Wal-Mart Defeated in NYC

Wow this news piece is pretty funny. It states that the largest retailer can’t cut a deal to be in NYC.

Frustrated by a bruising, and so far unsuccessful battle to open its first discount store in the nation’s largest city, Wal-Mart’s chief executive said yesterday, “I don’t care if we are ever here.”H. Lee Scott Jr., the chief executive of the nation’s largest retailer, said that trying to conduct business in New York was so expensive— and exasperating —that “I don’t think it’s worth the effort.” Walmart’s CEO blames New York snobbery for the defeat: Speaking about what he sees as snobbish elites in New York and across the country, Mr. Scott added, “You have people who are just better than us and don’t want a Wal-Mart in their community.”

People in New York City may be snobby, but they stand united.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28retail.html has more details.

It’s been confirmed Black Xbox 360 is official

The new SKU will be black, it will have HDMI, it will have a 120GB drive, it will come bundled with a one month Xbox Live trial for a price tag of $479. Unfortunately, it’s not going to have the new 65nm CPUs, it still doesn’t have integrated WiFi, and it won’t have an integrated HD DVD drive. Not that i thought it would.

Still there are some unknowns left:

We don’t know what version of HDMI it will have but since they are competing with the PS3 lets assume it will have 1.3. Nor do we know whether it supports PCM 5.1, TrueHD, etc. We also don’t know if it will pack IPTV software. Also im currious to know what new chip they are using because the Ana chip couldn’t do HDMI. I won’t splurge for one until it goes 65nm and quieter operation. Wifi would be nice, too but i can deal with some alternate solutions. Lets hope that Microsoft doesn’t keep me waiting till 2008 before it gets my money.

Expect to see this on sale in the USA and Canada on April 29th.

For official information go here

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360elite/default.htm

YouTube Awards! Best in Show on YouTube

Check out YouTubes new addition . More about this later after i watch some of them

http://www.youtube.com/ytawards

Black Xbox 360 Production Photos Surface

So there are Black production 360 images floating on the internet. What does this Xbox 360 really have that the others have? We still don’t know all the details. We can confirm the color, a ugly black,  and the additional 120 gig HD size. But, we never got a look at the HDMI port and no one has confirmed this will have the new 65nm chipset. I hope it does and it should be ready.

So what is the real cost of this thing? Why do you want this black model anyway when you can get a piano black Xbox 360 case for cheap.  If it’s the hard drive that your after why not just purchase it separately. If it’s the HDMI feature well… who’s to say it has once. But you want this new unit because it’s going to run cooler and have IPTV out of the box? Um no confirmation on the new chipset, and no proof of when IPTV’s release date.  Oh wait; keep praying for Wi-Fi in this thing, Microsoft doesn’t need any more components that will break this thing. As for an alternative, just get yourself a La Fonera and put DD-WRT on it with client bridge mode. You can rule the world then.  

And please spare me the trade in program or I’m so mad that I got one a year ago. Who in their right mind is going to offer this, surely not Microsoft! I’m really tired of hearing about how people feel ripped off. You purchased the product and clearly you accept its current state or why else would you have purchased one? Do you own an iPod and cry about how many new models have come out and go to every forum to post about how you should have waited and how you hate Apple?

HD DVD Rippers & Blu-Ray Rippers Hitting the market like Crazy

DVDFab HD Decrypter beta has hit the internet. Ripping HD DVD and Blu-Ray movies keeps getting easier and easier. First it was Slysoft who released support for both formats, now others are jumping on the wagon. Good thing these company’s aren’t in the USA and out of reach from big brother and the long arm control of the MPAA. The creators of DVDFab now support HD DVD decrypting and acknowledge Blu-ray support soon. If you want to give it a test a download link is provided below. I believe that everyone owes muslix64 huge props for making the dream come true. But wait, there’s more, another free tool by the name of DumpHD has been added to the list. Currently it is still in development but you never know what else doom9 forums will bring us. Read about DumpHD here.

