Filed under: Cell Phones, GoogleThere may not be much hard science behind it, but word on the street (more of a superhighway, really) is that Sprint is the "suckiest" cell phone company out there, to borrow the vernacular of the times. According to a Google search of the aforementioned adjective, at least. When you type the query "______ sucks" into Google, alternately filling in the name of the various cell providers out there, Sprint clearly took the makeshift Trophy of Suck by returning the most search results:Here are the stats (number of search results), if you're interested:Helio: 427T-Mobile: 745Alltel: 3,500Verizon: 20,000AT&T: 22,500Sprint: 31,000We're not pretending to be scientists in lab coats over here or anything, but the results of this survey mean nothing whatsoever, or do they? From ConsumeristRelated Links:$99 Palm Centro Going to Sprint on October 14thAT&T Drops Fewest Dropped Calls ClaimRAZR2 Phone Now Available for All U.S. Carriers Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesSince its release late last year, the motion-sensitive Nintendo Wii has become a runaway success for many reasons, including famously keeping the aging and elderly active with a variety of sports titles. Given the video-game console's unorthodox penchant for promoting physical activity instead of discouraging it, it seems only natural thatphysical therapists have begun putting the system to use to help patients achieve better balance and motor skills. As Minneapolis/St. Paul CBS affiliate WCCO reports, therapists at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital are seeing great results among stroke patients who play 'Wii Tennis.' In addition to actually exercising the patient back to health, the therapists note that the Wii makes the process of rehabilitation more fun. According to WCCO, the U.S. Army has also also hopped aboard the Wii Train, testing the system out on injured soldiers in Landstuhl, Germany to help them regain their strength.With Nintendo's upcoming 'Wii Fit', which includes a pressure-sensitive balance board that can be used for everything from push-ups to yoga to aerobics on the way early next year, we expect that more practical uses for the Wii's unique controls are on the way.From EngadgetRelated Links:Senior Citizens Going Nuts for Nintendo WiiNintendo Offering Free Wii-mote Grip SleevesNintendo Gears Up for Wii-Hungry Holiday Shoppers Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersIn the world of sci-fi geekery, there are few things more recognizable than the skin-tight suits Jeri Ryan wore as Seven of Nine in the series 'Star Trek: Voyager'. One of those other icons is the X-Wing fighter from 'Star Wars', with its distinctive crossed S-Foils. Many fans have wanted one of their own, coming no closer than some toy or model, but Andy Worner and a team of friends from Polecat Aerospace have come about as close to real-life as you can expect: They built a 21-foot rocket-powered model of the ship.And it really flies.Well, they think it'll really fly, at least. Its maiden voyage is set for next week, October 10.The craft is powered by four solid-fuel rocket engines that, the team hopes, will propel the ship high enough to enable it to switch those fabled S-Foils into attack "X" position mid-flight. Given that the process takes 35 seconds to complete, that may be asking a bit much for the first flight. And, since this X-Wing model is made out of lightweight wood, there may only be a first flight. They plan (hope?) to use three parachutes to bring the thing back to earth safely. We can't wait to see this thing take to the sky, and we hope that the entire team from Polecat use the force, stay on target, and rely on any other applicable 'Star Wars' cliches.From GearlogRelated Links: Hobby Rocket With Built-In Digicam 'Star Wars' Lightsaber Headed to Space Apple Founders Immortalized in Toy Form  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesThis week is all about retail stores stealing the thunder of big gaming companies. Yesterday it was a new PS3 model leaked by Best Buy before Sony had a chance to announce it. Now we have word of a new Xbox 360 model being leaked by Amazon.com and confirmed by Toys 'R' Us. The new model is a replacement for the cheapest 360 version, the cut-rate Core system that shipped with a wired controller and without a hard drive. It was Microsoft's play to the budget-conscious gamer, though it's never really found much success despite its low price of $299. This new bundle will be called the Arcade system, named to match the console's popular Xbox Live Arcade service, which features hundreds of new and retro games for download, most for $10 or less. It's expected that the new version will include the convenience of an HDMI port (one cable for video and sound) first found only onthe Elite Xbox 360 but later included on other models. Also, the package will apparently include five free Arcade downloads. But, beyond that, and a price of $279.99, it's unknown what else will be included in the box -- though we wouldn't be surprised if the controller loses its umbilical cord.(Check out how the new system fits into the existing lineup of 360 consoles.)From Team XboxRelated Links: New $399 PlayStation 3 Confirmed? 