Filed under: Computers, MySpaceRumor around the Internets is that MySpace is getting ready for a major facelift. Word is News Corp is looking to hook up with Zach Klein, the designer behind YouTube-clone Vimeo, to clean up the hodge-podge of disparate design elements that a lot of people are complaining about at MySpace.Users have been fleeing MySpace en mass for the more respectable and less spam filled Facebook. A bit of a redesign will be good for MySpace, but will it be enough to save the site clearly in its death throws?From MashableRelated Links:New U2 Song Exclusively on Facebook, Not MySpaceMySpace Scam Offers Free Macy's Gift CardHacked Alicia Keys MySpace Page Could Leave You With a Virus Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Switched VideoWe know you love our up-to-the-minute mix of gadget news and tips. We also know you're busy, and try as you might, it's a royal pain to lug your computer along for your commute. So we've created the ultra-portable, ultra-thin, zero-carbon-emitting Switched Show podcast so that you can catch up with the latest tech stories wherever you are, provided you're within arm's reach of an iPod, iPhone, or whatever crazy media player you prefer. Browse an archive of our favorite shows through iTunes and, better yet, subscribe (for FREE!) to the podcast and get the latest show delivered straight to your iTunes (or whatever crazy podcast catcher you prefer) the moment we kick it out the door. But wait, there's more: You can also find the Switched Show on YouTube.com.Related Links:Can Privacy Exist on the Internet? Mo Rocca Talks About Baring It All, Online How to Resize Your Photos For E-Mail Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesA man in Berkeley, California was struck and killed yesterday while crossing the train tracks on foot. Witnesses say that he was distracted by talking on his cell phone, resulting in the accident. The man stood by the side of two sets of the tracks waiting for one train to cross, then immediately stepped out onto the tracks and was struck by a second train passing in the opposite direction.This sounds disturbingly similar to an incident in Ohio we reported about in August. There, a teen was texting on his cell phone and did the same thing, crossed the tracks behind one train only to step in front of the second. He survived, his injuries far less severe than those apparently suffered by the Berkeley man.If you're crossing the train tracks, we think it might be a good idea to put down the cell phone, pause that iPod and take your ear-buds out, and close the lid on your Nintendo DS before you take the risk of becoming the next to be featured in a post like this. From cbs2.comRelated Links: Teen Struck By Train While Text Messaging NYC Hopes to Launch Subway Text Message Alert System California Bans Cell Phone Use For Teen Drivers  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesThose mobile mavens over at NTT DoCoMo, a major Japanese cell phone provider, are taking the lid off of a feature called Area Mail.Area Mail will blast all phones in a predetermined area with a text message. Pairing this location specific messaging service with a special ringtone could lead to a powerful emergency alert system. In the event of an earthquake or Godzilla attack an alert could be sent straight to those in immediate danger with out bothering those outside the danger zone.From MobileMentalismRelated links:NYC Hopes to Launch Subway Text Message Alert SystemPerdue to Test Emergency Text Message SystemCampus Text Alert System Scores Low on First Test Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Video GamesIn American war gaming, the American Civil War has been a popular setting for games ranging from the board and dice variety, like Avalon Hill's classic 'Gettysburg,' to the more recent (and forgettable) 'Civil War: A Nation Divided.' These games don't tend to raise the ire of those who were directly affected by the war because, well, there just aren't too many of those people still around these days. However, the situation is very different in Spain, where a game portraying the the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War is stirring up debate by those who still remember it.The game, called 'Shadows of War: The Spanish Civil War,' enables players to take the side of either the victorious Fascist forces or the defeated Republicans, playing through the three-year conflict that resulted in 500,000 deaths and ultimately lead to a 36-year dictatorship. While many appreciate the opportunity to re-write history as a Republican soldier, many others who lost close ones or directly fought in the war think the game trivializes a difficult time in Spanish history. What it seems everyone can agree upon, though, is that it isn't a particularly good game, scoring mediocre reviews by those who have weighed in on the game so far.Here in the U.S., as mentioned above, the wounds of our Civil War have healed enough that few think twice about a game that embraces the subject. However, there has been quite a bit of discussion surrounding games set during World War II and other more modern conflicts, specifically whether they trivialize the plight of soldiers. Hank Keirsey, a veteran of the Gulf War and a military advisor for 'Call of Duty 4,' recently spoke out against these accusations, saying that they actually inspire kids to learn history and respect those who have fought in these wars.Funny how nobody really complained about G.I. Joe and his cronies when we were kids, but maybe that's because G.I. Joe was re-imagined as an adventurer in the early '70s following Vietnam-war era complaints about the soldier doll for dudes. From Guardian Unlimited and Next GenerationRelated Links: Singapore Bans Video Game With Interplanetary Lesbian Sex Scene Citing Violent Content, Target Pulls 'Manhunt 2' Video Game Church Forgives Sony Over Violent PlayStation 3 Game  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersThe book is the last bastion of non-digital media. Music and videos have long since gone digital, magazine and newspaper subscriptions are suffering as more readers turn to blogs and news sites to get their info, and it's hard to even compare the size of the video game industry to the board game industry. Yet the book has held on through a number of attempts at replacement, with various digital eBook readers coming and ultimately going over the years, most hindered by minimal selection. Now Amazon thinks the time is right for another. Today, the book giant launches its Kindle eBook Reader. The Kindle is a small device with a six-inch E-ink display. E-ink is a type of LCD that requires very little power to operate, enabling the Kindle to get 30 hours of battery life despite sporting battery-sapping support for Wi-Fi and Sprint's high-speed mobile broadband EV-DO network. This means you can purchase and download books from almost wherever, even sitting at an airport terminal waiting for your flight, and you can also subscribe to blogs and even newspapers like 'The New York Times' and have them delivered straight to the device. With Amazon selling new releases at $9.99, the prices aren't too bad, especially compared to the $20 - $30 you might pay for your typical hardcover.The Kindle is most comparable to Sony's Reader, another small E Ink-based eBook reader that sports much the same functionality but without the wireless, so you have to sync to your computer to get books. (The Reader also doesn't offer periodicals or newspapers.) We think the Reader looks a bit nicer with its understated design and silver or blue color when compared to the Kindle's angular design, making it look like a prop from an early 1980's sci-fi movie. The Reader is $100 cheaper, too, selling at $299 vs. $399 for the kindle. But, compare book prices, and you'll see Sony's charging $15.99 for new releases, which could add up if you're a frequent reader. Amazon's definitely pulling out the stops to launch the Kindle today, letting the thing dominate their front page, setting up a massive product page, and even getting respectable authors like Toni Morrison to shill for the thing in a series of videos. Will the Kindle finally bring the book into the digital age, or are we as a civilization destined to still be cutting down trees for our light reading hundreds of years for now? We just know this thing won't start any revolutions until it drops under $200. From Newsweek.comRelated Links: Scratch-n-Sniff 'Old Book Smell' for E-Books Earth-Friendly Tech Amazon MP3 Store Takes Aim at iTunes  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Celebrities, Google, TVWell we're glad he said it and not us, but John Mayer is a bit of a douche bag. Mayer says that while he was Googleing himself extensively (you know, searching about himself online) he found out -- and these are his words -- "I'm kind of a douche bag. I got a little sick of myself ... I'm insufferable."Mayer formally apologized to the Internet-viewing public for his general douche-baggery.From TMZRelated Links:"I'm John Mayer... I'm a Crackberry Addict"Gary Coleman's GameCube Auctioned Off on eBayMo Rocca Talks About Baring it All, Online Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car Tech, Green TechHonda just unveiled the production model of its first hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle, the FCX Clarity. The Clarity is being given a test run in selected areas of North Carolina that are near one of nine refueling stations built for the cars by Honda. It will then be released more widely in California in 2008, where apparently the Hollywood types are already lining up for some serious enviro-chic driving.The cars have a range of 290 miles, roughly the equivalent of 68 miles per gallon