3.0.9.0 Beta (03/16/2007)
http://www.dvdfab.com/DVDFabHDDecrypter3090Beta.exe
- New: Added support for HD-DVD.
- New: Copy HD-DVD to hard disk in “Full Disc” mode, in less than one hour.
- Change: Significantly reduced the time to open DVD.
- Fix: Several minor problems.

Google Adds Themes to Custom Google Homepages

Google is offering a new option that places its internet search box in panoramic settings that change with the time of day and the weather.

The colourful graphics will be unveiled on Tuesday.

While most of Google’s users remain content seeing little more than the company logo and the search box that has anchored its home page for nearly a decade, millions of others have created log-ins that enable them to select from a variety of features that appear with each visit.

The features, introduced nearly two years ago, include stock quotes, local weather and news headlines.

Google’s new package of decorations, also known as “skins”, are designed to make the home page feel even more homey, said Marissa Mayer, the company’s vice president of search products and user experience.

Apple TV Shipping. IPTV

 

Apple TV is now available for purchase. The Apple Web site on Tuesday morning listed the set-top box as available for shipment in three to five business days. Apple stores confirmed that the box, which is meant to deliver content between a TV and a PC, is so far only available online. Now there’s always something good on TV. With Apple TV, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts in your iTunes library, plus photos and movie trailers, on your widescreen TV — wirelessly, from your Mac or PC.

The feature that i’m most thrilled about is the AirPort Extreme, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n wireless network (video streaming requires 802.11g/n). It supports draft N, which means more coverage to watch TV anywhere in your house. Oh, and Sony as you can see no one really cares about 1080p not even Apple!

 

 

Specs for the unit are:

Size and Weight

• • Footprint: 7.7 by 7.7 inches (197 mm x 197 mm)
• • Height: 1.1 inches (28 mm)
• • Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.06Kg)¹

Processor and Storage

• • Intel processor
• • 40GB² hard drive for storing content locally
• • Up to 50 hours of videos³, 9000 songs⁴, 25,000 pictures⁵, or a combination of each

Ports/Interfaces

• • HDMI (video and audio)
• • Component video
• • TOSLINK optical audio
• • Analog RCA stereo audio
• • 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet
• • USB 2.0 (for service and diagnostics)
• • 802.11n wireless networking* (compatible with 802.11a/b/g)
• • Built-in IR receiver (works with included Apple Remote)

Power

• • Built-in universal 48-watt power supply

 

Video

• • Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile; 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3; 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile

Audio

• • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV

Photos

• • Photo formats supported: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG

Also Included

• • Apple Remote

Environmental Requirements

• • Operating temperature: 32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C)
• • Storage temperature: -40° to 185° F (-40° to 85° C)
• • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• • Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Xbox 360 Updates: Linux bootloader released & a new Black Xbox 360 named Elite

Xbox-scene has the details on both of these stories.

Linux Bootloader for xbox360 – XeLL *updated*

>> Well, thats what it looks like! Here’s the readme:
XeLL is the Xenon Linux Loader. It’s a second-stage bootloader and is usually run by an exploit. The method of booting this is not a part of this project. XeLL catches CPU threads, sets them up (basically setting HRMOR to zero), loads an ELF file from either network (tftp) or CDROM, and launches it. It also contains a flat device tree for linux. cdrom.c includes a very simple ISO9660 parser, which tries to boot the file named “”vmlinux”. lwIP (http://www.sics.se/~adam/lwip/) is used for networking. Network config is currently hardcoded in network.c (and main.c). XeLL also contains a HTTP server. It is not really used. XeLL is licensed under the GPL v2, and no other version. Xenon-specific stuff of XeLL was written by Felix Domke , other parts where taken from other free sourcecodes. No non-free hardware documentation was used for developing XeLL. XeLL is in a very early stage, but is (most of the time) fully working.

Ill try to link a new video of this working and the progress.

