Xbox Live gold members get crowned on Xbox.com

4 03 2009

crowngold3

Today, Major Nelson Twittered word that a new graphical enhancement has been added to Xbox.com and should give Live gold subscribers a serious case of the warm fuzzies. The new addition: a tiny gold crown icon (), which is now located on Xbox.com’s mini Gamercard.

It may be small, it may be useless and it may have no application to the “real world,” but we’re still proud of our new crown. It’ll probably be the only royal jewels we’ll ever own and, for the yearly $50 subscription fee, we think it’s the least Microsoft could offer us.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : XBOX

Rock Band: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

4 03 2009

Content: “Lenny”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Lenny”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. This is an instrument track only and cannot be played by vocalists. Please make sure you have the latest Rock Band update. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “I’m Cryin’”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “I’m Cryin’”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Dirty Pool”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Dirty Pool”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Rude Mood”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Rude Mood”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. This is an instrument track only and cannot be played by vocalists. Please make sure you have the latest Rock Band update. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Testify”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Testify”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. This is an instrument track only and cannot be played by vocalists. Please make sure you have the latest Rock Band update. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Tell Me”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Tell Me”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Texas Flood”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Texas Flood”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Pride and Joy”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Pride and Joy”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “Love Struck Baby”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Love Struck Baby”–Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: “New”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia or India
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “New”–No Doubt. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Video Games, XBOX

Top 10 Pro Poker Tips for Making the Final Table

4 03 2009

Season 5 of GSN’s High Stakes Poker just hit the airwaves on Sunday. And what makes this poker show from the others is that it is an all cash no-limit Texas Hold-’em game – no “chips” standing in for money – with players putting up their own dough for the $200,000 minimum buy-in. Last year’s final table take was over $5 million. This year’s could go higher.

One of the players at the table this season is Antonio “The magician” Esfandiari, a professional magician turned pro poker player. (How do you sit at a table with a guy who used to make cards appear for a living?)

With career tournament winnings in excess of $3.12 million, he’s also the author of In The Money, and co-stars with Phil Laak on the television show “I Bet You”.

I spoke with Antonio recently, and got his tips for guys who want to make some cake at the weekly poker game, or take their skills to the next level and play some tourneys. Here’s what he recommends before you drop your first ante:

1 – Fold when you know you are beat.
So many times you know your hand is no good and yet you still call out of frustration just to see the other persons hand. Remember – money saved is money earned.

2 – Position.
Try and avoid playing out of position. It’s the most important thing in no-limit hold ‘em.

3 – Play aggressive, not passive.
Never ever be a calling station. Put the heat on your opponents.

4 – Never go on tilt.
That means playing pissed off or letting your emotions get to you. And I do mean NEVER!

5 – Bankroll management.
It’s very important to play within the limits that your bankroll permits. It also allows you to play with more comfort and a lesser risk of going busto.

6 – Never play tired.
There will always be another game. If you feel your body and or brain is not up for it DO NOT play.

7 – Follow your first instinct.
It’s usually right. Don’t ask why. It just is.

8 – Play premium cards.
If you catch yourself starting with weak hands it won’t take long before you realize what an uphill battle you will be fighting. Bad cards can and will get you in trouble. I’m not saying to never play them… just try and stick with strong starting hands versus weak hands.

9 – Stay in shape.
I feel that I play significantly better when I am working out consistently. Also eating relatively healthy wouldn’t hurt. Most people have a hard time getting to the gym – and so do I. That’s why I made a workout bet where I must go to the gym 4 times a week, and workout for 45 minutes each session, or else I lose $3000 PER day I don’t go. It’s the best bet I’ve ever made.

Tip number 10 ladies and gents! I hope you are sitting down for this one…
10 – PLAY WELL.
As simple as that…winning is a lot sweeter than losing.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Uncategorized

Flickr adds video upload for free users

4 03 2009

When it comes to the Internet, Flickr may be synonymous with photos, but the online photo-sharing site branched out to videos in April 2008, to the commingled cries of joy and outrage from its paying userbase.

Now the devious Web site has struck again. On Monday, a post on the Flickr blog announced that the site was opening up video uploads to those members holding free accounts; they can now share two videos a month. Better yet, members can now watch HD video—previously, they could only view those videos in standard definition, which, to be honest, is lacking a little something in the “I can see your pores” department. The 90-second limit on videos remains, however, so whatever you want to say, you’ll have to be brief.

While the Flickr team was busy adding video for free members, they decided to throw in a little something extra to boot, so they abolished the three photoset limit for free members. As a result, all was right with the world.

Free users looking to take advantage of Flickr YouTube-ification will need to snag the new version of the free Flickr Uploadr program, which supports uploading video. Then you may upload until your heart is content—or until you hit that two video limit.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Uncategorized

Apple updates iLife ‘09 Support, iPhoto ‘09

4 03 2009

After updating the Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, AirPort Extreme Base Station, and Time Capsule, we figured Apple was done for the day. And then came assorted AirPort software updates. Apple had to be finished with annoucements for today, right? Guess again.

ilife09
Later on Tuesday, Apple also released iLife Support 9.0.1, which is recommended for all users of Aperture, iLife ’09, and iWork ’09; and iPhoto 8.0.1, which the company says improves overall stability and addresses minor issues with Internet connectivity, keyword import, and slideshow export. Both updates require OS X 10.5.6.

Please Apple, close the floodgates. At least until tomorrow.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Apple

Apple Updates AirPort Extreme

4 03 2009

The Apple AirPort Extreme, just got that much more extreme. The Mac and PC compatible Wi-Fi device that already allows users to share an external hard drive or printer among various machines on one Wi-Fi network, has just been updated with a dual-band support feature.

According to the site, “some Wi-Fi devices use the 2.4GHz wireless band, including iPhone, iPod touch, and devices using 802.11b/g. Other devices can use either 2.4GHz or the higher-speed 5GHz band, such as the latest 802.11n-based Mac computers and Apple TV. Instead of choosing one of the bands, AirPort Extreme now operates simultaneously on both bands, and your multi-band devices automatically use the best available band. This means all your Wi-Fi devices get the fastest possible wireless performance and the best possible range.”

Another new feature announced today includes guest networking – now you can have your friends over and let them tweet away on their iPod touches without worrying about giving them password access to your entire network. MobileMe members will also have remote access to a USB connected hard drive attached to the new AirPort Extreme.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Apple

Apple Officially Kills Firewire 400

4 03 2009

0303_firewire_3801

While we’re all excited about today’s barrage of Mac updates, we can’t help but notice something missing from all the new machines.

Apple seems to have moved on from the Firewire 400 port we’ve all come to know and love. Developed and released by Apple in 1995, Firewire 400 (IEEE 1394) become the industry standard for DV camera interfaces. Apple touted the speed of Firewire 400 for external drives and, for a short time, offered the Firewire equipped iSight Web camera. The first three generations of iPods also featured a Firewire 400 interface for syncing and charging.

After Apple released new desktop Macs today, their entire line of computers is now Firewire 400 free. In its place, Apple is utilizing Firewire 800 (IEEE 1394b), which moves data at 786.432 Mbit/s full-duplex. Introduced in 2002, Firewire 800 doesn’t appear to be enjoying the mass acceptance that Firewire 400 did with most users using USB 2.0 for external devices.

Users with legacy devices with the Firewire 400 interface can use 9pin to 6pin Firewire cables and adapters.

Farewell Firewire 400, without you, we would have never been able to make our first movie, or connect our old-school iPods to our Macs. We’ll never forget how impressed we were when we first learned of your super-speedy specs in the 90s.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Apple