on gasoline. The Clarity also uses regenerative braking, like a Prius, to charge a battery that also feeds the engine, increasing the efficiency of the car.Hydrogen fuel cell tech is a zero-emissions fuel, releasing only water into the atmosphere as a waste product. Just a few short years ago, hydrogen fuel cells seemed like a pipe dream. And while this small scale production run doesn't mean that you'll be driving one of these environmentally friendly automobiles anytime soon, it is a huge step in realizing the dream of a pollution-free vehicle.From DailyTechRelated links:5 Percent of U.S. Electricity Wasted by "Vampire" ElectronicsCell Phones Powered by BacteriaMini Fuel Cells Boost Cell Phone Talk Time Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  This week, Microsoft and Bioware, creators of the popular 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' series, released 'Mass Effect', a science fiction space role playing game. The game is already getting amazing reviews for its immersive story-telling and character development.But, wait: Mass Effect also sports an alien lesbian sex scene. Oh, yes. It turns out that Singapore isn't very happy about said scene, and has gone ahead and banned the game. The scene includes a human woman and an alien woman "kissing and caressing each other." We have seen the scene (we won't disclose how many times), and while it's nothing that you wouldn't see on prime time here in the United States, we can only guess that Singapore isn't ready for intergalactic girl-friendly love justyet.%Gallery-10468%From AOL Money & FinanceRelated Links:Best Buy Caught Faking Low Nintendo Wii Supplies Citing Violent Content, Target Pulls 'Manhunt 2' Video Game Boy Hires Hitman to Kill Parents After Losing His PlayStation Priviledges Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Editor's Picks, Top ListsFacebook is all over the news lately, but the headlines aren't all about valuations and advertising - there's been plenty of good old-fashioned sex and scandal as well. Here's a roundup of recent and not-so-recent misfortunes that have befallen those who carelessly post pictures on the limelight-stealing social networking site -- you'd think that people would have learned by now. Whether it's the fuzz or a hilarious Hindi a cappella group (see video above), you never know who might be prowling through your profile. As a public service, we offer our top five cringeworthy Facebook humiliations.Next >>  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, Celebrities, iPod, iPhoneAt last, Sir Paul McCartney himself is now saying that the Beatles's catalog will be coming online (meaning, we hope, iTunes) "soon." McCartney told Billboard.com that, "it's down to fine-tuning, but I'm pretty sure it'll be happening next year, 2008." All of the members of the Beatles' s solo work is now available on iTunes, but so far the Fab Four's collective works have been missing.Rumors about the impending availability of Beatles albums on iTunes have been circulating for years. In fact, Steve Jobs has made it a point of taunting us by playing Beatles tracks at nearly every Apple event over the past year. He also seems to like having the band's songs loaded onto iPods used in demos at those same events. Not too long ago, Olivia Harrison, the widow of George Harrison, told the media that the Beatles digital distribution deal was just about finalized. McCartney is just further confirming the inevitable.The Beatles would be just the latest in a line of long-time hold outs to cave to the iTunes and online music download monster. AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones all have joined the digital download party in the last year, though Led Zeppelin launched in an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless's music store first.The real question we have, however, is how many people will come to iTunes to download The Beatles' albums? We at Switched figure that most, if not all, Beatles fans already own the Beatles's CDs and have ripped them to their iTunes libraries and iPods. Are we wrong here?%Gallery-10447%From BBCRelated Links:George Harrison Joins iTunes Apple Adds Lennon to iTunes Name Your Own Price for New Radiohead  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, MySpaceIf you want to hear the latest track from superband U2, you have one place to go. No, it's not your local CD shop or iTunes installation. Instead, head on over to Facebook, which, together with its hugely popular iLike application, has scored the exclusive rights to broadcast the song ahead of its release next week. The song will be included on a re-release of the band's iconic 'Joshua Tree' album.Facebook includes the ability for users to install applications, little widgets that show up on your profile and let you share information with friends. iLike is one of the most popular of those widgets. It lets you indicate which artists you like and tell your friends which concerts you're going to. It's through this Facebook application that fans can access this new U2 track. Why is this news big? The band shunned the also hugely popular MySpace Music. Why? Well, Facebook does seem to jive a little more with the style of the band as opposed to MySpace's largely angst-ridden music samples. It also just so happens that one of Bono's business partners at Elevation sits on the board of iLike, but we're sure that has nothing to do with it. From CNETRelated Links: Best Facebook Apps for the Office Lying Male Intern Busted in a Dress on Facebook Facebook Ads Raise Privacy Concerns  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, GoogleWe live in a time of amazing discoveries, yet there are still some mysteries that astound us. Questions like: Is there intelligent life on other plants? Does the Loch Ness Monster exist? Most recently, it's been: Dude, what the heck happened to my e-mail? A number of users of Google's popular Gmail service have reported logging into their accounts only to find that all (or at least a large portion of) their e-mails had been deleted.Gone, without a trace.That would be quite a shock as you can imagine, but more troubling is that Google isn't providing any real explanation. If anything, the company is trying to blame the users, implying that they were sloppy with their passwords and that other users logged into their accounts and deleted their e-mail. But, for Jessica Squazzo, who found all her e-mail from 2007 deleted, that doesn't make much sense. "If someone had hacked into my account, why would they have just erased some of my e-mail and not all?" Others wonder, if people were stealing accounts, why wouldn't they just monitor them in the hopes of learning some sort of valuable information? Or just change the password and steal the account? Google's explanation leaves a bit to be desired and we're hoping they come up with a better one in short order. Until then, if you use Gmail, you can protect yourself by configuring your mail to forward elsewhere. Just click "Settings" and "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" to have it directed to another, hopefully somewhat more secure, account. That way you won't have to worry about those digital pictures of Nessie from your uncle getting lost. From Network WorldRelated Links: Google Maps Coming to Gas Pumps, But Is It Complete? Google Announces gPhone? Not Quite. Even Search Engines Dress Up for Halloween  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Celebrities, Top Lists The advent of e-mail, blogs, texting and cell-phone cameras has launched a frightening new world of chances for celebrities to show just how loopy they can be, away from often-necessary publicists' oversight. Forget the paper trail -- it's the electronic trail of drug-addled ramblings, online confessionals, and dirty cell-phone photos we should all be concerned about. For every relatively sane-seeming move like The Office's Jenna Fischer announcing her separation from her husband on MySpace in a thoughtful blog post, there are dozens of less stable online meanderings and wanderings by famous people. Here are the top 12.Even if you're sincere, it's still TMI (Too Much Information):What Happened: 'Girl Fight,' 'Fast and the Furious,' and 'Lost' star Michelle Rodriguez has had her share of run-ins with the law, mostly having to do with alcohol-related incidents. The last big bust-up, which happened in Hawaii while still appearing in Lost, led to her being written off the show, jailed for 170 days, and essentially blacklisted from more work (at least that's what her fans say). So things were looking up when she unfortunately violated her parole this past September, and, it turns out, did not attend her court-mandated alcohol-rehabilitation program. She's now facing 180 days in jail, which has prompted Rodriguez to come clean for what seems like the umpteenth time, in a long, rambling apologia that reveals she's either hitting bottom or just emotionally-unhinged in a TMI kind of way. In the meantime, fans get to hear just how messy her life has become when she catalogs her losses (house, car, bank account, career), 'punctuality issues,' and 'slow growth issues.' Man, she is hard on herself. But there's good news, too: "It has taken me two years to slow down and pay attention," she writes on her blog. "My peers have begun to take notice of this changed and have called me back to a position in society as a working class citizen." Does that mean she's going back to work, or just getting back to her roots?Career Impact: Who knows? Everybody loves a comeback, particularly from such notorious places, but it's really up to Rodriguez, whose actions will need to speak louder than blog posts. Next >> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments