Filed under: Computers, Video GamesBecause there's so much going on in Second Life on a regular basis (we're only being partially sarcastic here), CNN opened up a news bureau dedicated to the virtual world that has millions addicted. With the news blog, which CNN dubs "SL I-Reports: Your news of a virtual world", CNN is inviting SL members to file their own reports at a news desk located in the polygonal alternative universe.Don't expect a bevy of serious journalism here, however, as virtually anyone can submit stories to the service. One story shows a picture of people standing around the CNN I-Report center, which, apparently, is breaking news. Another includes a brief story about a Second Life character known as Loch Lommond attempting to break a bull riding record. Another, perhaps more interesting one, covers the construction of a virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.Cool stuff? Perhaps. This could get interesting around election time, as several candidates have already created presences in Second Life.From CNNRelated Links:'CSI' and 'The Office' Coming to Second LifeOnline Game More Populous Than New York CitySecond Life Virtual Bank Collapses Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, iPod The Zune 2.0 update is officially upon us. And not just in the form of new players, but in software updates for old Zunes as well. The new Zune 2.0 hardware will be on store shelves tomorrow, but those of you with Zune 1.0's can get a peak at the updates to the software now, by heading to Zune.net and downloading the firmware update. The update will update your old 30-gigabyte Zune player with all the new Zune 2.0 features, including wireless sync-ing, Media Center compatibility and a redesigned interface.Microsoft has also unveiled its Zune Originals page, where you can decorate your new Zune with laser-etched graphics and text. There will be 27 designs in the "Artist series" and 20 in the Tattoo series, all of which can be added to the Zune of your choice free of charge. To be honest, this new Zune stuff makes Apple's laser engraving of the iPod look a little lame.From EngadgetRelated Links:Microsoft to Launch Zune 2 Next Month Price Cut for Zune. Phone in the Works. Microsoft Sells One Million Zunes  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/VideoThis might be the most-lazy-behavior-inducing, and yet coolest, toy we've seen in a long time. Gibson's new self-tuning Gibson Robot Guitar launches on December 12th, just in time for the holidays. Now, giving this newfangled instrument to a beginner guitar student is probably not a good idea, since learning to tune is one of the first skills that must be mastered. But the Robot Guitar has plenty of features that a seasoned guitarist will appreciate. For example, the guitar has alternate tuning pre-sets for those of us who can't remember how to tune to Open G. There is also an electronic intonation guide, an adjustment that would normally be done by a professional in a repair shop.All of this is crammed in to that classic Les Paul body. Watch the video above for some really cool shots of the Robot Guitar doing its thing.From EngadgetRelated Links:'Guitar Hero III' Ready to Rock, Say Reviews Folding Electric Piano Keyboard Has Great Touch Yamaha's New Tenori-On Music Sequencer Instrument Thing  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersFear of digital piracy has also kept many comic publishers from the online realm. But that's finally changing for Marvel, who today launches a subscription-based online service for viewing 2,500 issues sampled from their massive back-catalog.The service, called Marvel Digital Comics, will not cannibalize existing printed comic sales by excluding anything newer than six months old. Additionally, to help prevent copying, comics will only be viewable through web browsers. And, of course, this won't be free. The site will cost $9.99 per month, or $59.88 for an entire year up-front. As a teaser, 250 comics are available for viewing for free -- or are at least supposed to be. As of now the Marvel site is offline, likely struggling to cope with the massive influx of demand. That could be a good sign for Marvel, but whether it can maintain relevance in a world dominated by imported manga and anime like 'Naruto' and 'Fullmetal Alchemist' is the real question. And perhaps as important: Will people pay for this after they gobbleup the free 250 comics?From Newsvine and USA TodayRelated Links: Mobile Novels Take Over Traditional Books in Japan 'Pre-Teen' Lara Croft Creator Tells All Red Sox, Comic Books and Video Games?  