sony and Warner’s catalog if they don’t supply its online store with the MP3 format.
Given the fear labels have of the iTunes monopoly, you’d think they’d jump at a player-neutral format, and moreover, the chance to promote alternate players in the online music market. I, however, am not jumping at the chance to drink Pepsi. Blech. [Billboard via Paid Content, Flickr] More »
