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Group releases open-sourced PSGroove PS3 jailbreak

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 7:53

Group releases open-sourced PSGroove PS3 jailbreak Last month PSJailbreak showed the world that the PS3's security model was open to be exploited, and Sony was quick to shut down the project.

This week, PSGroove, the "open source PSJailbreak," has been released for the masses, giving owners a chance to jailbreak their PS3 for a lot cheaper than the $170 PSJailbreak.

The code can be run on a hacked PSP, a TI-84 calculator, a $25 Teensy++ USB development board or a $30 AT90USBkey.

Currently, the Teensy is on backorder and buyers will likely receive it a week or so after they order it.

While the software initially had any piracy features disabled, a second build has been released with all features of PSJailbreak enabled. The software will allow for the execution of unsigned 3rd-party apps and games as well as ISOs of PS3 games.

You can view more info here: PSGroove




AfterDawn: News

Sony shows off unlimited Qriocity streaming music service

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 7:20

Sony shows off unlimited Qriocity streaming music service Sony has launched their own challenge to Apple's iTunes this week, dubbed Qriocity, which will be an unlimited, cloud-based music service available via the PlayStation 3 and other Internet-connected devices such as HDTVs and Blu-ray players.

The service will go live by the end of the year, giving users a chance to stream millions of songs in the cloud.

Besides the PS3, the service will be available on Sony portable media devices, Sony Blu-ray players, Sony home-theater systems, 2010 Web-enabled Bravia HDTVs and Windows PCs.

"We are excited to offer our customers high quality, cloud-based entertainment experiences across many of Sony's network-enabled devices," says Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony's networked products and services group. "Services 'powered by Qriocity' will revolutionize the way that users play, listen, watch, share, communicate, learn, discover and create their digital entertainment content."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Amazon begins selling TV episodes for 99 cents

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 6:54

Amazon begins selling TV episodes for 99 cents Amazon has begun selling TV episodes for 99 cents a piece, just hours after Apple announced that they would begin offering 99 cent rentals on recently aired shows.

Disney and Fox shows, such as "Glee," "Lost" and "Bones" are now available via Amazon Video On Demand for 99 cents.

When you purchase the episodes, they are yours to keep. You can download them and they never expire. You can also stream them indefinitely.

Shows from other broadcasters, such as AMC, still cost $1.99, however.

The ability to download is only available on Windows PCs and TiVO HD boxes, but you can stream the shows on Macs, HDTVs, Roku boxes and more.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile G2 pricing leaked

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 6:17

T-Mobile G2 pricing leaked Yesterday, pictures of the T-Mobile G2 were leaked alongside with its specs, which should easily make it the carrier's latest Android flagship.

Today, the pricing for the device has been leaked as well, says TMONews, with the smartphone costing $199 with contract or $499 without.

The G2 is T-Mobile's first HSPA+ phone, offering users 4G-speeds of up to 14.4Mbps.

T-Mobile's next device, which is expected to launch at the end of September, will run Android 2.2.

The smartphone will have a 3.7-inch OLED display, run on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, include a full slide-out QWERTY keypad and a 5MP camera.




AfterDawn: News

Apple unveils iTunes 10, 'Ping' music discovery social network

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 6:01

Apple unveils iTunes 10, 'Ping' music discovery social network During their September media event this afternoon, Apple unveiled iTunes 10 and Ping, a new social network used to discover music.

Ping is being described as "Twitter and Facebook meet iTunes."

The social network is opt-in and will let iTunes users follow their favorite artists as well as be followed by friends.

Musicians can interact with their followers on iTunes through the iTunes Store page.

Your "circle of friends" allows you to view what your friends are buying, listening to or watching. It will also allow you to keep track of over 15,000 concert listings.

Ping will be a new button in the iTunes Store App on the desktop versions as well as on the iPhone and Touch.

Besides Ping, iTunes 10 also adds (via TC) a "new hybrid view that reorganizes the way the application displays album art in music columns. For albums with more than five songs, iTunes can display an album icon and take up no extra space or require the window to be expanded."