'Halo 3' Annihilates Sales Records Xbox 360 Gets Better, Darker  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersWhen planning a trip to Australia, you probably use a travel site like Expedia.com to compare prices with different airlines, confident that you're getting the lowest fares. However, the cheapest fares for flying to Australia aren't at Expedia.com -- they're actually at Expedia.com.au, the site's Aussie version. This practice is detailed in an article in the 'New York Times' discussing the ways travel sites change pricing for locals vs. foreigners.For example, a flight from Melbourne to Sidney was priced at $350 through Expedia.com (the American website). That same flight through Expedia.com.au (the Australian version) was less than $190, a savings of nearly half. Whether you're booking flights, hotels, or car rentals, the policy is the same: locals get lower prices.You might think this is a simple way to save some cash when traveling to foreign lands. Unfortunately, it's not so easy. According to the article, many travel sites require local addresses or at least credit cards issued within the country that the sites are designed to support. Try to book your rental car in the U.K. with an American credit card and you might be told to "Piss off, wanker" (in more polite terms, of course). There are work-arounds, like having friendly locals book your flights and car for you, that you can try. If you don't have friends in far away places, however, these low prices may be nothing more than a tease.From bookofjoeRelated Links: Grounded Concorde Parts Fly High at Auction Track Airline Ticket Prices, Get Refunds FCC Says No to Cell Phones on Planes  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Video GamesRumors have been flying that the developers at Bungie Studios are tired of making Halo games and are leaving Microsoft behind. According to the rumors, shareholders have bought the Bungie name from papa Gates for an undisclosed, but significant sum of money. The rumored deal also has Microsoft retaining the rights to the Halo series and first shot at publishing titles from the developers.There has been no official confirmation from either Microsoft or Bungie as of yet, but we've gotta say we'd find it more likely that all of the developers would up and leave to form their own company rather than pay an absurd sum of money to Microsoft for the name Bungie. In the meantime, we'lljust have to wait and see if these rumors pan out.From JoystiqRelated links:'Halo 3' Annihilates Sales Records'Halo 3' Hero Undergoes Sex Change Surgery'Halo 3' Takes Shot at Vice Prez Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Reviews, Editor's PicksHype Check: CulinaryPrepWhat it is: CulinaryPrep is a device built to prepare your food and eliminate food-borne bacteria, including in the process. How it works: You put your food (non-ground meat, pork, poultry, veggies), eight cups of water, and an all-natural powder (citric acid, salt, etc) into the canister, screw on the top, and use the included tube (which stretches from the main unit) to remove all of the air from said canister, creating a vacuum-sealed environment inside. You then place this canister on its side, install it on the device, and let it to roll around automatically for about 20 minutes. Presto, you've got safe and succulent food that's ready to cook.The idea is that exposing food to the vacuum environment and the solution will kill bacteria, including E. Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella -- the manufacturers even have the independent studies to back it up. Why it's different: There really hasn't been anything quite like it, not for the consumer or pro markets.What we like: First off, we didn't die of food poisoning, which is a miracle considering we used CulinaryPrep to secure some smelly frozen shrimp that had been left in a car to fester for a few hours. Post-treatment, the shrimp was not only non-threatening, it also tasted moist and delicious after we fried it up - even when we had some the next day. The CulinaryPrep is superb as a tenderizer for otherwise lackluster meats - the normally dry and bland chicken breast we prepared came out tender and flavorful, despite being in the oven for 30 minutes. Same goes for the meat we cooked up. What we don't like: This thing is huge, which is helpful when you're trying to tenderize an entire chicken or 75 fingerling potatoes, but is only practical if you've got a big kitchen. Also, set-up can be complicated, thanks to the vague directions (where to put the random plastic pieces that come with the box - one clear set-up image would have done the trick, manual-making people!)Does it live up to the hype? We're alive, and we're now four-for-four on tasty, zero-prep meals, so we're giving it the thumbs up. If at any point in the near future we die of food poisoning, though, you'll be the first to hear about it. If you take you're a serious cook who doesn't like to waste food, you may want to add this to your cooking arsenal. Price: $399, at the CulinaryPrep Web site. The company also sells a bunch of custom-made marinades specifically designed to be used with the Culinary Prep, like Texas Mesquite and Lemon Pepper, as well as additional ProPrep packets for about $1.25 a pop).Related Links:Hype Check: Verizon VCAST Mobile TVHype