More in depth discussion can be found here, and here

Xbox 360 Elite: new, black limited edition Xbox with HDMI and 120GB drive

Game Informer magazine has stated the Black Xbox 360 would be available sometime in April 2007, with a 120GB HDD, HDMI output and cable, but no HD DVD, $479 USD is the expected price. This sounds great and is actually what i have been waiting for. Now if only it has the 65nm chipset that would complete the list of everyones wish list.

[QUOTE]
We’ve confirmed with trusted sources that the black Xbox 360 is indeed coming, and will be dubbed the Xbox 360 Elite. Here’s what you need to know about it:

* The Elite will be limited quantities only; that may be as much or as little as a couple hundred thousand.
* The case, controller, and Live headset will all be black. It will have all new packaging.
* Elite will cost $479, and will be a 3rd SKU; it will be sold alongside Premium and Core packs.
* Eventually Elite hardware (in white plastics) will take the role of the Xbox Premium. That is to say, after the Elite is launched and sold out, future Xbox Premiums will have 120GB / HDMI.
* Elite models run cooler than normal 360s, but they are not yet confirmed to have 65nm chips.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: engadget.com

Dell 24inch 2407WFP $629

This would be my first Warm deal post, but i wanted to let people know that if your wanting a great new monitor that you should consider the dell 2407WFP as a replacement. For $629 you should be able to call a dell rep and get free shipping. However, you will likely have to pay tax. My tip is to not order online because you can not negotiate. Take my advice its easy to call and ask to speak to a Dell Sales rep. They can often go lower on the price toward the end of the month because of quotas needing to be hit. Be sure to ask for Free shipping while your at it. When i purchased my Dell 2405WFP i go an addition 5 percent off just because i held out on accepting what the sales agent wanted to give me as a final price. Within 30 mins i had an email with a counter offer of the price i originally wanted.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productlisting.aspx?c=us&category_id=6761&cs=04&l=en

March 23rd PS3 Launches in the UK just in time for a Firmware update!

The good news is that March 23rd is indeed the date that the PS3 will be launched globally. So now the UK can  get its share of Sonys Blu-ray video player, because it really doesn’t have any games.  Something else to mention is the fact that people have heard of paradox waiting to release a boot loader to play games from the ps3 HD. Now it appears that right before the big launch Sony will issue a huge firmware upgrade. I do wonder if Sony has patched this firmware to be more secure, only time will tell.

Sony of Japan dropped a press release today to date the upcoming PS3 Firmware Update v1.60. Everyone has been looking forward to this “big” update that has long been promised, so let’s see what they had to say…

The new firmware will be released on March 22, 2007. The press release mentions it’ll be released in the afternoon, which I’m assuming is just for Japan.

Details of the firmware update are as follows (from Babelfish translation):

• Folding @Home: Now you can participate in the worldwide distributed computing protein folding experiments from Standford University, in hopes to further understand human genetics. You can access the Folding @Home application under Network on the XMB
• Internet Browser Pinpoint Zoom and Resolution Settings: You can now choose to zoom into a portion of a website if you have a huge display and can’t read things, or you can set the browser resolution to a different size so everything can be viewed easier
• Full size on-screen keyboard: Makes it easier to type messages and web addresses with the controller
• Remote Play via Wireless Access Point: People with a 20GB PS3 can now utilize the Remote Play feature with a PSP by using any wireless access point. (No official word if you will be able to use the PSP to access your PS3 at home from anywhere, maybe in a future update)
• Background Downloading from the PlayStation Store: This one is cool. It’ll make a big difference when downloading things on the PS3. No longer do you have to sit and wait at the download screen forever. No official word if you can queue up downloads, or if you can load games from disc while downloading.

Overall, not a very impressive update. Sony talked up a big March update to the system, and they really aren’t adding much, other than the background downloading. I’m assuming v1.60 will also include backwards compatibility data for PAL consoles without the PS2 hardware.

So, Sony, where’s the rest of the big updates? This one just brings an “eh” from me