AfterDawn: News

Apple reveals new Apple TV set-top box

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 5:26

Apple reveals new Apple TV set-top box Apple was busy today during their highly-anticipated September 1st media event, revealing a new Apple TV, new iPods, iTunes 10 and a music discovery system dubbed Ping.

Available for just $99, the updated Apple TV drops the hard drive of its predecessor and is now small enough to fit in your hand.

The device streams movies from the Web or from smartphones/tablets directly to your HDTV.

Additionally, the second-generation device will stream movies from Netflix's ever expanding "Watch Instantly" catalog and HD movies purchased through iTunes.

The Apple TV has built-in Wi-Fi and an HDMI output.

Jobs has signed content deals with Disney and FOX so far that will give TV fans a chance to rent recently aired TV episodes for 99 cents a piece.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Apple unveils new, redesigned iPod Touch, Nano, Shuffle

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 4:53

Apple unveils new, redesigned iPod Touch, Nano, Shuffle Apple was busy today during their highly-anticipated September 1st media event, revealing a new Apple TV, new iPods, iTunes 10 and a music discovery system dubbed Ping.

Following months of speculation, CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the latest generation iPod Touch, which is slimmed down and includes "Retina Display," the high resolution display found on the iPhone 4.

Additionally, the Touch finally has cameras, including a front-facing one for use with Apple's FaceTime video calling software.

"We've put our most advanced technology inside the new iPod touch," said Jobs. "Whether you're listening to music, playing games, making FaceTime video calls, browsing the Web, capturing HD video or watching TV shows and movies, the new iPod touch with its Retina display, A4 chip, and 3-axis gyro is more fun than ever,"
says Jobs.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Sony wins the first Other OS case

Written by Matti Robinson @ 01 Sep 2010 9:21

Sony wins the first Other OS case Sony calmly informed last March that it'll be removing the Other OS feature from PlayStation 3. The feature that allows users to install additional operating systems to their PS3 was removed by a firmware update in April. Users who use their game console as a Linux computer were not amused, to say the least. Actually, after the removal of the feature consumers filed lawsuits against Sony in the US and Australia.

Now according to News.com.au, the first Other OS class action suit has come to a conclusion. Mr. Michael Trebilcock from Adelaide, Australia wanted 800 AUD in compensation for the removal of an important feature. He said it was one of the reasons he bought the PS3 and won't be able to use it as a computer anymore.

The Holden Hill Magistrates Court dismissed Trebilcock's claim. The court was told by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that Sony did nothing wrong when they released the firmware update.

Sony will continue fighting in court over their game console. On upcoming Friday, there will be a court hearing in a case concerning the thumbdrive mod called PSJailBreak where modchip sellers OzModChips, Mod Supplier and Quantronics take on Sony.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile G2 pics, specs leaked

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 1:22

T-Mobile G2 pics, specs leaked CPSignal has posted the first pics of the upcoming T-Mobile G2 alongside its specs, which should easily make it the carrier's latest Android flagship.

The G2 is T-Mobile's first HSPA+ phone, offering users 4G-speeds of up to 14.4Mbps.

T-Mobile's next device, which is expected to launch at the end of September, will run Android 2.2 with the HTC Sense UI.

The smartphone will have a 3.7-inch OLED display, run on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, include a full slide-out QWERTY keypad and a 5MP camera.




AfterDawn: News

Amazon wants to start subscription TV, movie service

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Sep 2010 1:12

Amazon wants to start subscription TV, movie service Amazon is in quiet talks with the major media companies in an effort to start a subscription TV and movie service.

The service would offer unlimited views of older TV episodes and movies online.

Amazon has spoken with Viacom, Time Warner and Sony already.

The talks are still young, and the companies seem to be focusing on shows and movies that have already been available on DVD or Blu-ray. Amazon is still in the game, but far behind market leader Apple.

Apple has been in negotiations with Disney, Fox and News Corp. to offer rentals of current TV shows for $0.99, a 50 percent drop from current prices. The shows can be watched for up to 48 hours after purchase.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile expands HSPA+ network to new cities, will double speed next year

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 4:05

T-Mobile expands HSPA+ network to new cities, will double speed next year T-Mobile has announced today that it has expanded its HSPA+ data network to nine new cities, making it available to over 100 million Americans.

The new markets are: Boston, Mass.; Erie, Penn.; Fresno, Palm Springs and San Diego, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; Spokane, Wash.; and Topeka, Kan.

Furthermore, the carrier will double the theoretical peak speeds to 42 Mbps in 2011, a 100 percent jump from the current 21 Mbps max speeds.

The T-Mobile G2 will be the first handset to support HSPA+ when it launches in September.

That device has a theoretical peak speed of 14.4 Mbps, faster than Sprint's 4G network.

To check if you have HSPA+ available in your area, check here: T-Mobile HSPA+ Coverage areas




AfterDawn: News

Upcoming Apple iPod Touch to have Pico projector?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 2:35

Upcoming Apple iPod Touch to have Pico projector? Small cap company Microvision has seen their stock price jump today after anonymous sources claimed that the upcoming Apple iPod Touch will include a Pico projector from the company.

The Pico projector, used in some phones and digital cameras, allows for owners to display their pictures on walls and other surfaces right from the device.

Sources claim the the addition of Pico projectors to the next-generation devices has been confirmed by channel checks in Taiwan.

Please be reminded this all speculation for the time being, but Microvision's stock has jumped 19 percent so far on the rumor.

Apple is holding their annual September Media Event tomorrow.




AfterDawn: News

Microsoft to release updated Xbox 360 controller bundle

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 2:23

Microsoft to release updated Xbox 360 controller bundle Microsoft has announced today that they will be releasing a special edition updated Xbox 360 controller, with a "transforming D-Pad."

The updated D-pad design will transform for different uses. Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb explains and shows off the controller in the video below.

When gamers twist the D-pad, it pops up, revealing a raised plus sign.

Says Microsoft: "Select the traditional plus for distinct cardinal direction movement in games like “Halo: Reach” to change weapons and perform complicated combinations and deadly finishing moves in “Street Fighter” games, or rotate the D-pad to the disc format for sweeping motions in games such as “Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.” Choose your favorite controller set-up and experience unrivaled precision for all Xbox 360 games."

The control comes bundled with a Play and Charge Kit and will sell for $65 when it hits on November 9th.

(Pic via Joystiq)




AfterDawn: News

Google renews news content licensing deal with AP

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 2:04

Google renews news content licensing deal with AP Google has renewed its news content licensing deal with the AP this week, following months of negotiations.

The deal will allow Google to post full-text articles from the AP on Google News.

"We look forward to future collaborations, including on ways Google and AP can work together to create a better user experience and new revenue opportunities," says Josh Cohen, a Google senior business product manager.

Says the AP: "Under the agreement, AP and Google will also work together in a number of new areas, such as ways to improve discovery and distribution of news."

There was no word on the financials of the deal.

In January, after a negotiation dispute, Google stopped publishing AP stories. They began running them again in February.




AfterDawn: News

Google rolls out Gmail "Priority Inbox"

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 1:45

Google rolls out Gmail "Priority Inbox" Google has rolled out the beta version of their Gmail Priority Inbox today, a feature that will automatically rearrange messages in a user's inbox so the most important ones show up at the top.

For now, the feature is "experimental" and may never go fully live.

Reuters says "the motivation behind Priority Inbox is Google's conviction that the problem of e-mail overload continues getting worse, forcing people to spend much time and effort managing their inbox both for personal and work-related matters."

Priority Inbox is optional and users can switch it on or off at their choosing.

If you enable it, Gmail will divide the inbox into three sections; the "priority" box for important messages, the middle box for "starred" and "flagged" messages and the final box for everything else.

Adds Matthew Glotzbach, director of product management in Google's Enterprise unit: "If you're in meetings and you come back to your e-mail and you have five minutes between appointments and you have 50 e-mails, which five messages do you spend your time on in that window of time?"

"We see this as an ongoing evolution of the focus of Gmail, which has always been around addressing this problem of information overload," Glotzbach noted.





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