Check: Ultreo Ultrasound ToothbrushHype Check: Sansa Connect Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Cell Phones, BlackBerry, iPhone, E-Mail AddictionToday, Verizon unveiled its new fall lineup of phones, the highlight of which, the LG Voyager, takes aim squarely at the iPhone. Sure, it's a dead ringer for Apple's Jesus phone, but it's those similarities as well as some significant differences that make the Voyager a suitable alternative to Apple's handset -- at least for those of us Verizon customers not interested in jumping ship for AT&T. The similarities between the phones don't end with the slick black case. They both have a 2 megapixel camera in common as well as a touch screen, which on the Voyager, runs the slickest, most user-friendly interface we've ever seen on a Verizon or LG handset (it's actually based on the one used for the LG Prada Phone). Of course, there's e-mailand text messaging like there is on the iPhone.It's what the Voyager does differently that's got us excited. First of all, it runs on Verizon's high-speed EV-DO network, which is significantly speedier than the AT&T EDGE network the iPhone is chained to. Voyager also has GPS, which is lacking on the iPhone. It doesn't have a hard drive like iPhone does, but it does have a slot for a microSDHC card, which currently top out at 8 gigabytes but will soon be achieving capacities of up to 32 gigabytes.Lastly, the Voyager is actually clamshell phone, hiding a second (giant) screen and full QWERTY keyboard under it exterior. Our pals at Engadget Mobile got their hands on the Voyager this morning, and while they say the Voyager is a bit meaty in size, they're equally as impressed with it as we are. No price has been announced, but expect to see the Voyager in stores around Thanksgiving.In addition to the Voyager, Verizon announced that is will carry the BlackBerry Pearl -- no different than what you get from other providers -- and the Samsung Juke, which is positioned as an entry-level music phone with its click wheel and 2 gigabytes of built-in storage. There's also a second LG phone, the Venus, which puts an interesting spin on the touch screen craze -- whether good or bad remains to be seen. The screen is actually split into two parts, and only the bottom half is a touch screen. The top half is your standard cell phone screen, the content/context of which changes the buttons displayed on the lower half.For more, check out Engadget Mobile's in-depth photo galleries of the new launches.From Engadget MobileRelated Links:Armani Phone Combats Rape and TheftNokia's $25,000 Ferrari PhoneNew T-Mobile Sidekick LX and Sidekick Slide Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesAfter nearly a year's worth of flying Wii-mote mishaps, Nintendo is offering a free protective grip sleeve for all Wii owners. Yes, for free.Beginning with shipments going out today, all Wii consoles, Wii remotes and copies of 'Wii Play' (which comes with an extra remote) will include the free anti-slip grip sleeve. Stores are expected to get the shipments towards the middle of October or sooner.If you already own a Wii and know all too well the drama that ensues from these motion-sensitive controllers slipping out of your hands and into walls, people, and the like, fear not: Nintendo encourages all current Wii owners to give its helpline a call at 1-866-431-8367 or log on to Nintendo.com to order up to four free sleeves of your very own.Currently the ordering system is experiencing some difficulty, most likely due to an influx of requests, but Nintendo guarantees that everyone who wants or needs the sleeve will receive one.And remember, no glove, no love!From EngadgetRelated Links:Nintendo Gears Up for Wii-hungry Shoppers!New $399 PlayStation 3 Confirmed? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesIn 1986, gamers were stunned -- STUNNED -- to find out that the armored space adventurer they had been playing as in 'Metroid' for the Nintendo Entertainment System was actually a she (gasp!).Yes, until that time, most ass-kicking in video games was done by a male protagonist, and this revelation that the main character, Samus Aran, had breasts both confused and excited an unsuspecting nation of gamers.Fast-forward to 2007 and though female video-game heroes are now fairly standard, some games still haven't gotten the hint -- 'Halo 3,' for example. Thankfully, there's artist David Johnson who specializes in goth fairy sculpts. He recently took it upon himself to give the game's iconic alien-basher, Master Chief, an extreme nip/tuck. When the bandages came off, Master Chief had become "Mistress Chief." This one of a kind, 8-inch figure is currently up on eBay for nearly $2,000 and looks pretty amazing -- even if the heaving cleavage and exposed midriff is a little insensible for interplanetary warfare.From Tech DigestRelated Links:'Halo 3' Annihilates Sales Records'Halo 3' Receives Thumbs Up Across The Web Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones Are you a terrible cook? Tired of calling your mom for help every time you burn the main course? So was Israeli student Igor Ginzburg.Tired of pizza and Taco Bell (though we aren't sure how that is possible), Ginzburg devised a cooking program for mobile phones called Chefi that alleviates the need to