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersWe try to keep you abreast of the latest scams, whether they appear to come from MySpace or the U.S. Government. We also try to let you know about new viruses that might infect your machine with monitoring software capable of stealing the passwords to all your online accounts. These are all bad, of course, but if you're using a password so simple that someone can guess it after two or three tries, well, you may as well download all the viruses you can find.To help, the British government has started a program called Get Safe Online to help keep folks in the U.K. from being statistics. Its recommendations range from software update advice to ways to secure your wireless network. When it comes to passwords, to save you some time, Shiny Shiny has compiled the top five tips to a more secure account. They are:Your cat's name is not unique. Leave it alone. Ditto your name, your birthday, your mom's maiden name or your birthday. Don't use a dictionary word. They can be cracked with clever -- and even not-so-clever -- password hacking programs. Don't use Qwerty, one of the most popular passwords on the block. Consecutive letters are generally a no-no as they're easily guessed. Use a combination of upper and lower case, letters, and numbers. If non-alphanumeric symbols are permitted, throw a few of those in. Make it as nonsensical as possible, even to you. And if you do need to write it down, try not to do it on a piece of paper entitled Internet Banking Passwords... Now is not the time to be restrained. Many sites will have a minimum-character-length password, but few have a maximum. Length is in your favor as it increases the myriad of combinations that would have to be tried out before your password could be cracked. These all jive pretty well with our own recommendations compiled earlier this year, where we list password as the number-one least-secure password ever, for obvious reasons. And no, Mr. Lazy, password1 isn't much better. From Shiny ShinyRelated Links: Is Your Password on This List? MySpace Scam Offers Free Macy's Gift Card Fake FTC E-Mail Contains Computer Virus Hacked Alicia Keys MySpace Page Could Leave You With a Virus  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersSome people will just never learn. If you're gonna call out of work to attend a party, try not to post pictures of it the next day online.Kevin Colvin, an intern at Anglo Irish Bank, told his boss, Paul Davis, that because of a family emergency he had to return to New York City. Instead, Colvin was apparently partying in Worcester, Massachusetts. One of the hedonistic intern's co-worker found this freshly posted picture on his Facebook page and Colvin was busted. The best part is, not only was Colvin busted for lying, but he was busted for lying while dressed in a skirt, or a Peter Pan outfit (we can't tell). No, actually, the best part is that Kevin's boss replied to the original "family emergency" e-mail by blind-CC-ing all his other employees! (No word on whether Colvin lost his job or not, but it just goes to show you how careful you need to be on Facebook these days.)Kevin, gold and green are just not your colors -- you look a little sickly.From Valleywag Related Links:Your Facebook Profile Could Cost You Your JobFemales Flock to Facebook to Post Drunken Pictures of ThemselvesCan Privacy Exist on the Internet?Facebook Employees Know Whose Profiles You Look At Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesNintendo's Wii console has been very hard to find for a long time now -- so long that some are calling shenanigans. A lot of folks think that Nintendo is artificially creating news and demand by keeping supplies of its little white console low. Those claims have never been substantiated, but now we have some proof that some other players are getting in on the game. The Consumerist has is reporting that Best Buy employees are clearing out their Wii inventories by broadcasting that they're down to a single Wii console -- over and over again.The report was filed by a witness at the Princeton, New Jersey Best Buy. The witness saw an employee parade around holding a Wii over her head while another employee announced "Julie is now walking through the store with our last Nintendo Wii! If you're looking for a Nintendo Wii, please look for Julie!" Someone in the store grabbed the box and bought the console, of course. 30 minutes later,another employee did the same thing, with another Wii held aloft for all to see. The witness claims he overheard the store's managers discussing the scheme and planning to send Julie out a third time forty minutes later.This isn't the first time Best Buy has been caught doing something shady: Earlier this year, some branches of the chain set up a second, secret version of the Best Buy Web site, which was accessible only from within the store and had higher prices than the public Web site, presumable to keep people from getting lower in-store prices. The discount chain has also been accused of tricking people into signing up for subscriptions to MSN, as well as selling a hard drive that contained only bathroom tiles.From The ConsumeristRelated Links: 30 Years of Video Games Up For Sale Is 'Manhunt 2' the Most Violent Video Game Ever? Microsoft Makes New Xbox 360 Arcade Official  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video Games, ReviewsIn case you hadn't heard, Sony has gotten its chips (and lawyers) in order, and has finally brought rumble back to its PlayStation 3 controllers. Engadget's Tokyo office was able to get its sweaty (and soon to be rumbling, we'd imagine) hands on an early retail release of the Dual Shock 3. She looks hot, with her Ceramic White (or Black, as pictured above) case and familiar, comforting shape -- if only the Internet had rumble, maybe we could get an idea of how she moves? Word on the street is that this latest PS3 controller doesn't handle too differently from the Dual Shock 2. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like you'll be able to pick one of these up Stateside before Spring 2008, but if you or anyone you know is going to Japan....Unboxing porn after the jump.From EngadgetRelated Links:30 years of video games for sale "Force feedback" suit teaches you to box  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, iPod, TV, iPhoneThe Mac vs. PC ads keep coming from Apple. In its latest volley, Apple picks on Microsoft over the fact that numerous Vista users are actually downgrading to Windows XP because of the (arguably) shoddy Vista experience. While the new Apple ads are pretty funny to us ubergeeks at Switched Headquarters, we're getting a little uncomfortable with the endless flogging. This remindsus of those old cartoons in which the poor bullied nerd disappears for months, drinks protein powder, gets all buff, and then comes back and beats on the bully. Intensely. Over and over again.Who's the bully now, Apple?From AppleRelated Links:Is It Time to Downgrade from Windows Vista?Mac Leopard Out Tomorrow, and the Reviews Are Positive Vista Sells 40 Million Copies Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Advice, MySpaceIf you spend any time on the social-networking-site-cum-Internet portal MySpace, then you've definitely seen the scam. It's an offer for a $500 gift card to Macy's. Sometimes it takes the form of a private message, and other times it's a comment on your page. The link can be text or an image, often a picture of a half-naked woman.Clicking on the link takes the user to a phony MySpace page, where he or she is asked to enter personal information to claim the gift. The information is forwarded to a fraudster, who uses it in credit card fraud and identity theft schemes. In addition to destroying a person's credit, the scam also grants access to the victim's MySpace account. From here the cycle continues as a new pool of friends is available to send the misleading message to.It's a classic 'phishing' scam and many MySpace members have already been victims, according the the Daily Mail.Macy's and news outlets are just now taking note of the scam, despite it having circulated for almost a year. Macy's has posted a message on its Web site warning users to be wary of offers for free gift cards, and that it would never ask for personal information. From Daily MailRelated Links:Hacked Alicia Keys MySpace Page Could Leave You With a VirusFake Credit Card Swiper Steals Your IdentityeBay Accounts Hijacked and Used to Scam Buyers Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Green TechShopping on Black Friday requires a certain amount of masochism -- struggling through the crowds, punching mothers in front of their children to get that cheap plasma TV -- it's dangerous business.If you decide to brave the battlefield at Best Buy this year, you'll be rewarded with an opportunity to grab an eMachines PC with a 17 inch LCD monitor for the super low price of $200. Don't expect the world though. The PC is rumored to be powered by an Intel Celeron running at 2.66 Ghz (meaning no efficient and powerful 'Core' for you), comes with 512 megabytes of RAM (which is the bare minimum for doing just about anything on a computer these days), has a measly 80 Gigabyte hard drive, and it has no DVD burner. Don't get us wrong -- $200 is still a heck of a price, but you could get so much more, or at least more interesting for a tad more cash. For instance, Wal-Mart is selling their own $200 PC without monitor. The gPC, as it's called, runs Linux instead of the resource-hungry Vista and uses an ultra low-power (and carbon-neutral) processor from Via. Or, how about the diminutive and cheap Eee from Asus which is also powered by Linux (noticing a trend here?). Priced from $200 to $400, these little laptops let you get all your basic computing tasks done by focusing on web applications.Or, if you're in the market for something truly different, head on over to Laptop.org and you can get yourself one of the OLPC XOs (also Linux powered). These tiny, innovative convertible laptops are meant for kids in developing nations, but for a limited time you can order one for yourself as long as you're willing to pay for two. The second one gets sent to a child in the third world on your dime. In that case, $400 gets you a technological marvel, a piece of history, and a warm, fuzzy feeling.From EngadgetRelated links:Wal-Mart Gets $200 Green PCAre You Ready to Ditch Windows?For $12.95 a Month, Zonbu Gives You a PC Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesAny frequent bar-goer knows that the way to get yourself noticed by an overworked bartender is by having some combination of a good personality and a big tip. While some women may have an easer time flaunting their, um, personalities to get the attention of a busy barman, others aren't so lucky. And, of course, that big tip will only get noticed on subsequent trips to the bar. To dodge the lines, would-be drinkers at a few pubs in the U.K. are turning to their cell phones and ordering the next round by text message.The system, called MyQbuster (as in busting the queue to get drinks) enables bar-goers to browse a given establishment's drink list via their phone. They can then submit orders with a few thumb-taps and get their lagers delivered to a certain table number or go grab them at the bar.The service tacks a 10% fee on top of the cost of the round, and of course you'll still be expected to tip your waitstaff. As much as we love tech, we can't help but think that slipping a few extra bucks to the busy barman is still your best bet for prompt service. From Daily MailRelated Links: NYC Hopes to Launch Subway Text Message Alert System Passwords You Draw Instead of Write PlayerBlock Lets You Check Up On Your Date Via Cell Phone  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersLast week it was announced that social networking site Facebook would be including some new advertisements in users' News Feeds. Many users grumbled and complained, but given the complete lack of any cost to use the thing, it was hard to get too upset. However, privacy advocates are being a little less forgiving, saying that the ads may be unethical and, possibly, unlawful.The advertisements in question, called "Social Ads", would show up in the News Feed section of a users' profile, a rolling list that typically shows silly updates about this or that happening to the person owning the profile. The ads would take updates from a user and mix in slogans and jingles from paid advertisers. So, for example, if a friend of yours posted that he went to a race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California, the update might include some text inserted by Mazda, a link to Mazda's site, or maybe even video from one of their annoying "Zoom Zoom" commercials. This sort of feed hijacking might break laws in several states that forbid a given company from using a person's "name, portrait, picture or voice" in advertising without his written approval. Right now there's no such permission given with Facebook, and since a user's name and picture will typically appear next to these ads, it's easy to see why some think these ads would be illegal.So, could Facebook's new advertising system be tripped up just as it exits the gate, or will users be forced to click an agreement allowing their name and any pictures they post to the site to be used for advertising? That, we think, would be an unfortunate move on Facebook's part.From Privacy.org and PC WorldRelated Links: Facebook Gets More Ads A Holy War Wages on Facebook Females Flock to Facebook to Post Pictures of Their Drunken Antics  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, AdviceIt's confirmed: Online dating is the way to go if you're looking to get lucky. According to a recent survey published by the Sexuality Research and Social Policy research journal, one-third of women who meet people online have sex on the first date, and a whopping three-quarters of those surveyed do not use a condom. Meanwhile, a mere 27-percent engage in oral sex on the first day.That's right, online dating is like grazing a lush field of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).The high likelihood of sex on the first date is partially attributable to an increased comfort level. According to the survey, having extended or multiple conversations with a person online can decrease the tension and general awkwardness that accompanies a first date. The sense of familiarity not only increases the chances for intercourse, but it also will make a person more likely to cast off better judgment and go sans condom. That, and, of course, alcohol.They neglected to mention that pretty much 100 percent of men will have sex on the first date -- if given the chance.Okay, you can stop giggling now.From News.com.auRelated Links:Five Things to Avoid When Dating OnlineSex Less Important Than the Web for Many AmericansSenior Singles Hooking Up Online Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments