G-phone Or not to G-Phone, That is the question?

Rumors of an impending Google phone coming out early next year have been heating up since late summer. Google is thought to be in talks with several phone manufacturers, including HTC and Samsung, to create mobile phones around its platform. Search Engine Land has a handy timeline of most of the rumors up through late August.

Today, the NYT weighs in, suggesting that Google’s large mobile effort (stemming from Google’s 2005 acquisition of Android) is less about competing with Apple’s iPhone than it is about competing with Windows Mobile. Remember, Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt sit on each others’ boards of directors. Google’s focus seems to be more about creating a reference design with a new Linux-based mobile OS than entering the highly-competitive mobile handset market itself.

I've heard rumors that it's not the G-phone but a Google PC see my previous Post on 700 mhz spectrum!!

I-Phone has been broken out of Jail!!

While it's not quite ready for mere mortals to use it, hackers that call themselves the iPhone/Touch Dev Team say they've finally managed to jailbreak the iPhone firmware version 1.1.1. It's great news because 1) the latest iPhone can be activated again without signing up with AT&T and 2) third-party applications will be able to run once again, kinda. Don't get too excited just yet, though, because there's still a lot of "major hacking" left to do. Full details from Dev Team after the jump:

I've figured they do it sooner or later but kinda of depressing that they have to recompile the 3rd party apps. Go check out the full story!

Video: The Rocket-Powered X-Wing's Flight...and Death

You might have seen the liftoff, but here's a video of the day we spent in the desert, awaiting the first (and explosively final) launch of the 1/2 scaled rocket-powered X-Wing fighter. I cried a little when it went down. (Turn up the volume, there's some good dialog drowned out by the din of burning balsa hitting the sand.) Reporting and video by James Lee. I just added more on the event by James:

I was hoping someone would put that up. Fantastic. Go check out the video!!

AppSnap Updates Your Existing Software Versions

Windows only: Previously-mentioned auto software updater AppSnap can now detect what applications already exist on your system and check for new versions online in one click. AppSnap comes with a fabulous list of free software built in. You check off the ones you want and AppSnap downloads and installs them for you. That's great for building new systems, but now AppSnap can find apps already installed on your machine, let you know which ones have a new version available for download online, and upgrade them in one shot. Two thumbs up. AppSnap is a free download for Windows only. Thanks, DarthTealc!

This is such an interesting idea almost like something out of LINUX go check it out.

Link to Program: APPSNAP

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates

An anonymous reader writes "Remember the 21-foot X-Wing with four rocket engines? It launched yesterday from Plaster City and here's the video showing what many thought inevitable: total destruction in mid-air. From the post: "I can only say two things. The first is: absolutely amazing. And the second: poor Porkins." "

To there wasn't any photos. I'd love to see it myself.

Could this be for the 700 Mhz Spectrum

On August 2, 2007, an individual named David W. Liu filed to protect the trademark Google PC. There are several men named David Liu that Mork found in his research. One is an investment banker. One is CEO of TheKnot.com. Another is Sr. VP of AOL Portals. But a Spoke profile identifies a David Liu as Legal Council for Google, Inc.

Another interesting thing: a Google Maps Street View search for the address listed in the filing — 6363 Wiltshire Blvd in Los Angeles — shows a small 5-story building with two trees in front of it. If you move the camera in front of the building and zoom in, the word “Google” appears (real or Photoshopped?) in the bottom floor window of the building.

Its been a long while since there have been any substantial rumors about the Google PC, so Mork thought it was worth mentioning this latest discovery.

I wonder if this for the 700 mhz maybe a Desktop for anyone who can pay 100$ or something like that? What do you think?

Apple to offer limited 3rd party iPhone app support?

Look, there's simply no way Apple isn't eventually going to open up the iPhone to 3rd party support -- it's really a matter of when and how, if you ask us. Of course, the possibility we've been most anxious about is Apple eschewing the open platform philosophy and starting to vend only "certified' apps via iTunes -- which is what 9to5Mac is now rumoring to be the case, reporting that Cupertino has brought some former Sidekick platform developers into the fold in order to whip up a mobile app sales infrastructure for iTunes. What's more, the rumor has it things are already progressing along with EA porting games to the iPod touch and iPhone that very same closed-platform model which would leave Apple conveniently in control of app approval, distribution, and presumably pricing. It's anyone's guess as to whether Apple will pull the trigger in just that way, but something tells us the enterprising open source community won't be so easily deterred.

That's the reason why they must of disable 3rd party apps when they did the firmware update and I wonder when they will announce it?

Ten shooters that will make you forget about Master Chief

Look, we liked Halo 3. No wait, that's understatement. We loved Halo 3 and gave it a ten out of ten. But that doesn't mean Master Chief's latest adventure has everything we want in a first-person shooter. In fact, whether you're talking about single player, multiplayer, premise, or plot, we think there are a ton of games that have - and will - best Halo 3. No, we're not joking. Here are ten games that should make you forget about Master Chief.

Talking about Half-Life 2, Portal, team fortress 2, Bioshock, Crysis, Left 4 Dead, Quakewars, Haze, COD 4, and UT3. All nice and all but all of thee you have to buy how about some free shooters.

Miketechshow Listener Round Table 148

Topic: How Podcasting, RSS, and Blogging have made print computer magazines obsolete.

Guests on the Show:

• Host - Miketechshow.com
  
• Mike - mikethinks.com
• Barbra - tanjents.com
• Me - Laforge129.blogspot.com
• Russ - GeekLinux.com
• Jerry - HelpTechOnline.com
  
• Justin

Show Links -

• Digg
• SlashDot
• Drudge Report
• MetaFilter
• NetVibes
• PageFlakes
• iGoogle

My Personal Links to the Show:
Google Reader offline

Itunes makes a Major Mistake!!

The mistake was has not been made public by Apple but caused quite a bit of uproar among hardcore fans of the show. In an attempt to set things straight, Apple offered the actual season premiere and $2 iTunes credit to all the Stargate Atlantis fans who accidentally downloaded episode 4.

Oh my gosh I wonder how many people have downloaded it and why they didn't want to admit to this. Too Funny. Go check out the full article and decide for yourself.

ASUS Motherboard Ships With Embedded Linux, Web Browser

The good folks over at ASUS have sent over the P5E3 Deluxe, which is based upon Intel's new X38 Chipset and continues in the usual ASUS fashion of pushing new (and often unexpected) innovations onto the motherboard. Without spoiling the review of this motherboard that will be published shortly, the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe is one of the most innovative motherboards we have seen to date and it packs one very exciting and unusual feature. Embedded onto the P5E3 Deluxe is a Linux environment that features a Firefox-rebranded web browser and the Skype VoIP client! Within five seconds of turning on this $360 USD gaming/enthusiast motherboard, you can be using Linux and surfing the Internet. On this motherboard the feature is known as ASUS Express Gate, which is powered by something called SplashTop. SplashTop is an instant-on Linux desktop being created by DeviceVM. SplashTop isn't even launching for a few more days (October 10), but in this article we have more details on this embedded Linux environment as well as screenshots and our thoughts with what will hopefully come next for this Linux environment.

I wonder if they will ever make a Laptop version of this. It would be useful trips not to have to boot up the system to do some of the minor things

Wi-Fi Signal Status for You and the World!

Here at ThinkGeek we're pretty lazy when it comes to technology. We expect our gadgets to do all the busywork while we focus on the high level important tasks like reading blogs. That's why we hate to have to crack open our laptops just to see if there is any wi-fi internet access about... and keychain wi-fi detectors, we would have to actually remove them from our pockets to look at them. But now thanks to the ingenious ThinkGeek robot monkeys you can display the current wi-fi signal strength to yourself and everyone around you with this stylish Wi-Fi Detector Shirt. The glowing bars on the front of the shirt dynamically change as the surrounding wi-fi signal strength fluctuates. Finally you can get the attention you deserve as others bow to you as their reverential wi-fi god, while geeky chicks swoon at your presence. You can thank us later.

I might have to buy one myself. These look cool, go check out the picture at Thinkgeek.com

Bungie: We're already at work on another Halo game, Halo 3 wasn't the last

Bungie's Community Leader Brian Jarrard has revealed that Bungie are already at work on another Halo game, but strictly speaking it is not Halo 3 but is based on the Halo universe and is a collaboration between Bungie and Peter Jackson. Jarrard simply stated that Halo 3 was definitely not the last Bungie Halo game. Moreover, he tried to dodge a question about how they would pitch future titles as they are an independent company which suggests that such a title could actually go multi-platform.

quote:

1UP: For all the super fans: does this mean Bungie won't work on whatever "Halo 4" turns out to be?

Jarrard: Well we are already at work on another Halo game -- I wouldn't call it "Halo 4", but it is based in the Halo Universe and represents a collaboration between Bungie and Peter Jackson. Halo 3 was definitely not the last Bungie Halo game.

1UP: And perhaps most importantly, this means we're going to finally see some progress on Pimps at Sea, right?

Jarrard: Fortunately, Bungie LLC does retain ownership of the Pimps at Sea franchise so anything is possible!

I hope they make more PC console games

Toyota - WOW Ad

Just thought it was really funny. Go check it out!!

Diggnation Ep 118 Live from London

Funny Quotes from the show:

"Taste like Mary Poppins!" -- Kevin Rose(8 mins and 40 seconds)
How does he know?
"Taste like cigarette Smoke!" --Alex Albrecht(8 mins and 40 seconds)
I am guessing he smokes.
"Pirate Bay" --Someone shouts (13 mins 10 seconds)
"Aaaarrrgggg" --Audience (13 mins 20 seconds)
"Yes You are all Pirates, I understand this!" --Kevin Rose
"I love when you get drunk, you talk about all the chicks you wanna bang!" --Alex (16 mins and 10 seconds)

Bungie Studios Becomes Privately Held Independent Company

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Bungie and Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of Microsoft’s “Halo” franchise, to become a privately held independent company, Bungie, LLC, in which Microsoft will hold a minority equity interest. As part of this transaction, Bungie and Microsoft have forged a deep and long-term development and publishing relationship focused on the continued success of the “Halo” franchise. It is also the intent of both parties to expand their partnership to include new IP created and owned by Bungie.

Bungie’s critically acclaimed Xbox 360® exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

“This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games,” said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. “We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios, and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through ‘Halo’ and beyond.”

“Working with Microsoft was great for us, it allowed us to grow as a team and make the ambitious, blockbuster games we all wanted to work on. And they will continue to be a great partner. But Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees,” said Jason Jones, Bungie founder and partner.

Wow, I can guess what type of games there will come out with now!! I hope it comes full circle. I love there games.

Vista: None for All?

Maybe The Three Musketeers' motto, "One for all, and all for one," should have an extra "n" or two when referring to Windows Vista.

I've wondered after doing several channel checks on Windows Vista adoption. The results, while arguably anecdotal, are grisly. Businesses aren't just taking their time deploying. Some early adopters have switched back to Windows XP.

Yesterday, I spoke with a VAR buddy who has several large clients in the Washington, DC metro area. His largest client, a sizable software developer, is sticking with XP because he demanded it. For a short time, the company president used Vista on a new, Sony VAIO T series notebook but later switched back to XP.

"Everyone—every single person—that I put on Vista has switched back to XP," he said. "It's too complicated."

I like how he did this article on Vista. Go check it out!!

RIAA wins the battle!!

RIAA wins first-ever file-sharing case to go to trial, awarded $222,000
The first RIAA file-sharing case to go to trial just wrapped, and sadly, the outcome isn't a positive one. Regardless of the incredibly asinine and consumer-hostile comments made by Sony BMG's head of litigation the other day, the jury fournd Jammie Thomas, a single mother from Minnesota, liable for willful copyright infringement and awarded the RIAA plaintiffs $222,000 -- that's $9,250 for each of the 26 songs she was alleged to have made available on Kazaa, for those of you keeping track at home, and probably something like, oh, say, $222,000 more than she should have had to pay, since the RIAA plaintiffs weren't required to show that Thomas had a file-sharing program installed on her machine or that she was even the person using the Kazaa account in question. Of course, this is just one case and there's always the possibility of appeal, but anything that emboldens the RIAA's litigation team is never good for the general public.


read more | digg story

I don't see how they could of won a stupid case like this, the Jury should of seen how hard it is to validity of the case!

Razer announces Lycosa keyboard, Piranha headset

If Belkin's new Razer-powered SpeedPad keyboard is a bit too unfamiliar for you, then perhaps Razer's own new Lycosa keyboard will be more to your liking. As you can see, it boasts a full complement of keys to handle those odd non-gaming tasks, although its not without its share of gaming-minded amenities as well. Those include backlighting on the all-important WASD key cluster, a non-slip rubber finish on all the keys, and support for up to 10 different software profiles which you can switch between on the fly. Those looking to stick with Razer for all their gear will also soon be able to get their hands on the company's just-announced Piranha headset, which boasts a noise-filtering microphone, an in-line remote with volume and microphone-muting controls and, of course, that trademark blue glow. Look for it to be available sometime this month for $80, with the keyboard set to follow in November for the same price.

Nice little keyboard. I think it would be great for gaming plus the headphones. All I can say is Nice!!

Gathering 'Storm' Superworm Poses Grave Threat to PC Nets

The Storm worm first appeared at the beginning of the year, hiding in e-mail attachments with the subject line: "230 dead as storm batters Europe." Those who opened the attachment became infected, their computers joining an ever-growing botnet.

Although it's most commonly called a worm, Storm is really more: a worm, a Trojan horse and a bot all rolled into one. It's also the most successful example we have of a new breed of worm, and I've seen estimates that between 1 million and 50 million computers have been infected worldwide.

Now is it me or is something going on with Russia doing all of this? I know I get a lot spam from Russia, is this the new silent war?