call mom for cooking tips. Just tell Chefi what you are making and the program tells you everything you need. It even advises you on other dishes that may go with your meal. Chefi is voice activated so you don't need to touch the phone with your greasy mitts while you cook -- it also waits for your voice commands before moving ahead with the instructions.While Chefi has yet to hit the mass market, Ginzburg hopes that users with their own recipes will ultimately upload recipes to a website that all Chefi users will be able to use with the cell phone application.From ReutersRelated Links:Holyfield vs. Foreman Rematch - With a Grill!10 Best Gadgets for Grads Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesOnline games are no longer just for the proverbial basement dweller any longer as everyone from high-powered CEOs to your granny are meeting up in games like 'World of Warcraft' and 'Everquest' to slay beasts, gather wealth and sometimes even hook up.Recently the BBC took a look into the phenomenon of gamers finding potential mates through the unconventional means of online role-playing games. While tales of online monitor-jockeys getting together to swap more than just discs aren't anything new, to many these type of matches still seem limited to the nerd crowd. But, the reasons people continue to find love in video games are actually quite universal.First of all, by picking up agaming habit that appeals to you, you ensure that anyone you meet in-game at least has that in common with you. You've already narrowed the populous down much more quickly than is possible in most normal social situations, and you've done it without having to suffer through the small talk coupled with bad breath. One must, however, be able to read between the lines. Just by looking at someone's online avatar you won't be able to tell if they are a hard worker, a caring lover or if they are even the gender they appear as in the game. We won't fathom the amount of hearts broken by the words "actually, I'm a dude, dude."But by engaging in conversation or joining a group of adventurers on a similar path as your own, you may be able to quickly determine just what kind of people you are dealing with by the way they conduct themselves throughout a variety of scenarios. Are they quick to give up a fight? Do they steal all your loot? Do they talk too much? Or do they have all the bestarmor, a coffer full of gold and a strong, silent demeanor (like us - wink wink)? Believe it or not, these signs often translate into real world personality traits. While most of the world may not cast aside animal attraction anytime soon, (the tried and true method of "buy drinks, face rejection, repeat" still yields some surprisingly amazing results, after all), the Internet continues to prove it's use beyond porn and identity theft as a spyglass into human behavior.From BBCRelated Links:Kids Spend Too Much Time Online, Say ParentsDelivering Touch and Feel Over the InternetOnline Game More Populous Than NYC Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesSure, a floppy, drooling bloodhound may be what you might imagine tracking down a fugitive on the run. But if a story out of Detroit is any indication of the future, the bane of modern criminals may actually be in their pockets in the form of cell phones. Isaiah Mayweather was wanted in connection with a murder near the city. Unfortunately for the police, he couldn't be found. After finding his cell phone number, though, police were able to use a tracking system to locate him at Chicago's Union Station where he was subsequently arrested. While we already know that taking a picture of yourself in front of pot plants is a bad idea and texting a cop about buying some weed is even more stupid, you might just want to leave that phone at home if you're on the lam.From textually.orgRelated Links: Student Busted for Cell Phone Shots of His Pot Plants Misdirected Text Message Lands Pot Dealer in Jail Camera Phone Nabs Perv on NYC Subway  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersWhile it would seem Britney Spears has been geting advice on motherhood from watching Steve-O DVDs lately, a new survey has found that for regular mommies, the Internet has largely replaced the midnight call to Grandma for help. The survey, run by British baby food maker Hipp, contacted 4,000 women, with the results indicating just how pervasive the Internet has become in nearly every facet of our lives. Eight out of ten new or soon-to-be moms said that they prefer baby-related Web sites over reaching out to friends or family when they have questions. One in five said that they'd logged onto forums and chatrooms late at night instead of waking up friends or family for help.Interestingly, another recent poll showed that mothers tend to think that their kids are spending far too much time online, and not enough time outdoors getting exercise. This sounds like a little bit of the ol' "Do as I say not as I do." That certainly wouldn't be the first time parents sent mixed messages to their kids. From Daily MailRelated Links: Kids Spend Too Much Time Online, Say Parents Video Game Teaches Healthy Eating, Discourages Slothfulness Electronics Causing Teenagers to Get "Junk Sleep"  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments