One of my favorite videos of 2008: Ninja cat
Posted on Dec 31st, 2008In case you haven’t seen this one:
30GB Zunes Failing Everywhere, All At Once
Posted on Dec 31st, 2008
Right, so this is a weird one: we’re getting tons of reports—tons—about failing Zune 30s. Apparently, the players began freezing at about midnight last night, becoming totally unresponsive and practically useless.
The crisis has been dubbed by Zune users ‘Z2K9′, due to the apparently synchronized faceplantings across the country. According to tipster Michael, the Zune users experienced something like this:
Apparently, around 2:00 AM today, the Zune models either reset, or were already off. Upon when turning on, the thing loads up and… freezes with a full loading bar (as pictured above). I thought my brother was the only one with it, but then it happened to my Zune. Then I checked out the forums and it seems everyone with a 30GB HDD model has had this happen to them
What hasn’t emerged yet, largely due to the fact that MS’s support lines aren’t yet open for the day, is why these devices are failing. The evidence seems to point to a software glitch, but simple resets aren’t providing any relief. Some reports indicate that only Zunes with the latest firmware are affected, but this hasn’t yet been confirmed.
The proximity of the events to the New Year, which inspired the Y2K9 moniker, provides little more than a colorful backdrop; it’s unlikely that the switching of years in the Zune’s internal calendar has anything to do with the failures (besides, it hasn’t even happened yet).
Large Form iPod Touch in Fall '09?
Posted on Dec 31st, 2008
We’ve got this from three independent sources close to Apple: expect a large screen iPod touch device to be released in the Fall of ‘09, with a 7 or 9 inch screen. Prototypes have been seen and handled by one of our sources, and Apple is talking to OEMs in Asia now about mass production.
'Colbert,' 'SpongeBob' may go dark on Time Warner
Posted on Dec 31st, 2008Media giant Viacom Inc. said its Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and 16 other channels will go dark on Time Warner Cable Inc. at 12:01 a.m. Thursday if a new carriage fee deal is not agreed upon by then.
The impasse over carriage fee hikes would mean “SpongeBob” and other shows like “The Daily Show” will be cut off to 13 million subscribers, said spokesman Alex Dudley, a vice president at Time Warner Cable, the nation’s second-largest cable operator.
Viacom has asked for fee increases of between 22 percent and 36 percent per channel, an amount that could increase customers’ cable bills, Dudley said. Viacom spokeswoman Kelly McAndrew said the requested increase was in the very low double-digit percentage range.
Viacom said the increases would cost an extra 23 cents a month per subscriber — which works out to $35.9 million more in total. It said that Americans spend a fifth of their TV time watching Viacom shows but its fees make up less than 2.5 percent of the Time Warner cable bill.
Uncle Pop pays a visit with his peanutty goodness
Posted on Dec 29th, 2008
I’m happy to welcome a new family member, even if it may be temporary. Yes, Uncle Pop has paid a visit and is now part of the clan. My parents found him in an Asian market in Florida and sent him up north to visit me.
Actually, Uncle Pop makes the peanut flavor Fruit Stick Rice Pop that you see here. What does it taste like? Imagine the taste of peanut brittle, but instead of a tooth-splitting hardness there is instead a melt-in-your-mouth light crunch of a rice cake. Yeah, it’s pretty good.
It’s almost time for the uncle to return home, but I’m happy to have experienced his canola oil and melamine enriched goodness!
