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Joe Jonas & Demi Lovato Up the Romance in Camp Rock 2

12/31/2009 11:43:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

Best pals Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato are headed back to the small screen for more singing and dancing in the Disney Channel sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. But this time around, expect more onscreen love interests – and romances to be taken to the next level.

"There's a lot more romance with my character and even with Nick's character," Joe Jonas told PEOPLE about the highly anticipated film airing next summer. "The romance, the singing and dancing – everything is bigger and better."

In the sequel, the film follows Mitchie (played by Lovato) and Shane (played by Joe Jonas) as they return to Camp Rock for another summer of music and fun. Their love blossoms as they battle against a new state-of-the-art music camp called Camp Star that has opened across the lake.

"The romance between Shane and Mitchie is still there and it continues to grow," Jonas says. "They want to spend more time together but [finding time is a bit] difficult for them to do, because she is trying to help out the camp as much as she can."

Revisiting her breakout role was "exciting," says Lovato, 17, and starring with the Jonas Brothers again was a job that guaranteed a good time. "They are so easy to work with and we just hangout and have fun," Lovato tells PEOPLE. "They are like my brothers and they are my best friends. They always make me laugh."

A Family Affair

This time around Kevin Jonas and brother Nick Jonas will have their own storylines (including a love interest for Nick!) along with the youngest Jonas brother, Frankie, who joins the onscreen action.

"It's fun," said Nick about his character falling for the daughter of the owner of the rival camp, played by Chloe Bridges. "It's good when you feel comfortable with the person and we're friends."

And any nerves about kissing? "No, we hadn't had to do that but it's been good."

With all the onscreen relationships, Kevin is the odd man out as a camp counselor with no love interest. But the newlywed told PEOPLE that's fine with him: "I've got my own love interest in my real life so I'm good!"

For a full sneak peek of the film, tune into Disney Channel's New Year Star Showdown on Dec. 31.

Yang HyunSeok, “Big Bang DaeSung and TOP will have their solo album released next year”

12/31/2009 11:42:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

It has been revealed that Big Bang members DaeSung and TOP will be releasing their solo albums next year.


With that, each of the 5 Big Bang members will have their own solo albums. For the past 2 years, we have seen members TaeYang, SeungRi and GDragon etc with their solo album release.

YG Entertainment’s head Yang HyunSeok, who had gone to Japan with Big Bang to attend the 51st Japan Record Awards on 30th December, said in an interview on 31st December, “With this award, it will help increase Big Bang’s popularity in Japan.”

“There are also many fans and music officials who are curious about Big Bang’s activities next year, for the first half of next year, Big Bang will focus on their Japanese promotions. And for domestic fans who have been waiting for Big Bang, for the first half of 2009, DaeSung and TOP will release their solo albums.”

According to Yang HyunSeok, TaeYang’s offline album will be released first next year. After which, DaeSung will release a new album. DaeSung is currently personally doing the producing to his own album. And also, after DaeSung’s album, TOP and SeungRi will reveal to fans their own songs in the form of minialbum or digital single release.

Yang HyunSeok said, “DaeSung is doing the music style that he likes, and we have given him the composers right for the music style to him. And DaeSung is doing his own album producing, Fans will be able to feel his own music style through the form of album single released in either full-length or minialbum format.”

“I hope that everyone will also look forward to TOP and SeungRi’s solo songs.”

Joe Chen Qiao En fainted when filming raining scene in cold weather

12/31/2009 11:42:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Joe Chen went to China to film drama "Lan Se Jia Qi (藍色佳期)" and had to film a scene in the rain when the weather was 3 degree Celsius cold. She fainted after filming that scene. Joe exaggeratedly expressed that "The fever was so high that my eyelids could be used to fry an egg."

As for her rumored boyfriend Roy Chiu Ze, his flu dragged too long and developed into pneumonia. He was even suspected to have caught H1N1 for a while and was sent into quarantine room. The two thus were both sick.

Before taking on this drama, Joe had read the novel at least twice. The character was different from her ugly duckling turn swan characters in the past. Thus, even though she had to act with Roy Chiu again and there were possibilities of the focus being diverted from the drama, Joe still insisted on acting. All her crying scenes were real as she will get very engrossed in her acting and even the coworkers, no matter male or female, would end up crying with her. When it came to the romance scenes between Roy and her, the acting was so natural and real that even those who didn't know of their rumors together couldn't help whispering and asking "Are the two a couple?"


Joe and Jungiery Star's contract will end this month. Earlier on, the management company requested for her to support their new boyband at their event but she didn't go. She was thus accused of being ungrateful. There has been rumors of her taking away coworkers from J-Star too and this has greatly affected her mood. She declines answering to related questions though and wrote on her blog "No matter how cold the weather is, it can't beat the coldness in the heart."

Google China Ex-President Says Apple Tablet Is a 10.1-Inch iPhone With Webcam

12/31/2009 11:41:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

A former Google China executive reportedly wrote in his blog that Apple expects to sell 10 million tablet PCs in its first year out. He also offered specifics about the hardware, and said Steve Jobs will release the tablet in January.


An Apple tablet PC in the new year is sounding increasingly likely.

Lee Kai-fu, former president of Google Inc. Greater China, wrote in a Dec. 28 post on his Website that Apple is expecting to ship 10 million tablet computers in the first year of the device’s release, according to reporting from Bloomberg.

Lee is currently the head of Innovation Works, a company funded, in part, by Foxconn Technology Group, which owns Hon Hai Precision Industry, the supplier of the Apple iPhone. Reportedly, Lee said he was told the 10-million-tablets figure by a friend familiar with the project.

Lee additionally wrote that Apple will release the device in January, for less than $1,000 and that it will feature a 10.1-inch multitouch screen with 3G graphics, essentially looking like a giant iPhone, Bloomberg reported.

Speculation that Apple will introduce a tablet PC in January — though the company has yet to confirm it is even working on one — increased on Dec. 30 when the Financial Times reported that Apple has booked event space at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for Jan. 26. On that date, it’s expected that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will introduce the tablet, which fans have been hoping for since Apple booked the Yerba Buena space back in September, for what wound up being the introduction of a new iPod Nano and a price reduction for the Apple TV.

Rumors of an Apple tablet began as early as May, when Piper Jaffrey Analyst Gene Munster wrote in a research note, “We expect Apple to fill the gap between the iPod Touch and the MacBook with a new tablet device (not a netbook) priced at about $500–$700.”

While many speculate an Apple tablet could slow the runaway success of the netbook market, Munster added that it could also overlap into the e-reader space.

“With a larger table device in Apple’s lineup, the company could begin selling digital books on its iTunes Store, for use on the tablet as an eBook reader,” Munster wrote. “In this way, Apple could respond to the tangential competition from Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle DX.”

Ten Minutes With the Nexus One

12/31/2009 11:41:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments



We've had our hands on Google's Nexus One phone, but weren't allowed to take any pictures. This fellow, on the other hand, managed to capture his playtime in a crisp, clear video which blows away any previous blurry clips.

I think these ten minutes cover nearly the whole Nexus user interface and give a reasonable idea of what to expect when we finally get our very own gadgets to play with. Gorgeous!

Heads up: There are a few not-so-safe-for-work seconds around the two minute mark. So you might want to skip over that if the boss is near (or if you don't enjoy Californication). [via nowhereelse.fr—Thanks, Steve!]

Rihanna: ‘Simon Cowell is Charming’

12/31/2009 11:41:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

RIHANNA thinks Simon Cowell is “charismatic” and “charming”.

The singer — who is single after splitting from Chris Brown earlier this year — says she finds the wealthy music mogul sexy, but insists Simon isn’t her type.

“Simon has that naughty look in his eye,” she said. “He isn’t my type, but he is so charismatic and charming and the ladies go for the whole power thing. I know a lot of celebs have crushes on him.”

Meanwhile, friends of the Russian Roulette singer fear she’s on the verge of a breakdown.

The star has apparently been spending all her free time partying, boozing and getting tattoos.

“She’s going too far with it,” a source told Britain’s Now magazine of the singer’s tattoo habit. “She’s impulsive: she goes all out for something, but when it’s a tattoo, you can’t take it back.

“Every night’s the same. She goes clubbing, downs shots and manages to stay up until the early hours.

“It’s playing havoc with her sleep pattern, but she doesn’t seem to care. She seems to be on a mission to drive herself into the ground.”

HanKyung’s Contract Termination Trial Begins Jan 8

12/31/2009 11:40:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Recently, Super Junior M leader HanKyung’s contract termination request with SM Entertainment has caused great turmoil after being disclosed by the media.

As HanKyung’s representative lawyer Lee disclosed recently, HanKyung has already turned in a “Suspension of Contract Agreement” request and a “Contract Termination” request to court. The trials will begin January 8th in Korea.

To stop SM Entertainment from using delaying tactics, Hankyung has especially requested a “Suspension of Contract Agreement”. If the agreement is approved by court, HanKyung will be freed no earlier than March of next year.

Ten resolutions Microsoft should make for 2010

12/31/2009 11:39:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Each year, I offer a list of things Microsoft should do in the coming year, in lieu of making predictions. It's a bit arrogant to tell Microsoft what to do, but I've got a good track record of giving advice that is right. The year ahead will be challenging for Microsoft, as the company struggles against weak global economies and to successfully launch cloud services.

Ten resolutions aren't enough. I had to ignore so many others, such as keeping CEO Steve Ballmer (don't fire him!) or uniting Xbox and Zune (something already underway). The list is in order of importance, from least to most, from 10 to 1.

10. Resume giving financial guidance to Wall Street. In January, a year will have passed since you stopped giving guidance for future earnings. The time has long passed to get with it and give it up, Microsoft. On Tuesday, Microsoft's stock hit a 52-week high of $31.50 a share. Sure there is some risk that weak projections will hurt the stock. But by withholding guidance, you let uncertainty and gossip determine perceptions about sales and earnings performance. Microsoft, take charge of perceptions by giving information, rather than withholding it.

9. Spend even more on advertising. From February, you hit a series of marketing home runs, each stronger than the last, Microsoft. "I'm a PC," "Bing" and "Windows 7 was my idea" marketing campaigns were exceptionally good. Don't stop, Microsoft. You're on a roll, and there is no better time to advertise than during a recession. If businesses and consumers are spending less during the recession, make sure it's on your products.

8. Engage enthusiasts. OMG, what happened to you 2009, Microsoft? After years of largely ignoring enthusiasts, you reached out to them through blogs, Connect beta programs, forums, social networking services, YouTube and your highly-trafficked Websites. Enthusiasts are any company's best marketers, and they came through for you this year, particularly for Windows 7. Launching an ongoing Security Essentials beta program and releasing such a broad Office 2010 preview are working for the future. Keep up the enthusiast engagement and extend it with more freebees and contests during 2010.

7. Release an iLife-like suite for Windows. Sorry, Windows Live Essentials is nothing close to iLife. Apple's digital content creation suite is simply superb, but much less so in version `09 than `06. Apple has introduced too much complexity without increasing the flexibility. A Windows iLife alternative with the simple, straightforward user interface of Zune 4.0 would be phenomenal. Windows Live Movie Maker is a surprisingly good start towards the kind of simplicity and usability (including lower memory footprint) a Microsoft digital content suite should have.

6. Develop a WebKit browser. Internet Explorer 9 is a waste of development dollars, Microsoft. Your customers and developers need a fast, flexible browser for mobile and the desktop. Internet Explorer is bleeding users on the desktop and picking up nearly nothing on mobile devices. Apple, Google and Palm all offer good mobile WebKit browsers. Microsoft, you should develop one, too, and quickly. IE's future value should be providing legacy support. It's time to admit that commercial open-source is a viable business for you.

5. Choose a Frontman. Microsoft, you need a visionary leader/speaker, someone with stature. Apple has Steve Jobs. You need someone, too. There aren't many candidates within the company. But two men have potential to assume the role, granted without Jobs' stature but they're still good enough: Bill Buxton, chief researcher for Microsoft Research, and Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of the Online Audience Business. Buxton is charismatic with a capital "C," and he smartly creates historical context and tells exciting stories when discussing the seemingly boring topic of natural user interfaces. Buxton is brilliant, engaging and likable.

Mehdi is simply believable. He's not flashy and sometimes speaks uncertainly. But his intelligence and honesty (whether or not real) shines through. Mehdi also occupies a key leadership position in an area where Microsoft needs to demonstrate vision. He would grow into the frontman role, and people would grow along with him.

If not these men, choose somebody, Microsoft. But not Craig Mundie. He may be chief researcher and strategy officer and so a seemingly good candidate for the job. Mundie is a boring speaker. Linux and Mac users would switch to Windows if he pitched their products. Mundie is a visionary leader and asset in that role. But he's not a visionary speaker.

4. Open 50 more stores or cafés. In my past two years of resolutions for you, opening retail stores ranked near the top of the lists. The two stores opened in late 2009 are a good start, Microsoft, but they're not nearly enough. Don't be afraid of losing money on the stores, at least early years. They are marketing investments for better building your brand and for selling the Microsoft lifestyle.

Recession is good timing because commercial real estate will be cheaper. Take advantage while you can. In the United States cover major metropolitan areas -- and don't choose them solely based on there being an Apple Store. Among the metro areas: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Chapel Hill-Raleigh-Durham Triangle, Columbus, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Make cities with high student populations a priority.

Internationally, open stores in Beijing, Berlin, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo. Make cities with large numbers of tourists a priority. Localize the stores -- don't make them all the same like Apple does. Also use them to educate people about the benefits of buying software over pirating it.

3. Buy Facebook -- and not Twitter. So what, if Facebook might not be for sale. Microsoft, make an offer that can't be refused. In a September 2007 blog post, I called Facebook an operating system in the clouds: "Facebook is like Microsoft, only the social networking company's platform is built on the Internet...The operating system in the cloud concept has potential, and Microsoft has the know-how and experience to make the platform successful."

Facebook's cloud OS, with zillions of applications and more than 350 million subscribers is now a vortex sucking in seemingly all Internet traffic. Many people who posted to blogs and photo sharing sites are moving their personal information and content to Facebook -- like they did Windows a computing generation ago. Facebook has huge customer lock-in potential, because the data is so much more personal than that put into Office and Windows a decade ago. The two platforms, Facebook and Windows, united would put Microsoft in a stronger competitive position against Google, for starters.

2. Make incubation projects your top development priority. You really pissed off this journalist when gutting Windows Live Labs in April and later whacking other valuable incubation projects as part of cutbacks. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Some of the best, recent Microsoft products or services came from incubation projects.

These incubation groups should operate like mini-startups, free to develop unfettered by any requirement to connect any of their work to any other Microsoft product, particularly Office or Windows. Let them run free, run wild, wildly innovate. Google's Gmail Labs has turned Gmail into a modularized e-mail client that raises the question: "Who really needs Outlook?" Make modularity a design priority for incubation groups, which should be compensated for their brilliant work.

1. Create a mobile Manhattan Project. You are so fraked in the mobile device market you don't seem to understand how bad off is the situation. Get with it, Microsoft -- goddamn it! You challenged Netscape in the late 1990s by releasing three Internet Explorer versions -- all greatly improving on the other -- in about 18 months. Your mobile strategy requires an even greater investment in shorter time. Apple and Google are stealing customers, developers and market mindshare. You will lose mobile -- with cloud services the next-generation computing platform -- without taking drastic actions.

On Tuesday, I encouraged you to buy Palm, because nothing short of starting over may be enough to fix your problems fast enough. Apple's secret weapon is multitouch, a beautiful user interface and beaucoop applications (among them, games galore). Google has got search and sync. Research in Motion has push e-mail. You've got what? I've made specific suggestions in the past and will make many more in future post(s). I first made the Manhattan Project recommendation in June 2008. Can you finally listen and get with it?

Susan Boyle Wants a Boyfriend!

12/31/2009 11:39:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

SUSAN Boyle wants to find the man of her dreams.

The Britain’s Got Talent star says she’s hoping to find love in the future.

“I dream about security, about one day finding the right person and continuing to make people happy with my music,” she said. “My advice to those who dare to dream is don’t give up. If I can do it, anyone else can.”

Susan, 48, also revealed that a television company tried to set her up on a date — but she turned down the offer.

“What a laugh,” said Boyle. “There was a TV company that wanted to set me up. Apparently he was nice, but I’ve got my living to do now.”

Boyle recently insisted she’s learning to cope with fame.

“When it all first happened I just thought ‘Oooh, my God’. I didn’t know what to think,” she said. “It was all so sudden. It felt like a giant demolition ball in a way. The impact of it was so hard.

“It still is very strange to me. But now I have learned how to deal with it all.

“You have to put on a front. You have an audience to please and so you get on with it. You have to.”

Born-again action hero: Jude Law turns his back on romantic comedies and period dramas as he bulks up for Repo Men

12/31/2009 11:39:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

He is currently blasting across cinema screens as the gentlemanly Dr Watson in Sherlock Holmes, but Jude Law has a far more gory feature film out soon.


After years of playing leading men in romantic comedies and period dramas, Law has bulked up to play an action man in science fiction thriller Repo Men.

Law, 37, plays a futuristic bailiff in a futuristic world where body organs can be bought by needy patients at exorbitant prices.



But he chases those who don't or can't pay up and brutally reclaims the body parts.

But it all goes wrong when his character, Remy, wakes up after a cardiac failure and finds he has been given a new top-of-the-range heart.

He cannot afford it and is landed with a hefty debt. And because his heart is no longer in the job, he must go on the run to escape the sinister mega-corporation The Union he once worked for.



And with his former partner Jake (Forest Whitaker) after him, it won't be long before they catch up with him.

The bloody film, which also stars Liev Schreiber, promises to be full of action but also dark comedy.

It is an unusual film choice for the actor, who is better known for roles in gentler films such as The Holiday, Alfie, The Aviator and The Talented Mr Ripley.




Repo Men is not, despite the similar name, a remake of the Alex Cox’s 1984 sci-fi punk cult classic Repo Man.

But some critics have drawn attention to its similar plotline to Paris Hilton's turkey Repo! The Genetic Opera - but without the singing.

It is directed by relative newcomer Miguel Sapochnik, who made little-known film The Dreamer in 2000, and will hit cinema screens in April.

Yamashita Tomohisa's Code Blue Season2 Preview

12/31/2009 11:39:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Yamashita Tomohisa (24) from NEWS will reprise his role as a doctor in ‘Code Blue Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyuumei 2nd season’ that starts in January at the 9pm Monday slot next year. The first season aired on Thursdays at 10pm last summer and this time Fuji TV has moved it to the most prominent spot in its lineup. Furthermore Yamashita was also the lead in a Monday at 9 drama that aired this July and this is the first time in history that anyone has held the spot in the main role with one season separating the two appearances.

Yamapi’s power seems unstoppable. In summer, he played a pro basketball player in ‘Buzzer Beat Gakeppuchi no Hero’. Currently ‘Tokyo DOGS’ (lead played by Oguri Shun) is on air and soon the next season will start with Yamashita in the lead again.

Ever since the Getsu 9 slot was established in 1987, there has never been a case of anyone in the lead role separated by a mere season, proving the strength of his popularity. The average ratings for ‘Code Blue’ that started airing in July 2008 was 15.9%, the highest among dramas on commercial broadcast that season. The special that aired in January earlier this year garnered 23.1% in ratings.

The other young case members, Aragaki Yui (21), Toda Erika (21), Higa Manami (23) and Asari Yousuke (22) will also return in the 2nd season.

‘Doctor Heli’ are doctors who fly in special helicopters to aid patients as soon as possible and also administer medical treatment while transporting them to medical institutions.

Yamashita commented,”I want to show the importance of these helicopters so that the number of ‘Doctor Heli’ will increase.” Expect a powerful medical drama this New Year.

Sheren Tang hopes to find someone similar to her

12/31/2009 11:38:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

After Sheren Tang became TV Queen, she was interviewed and talked her feelings on losing out on the award 5 years ago. She said: "It was the year 2004 when I was nominated for Best Actress for the first time, when I questions were asked relating to me losing out, I would feel a bit disappointed. But I slowly got over it later. Now, I will tell myself: 'need to let it go, let it go, don't always look in the past or feel too much enjoyment."

As a believer, Sheren is thankful of God for the arranging her to become an actress with mission. But facing the rumors with Wayne Lai, Sheren said that the reports are false: "I admire Wayne because even if he's f not doing well, but he still loves to act. This admiration is like 4th Mistress admiring Chai Gau. (Pay attention to your love life?) I do hope to find someone similar to me. I love God, if my partner is the same type, then he can be a very big love element."

Extended, Extra-Creepy Na'vi Sex Scene Might Land on Avatar DVD

12/31/2009 11:37:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

As if that mercifully brief giant blue lizard-cat sex scene that actually made it to Avatar wasn't disturbing enough, it turns out there's much more—and you weirdos may get to see it in the DVD release.


Like you'd expect, the Na'vi mate by joining those ultra-magical weaves of theirs together. The extended scene was hinted at both by Cameron and actress Zoe Saldana, and Cameron implied that the longer cut might well end up in the special-edition DVD (and, assumedly, Blu-Ray) release. So, you know, get ready for that.

Samsung i899 is official in China, Android included

12/31/2009 11:37:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

When the Samsung i899 first appeared alongside the Samsung i6500U Saturn, I thought it’s a Windows Mobile smartphone.


Well, I was wrong. The i899 is actually an Android smartphone, and this is confirmed by Samsung China’s official website.

Samsung i899 is made for China Telecom (the third largest Chinese mobile carrier) and comes with CDMA / EV-DO connectivity.

We don’t know what version of Android the Samsung i899 uses, but we know most of its specs and features. These include:
3.2 inch AMOLED resistive touchscreen display with 320 x 480 pixels
Wi-Fi / WAPI
GPS
DivX support
3.5mm headset jack
3.2MP camera with autofocus and flash
512MB of internal memory
800 MHz processor
MicroSD card support (up to 32GB)
1440 mAh battery
116.5 x 56.4 x 12.8 mm
126 grams




Samsung i899 will probably be available in China in early 2010. Its price is not known.

Ke$ha “Tik Tok” Sets Billboard Record

12/31/2009 01:20:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

The debut album from pop newcomer Ke$ha has been circulating the Interwebs for a couple days now — and for good reason — Ke$ha currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with her record-breaking first single “Tik Tok.”


“Tik Tok” sold 440,000 downloads over the Christmas holiday — a 175% increase of the week before — setting a new record on the Billboard charts for the “Most Ever Digital Single Sales for a Female Artist.” The smash hit has sold a massive 610,000 downloads since its iTunes debut earlier this month.

Are The Jonas Brothers Breaking Up?

12/31/2009 01:20:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Please say this isn't so.

Our post-Christmas doldrums were already made worse by the news that Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner were no longer a couple. We can't handle another major break-up.

But that's exactly what an anonymous source is reporting about the most popular boy band on the planet, as rumors of a Jonas Brothers split are heating up.

"Joe sees the writing on the wall for the group," a family insider told Pop Eater. "Kevin's heart is just not in the group anymore. His wife Danielle is his number one priority, especially after their wedding night!"

Whoa. TMI, random source!

While Kevin is reportedly too busy banging his brains out to make new music, Nick Jonas has the entirely opposite problem. Says the source:

"Nick sees himself as the next Justin Timberlake and brother Joe knows it."

There actually is some validity to that statement, as Nick's new band is going on tour in early 2010. But the next JT? Let's not get ahead of ourselves!

What do you think, readers? Could Kevin really follow in the sexy(back) foosteps of Justin Timberlake? Is Kevin really trading music for sex? Could Franke "Bonus Jonas" Jonas join the group? Sound off right now!

Edison Chen: Repairing my computer was my biggest regret, forever friends with Nicholas Tse

12/31/2009 01:20:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Edison Chen who has not made a public appearance for a longtime accepted a interview with "GQ" magazine and mentioned about the sex scandal again. He personally revealed his feelings towards the incident. He said "Taking my computer for repair is the biggest regret of my life. The scandal taught me a lesson but I will always have a question unanswered as to why I am the bad guy? I still don't understand, even holding a press conference and apologizing. The incident needed someone to calm it down and I was willing to be that bad guy. Am I really the bad guy? No, the incident needed a scape goat and I didn't do anything bad". He also had some anger "I lost a lot of earnings last year. I even had to leave my home because I am that bad guy".

When mentioning the sex scandal, Edison refered it to "that incident". He said "That incident isn't about sex. It was a private matter. It was theft. To others it might be a sex scandal but to me its invading my privacy".

How does he rank sex, love, money and family? "Love and family are similar. Next comes money and last sex. I am a man and men in this world like sex and need love. Nowaday I believe in love.

Didn't turn Crazy or Commit Suicide

Thinking about the past, Edison found Valentines day in 2008 the most difficult time to deal with. "I was afraid to go out, I was afraid to eat. I didn't dare to do anything. I didn't leave my house for 2-3 weeks". He didn't know how the incident would turn out. "I feel I am very fortunate that I didn't turn crazy or commit suicide. I saw things through, has my life ended? No! I am still living".

Leaving Hong Kong and the entertainment field, Edison soon returned to normal life. He stated that he learned a lot about leading a normal lifestyle. He learned to iron his clothes as in the past he would command his maid to do it for him. Which would take 3 minutes. But now when he irons himself he discovered that he couldn't do it in 3 minutes.

He stressed that since the scandal brokeout his girlfriend has always been by his side. "I think she is Superwoman. She has always been supportive. If I didn't have her support I wouldn't dare to hold a press conference in Hong Kong".

Forever Friends with Nicholas Tse

Due to Cecilia in the scandal, Nicholas and Edison's friendship became awkward. But Edison stressed that they will be friends forever. "When we studied in Hong Kong International School we were very close pals. If he needed help I would definitley help him. Even till the last day of my life he will always be my friend".

The Tragedy of One Laptop Per Child

12/31/2009 01:20:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , 0 Comments

It didn’t come as much as a surprise, but the good folks working on the One Laptop Per Child Project announced that the that the OLPC XO-2 concept had been shelved and in what appears to be bowing to the hype of tablet form factors, they’ve announced the new XO-3. Yawn. Feels like we’ve been here before and you know why? It’s because we have.



Like the mythical predecessors that came before it, the new device is said to have an 8.5 x 11 inch touch screen made by Pixel Qi with an indoor/outdoor display, use inductive charging (like the Palm Pre), will be waterproof and cost no more than $100. Of course, you can’t buy or order one as they’re targeting 2012 for the ship date. I’ve been asked by a few folks how the OLPC project could manage this with their current specifications and the answer is simple: they won’t be able to. In the meantime, some other interim device based on the original model, with slightly more functional specs is to be released. This is another case of more time and money being wasted on a dubious and unobtainable dream.

I’ve talked in the past about why this program is not a good idea but forget that for a moment. Let’s assume we all agree that education in emerging markets is critical. We know that while there’s no silver bullet to cure the ills of society, education comes pretty close. Today, that means education with the ability to be part of the digital community. This project is not the answer.

Look at the issues related to the notion of the $100 laptop (which ended up costing a lot more than a $100 and will continue to do so) such as who will program them? How will they be repaired? What’s the courseware and curriculum? Now listen to the answers (mostly, the kids will do it all) and you realize there’s a real problem as a good deal of this intended market is illiterate. As this project continues to fail, those countries that have gambled and invested in it do not have the money and resources for a “do over”. While there’s been a lot of flaming about those who are bringing up objections to the project, this is something that’s too important to get wrong and it’s time to start thinking elsewhere and thinking in a different way how to solve this problem.

It’s not clear to me that there’s one correct approach to the problem, but it does seem like the one approach that got all the attention and the buzz had the most margin for error and little chance for success. At the same time, there needs to be a re-think on the degree of priority of computers in emerging markets. One of the most talked about features of the first OLPC prototypes were the hand cranks to power them. Did no one ever consider that in places where computers need to be cranked to powered there might be more pressing issues than getting on the internet and using Twitter? Such as; Electricity? Medicine? Clean water?

While a noble concept in the ideal, it’s time to call the OLPC project and it’s all gimmicks, odd promotions (such as the “Give One, Get One”, where US citizens could “buy” an OLPC at double the cost, with the idea that the other one would be given away. It was a failed program two years running and mercifully not repeated this year) what it is, a failure. Let’s get companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, HP and Google among others to tackle the issue of global literacy in the digital age as a product they must all share the burden in and reap the rewards. Education is indeed a silver bullet that can cure much of what ails society, but at the same time focus must be kept on real issues such as clean water, food to eat and elimination of disease. More money spent on a mythical tablet that will likely never see the light of day isn’t innovative, it’s just tragic.

Realtime Search-Off: Bing Beats Google To Times Square Bomb Threat News

12/31/2009 01:19:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Times Square was evacuated earlier today when the bomb squad was called in to inspect a suspicious parked van. It turned out to be nothing, but as people were scrambling for information they would have been better off doing a search on Bing than on Google. A search for “Times Square” on Google about 15 minutes after I saw my first Tweet about it turned up two-day old news results up top about New Year’s Eve preperations and generic photos of Times Square, whereas a search on Bing at least had relevant headlines from ABC News (“NYPD: No Bomb Inside Van Abandoned in Times Square”) and CNN (“Police investigate van parked in Times Square”).

Of course, Google was perfectly capable of showing the best realtime results. The problem is that the best results were hidden on Google’s realtime updates page (click “Show options” and then “Updates” on any search), and Bing’s Twitter search page, which combines Tweets with headlines. I learned about the bomb scare and subsequent reopening of Times Square on Twitter before it even hit most news sites. But the next thing I did was search on Google. If you look now, Google is finally showing the right news results, but the screenshot above is what I saw when I searched, along with what I saw immediately after on Bing.

Google’s realtime results which show what people are saying on Twitter provides much more relevant information than its stale news search results on the main search page. Incidents such as this one show why those realtime results should be on the homepage as well, for both Google and Bing. If this was a real incident, hiding the realtime search results doesn’t do anyone much good.




Nexus One to be launched on the 6th -- will anyone care?

12/31/2009 01:19:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

I’m really looking forward to seeing the Nexus One — based on what I hear, people who have used it are blown away. Greg Sterling at Search Engine Land asks an interesting question though: “Now That Everything Is Known, Will The Google Nexus One Phone Launch Generate A Collective Yawn?“.


Apple does an incredible job of keeping new products under wraps — they use the buzz machine in a way that no other company can. Their secret? Leak some stuff so people get a taste, but make it look like “sources” could just be pulling our leg.

Google giving every one of its employees a Nexus One was a great way to get some initial buzz going — but it quickly turned into full disclosure. Suddenly there are no surprises anymore, and it will be interesting to see how that affects the official launch.

The latest video — 10 minutes of Nexus One goodness — shows a phone that is super responsive, and has a cool animated background. Speaking as an Android user, the Nexus One is still Android — with sub-par applications, and (realistically) a lot of overall catching up to the iPhone to do.

In my opinion, Google will need to have something else up their sleeve if they are looking to keep people talking after the 6th.

What do you think? Will the announcement on January 6th do anything for Google?

Taylor Momsen: Don't Call Me Lindsay Lohan!

12/31/2009 01:18:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

All Taylor Momsen wants to be taken seriously. And a music career. And to be treated like she's not 16. And not to be compared to Lindsay Lohan.

Although the 16-year-old Gossip Girl cast member has an edgy, beyond-her-years look, she resents any comparisons to another former child star.

"I get such a bad rap for being like Lindsay Lohan," Momsen says in the February issue of Seventeen, denying that she has train wreck qualities.

"I hate naming names because she's really sweet, but I don't go out. I have no desire to be some party girl. I'm a loner. I always have been."

But the actress, who made her big Hollywood debut in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, does embrace her reputation as an "angsty" teen.

"I'll be angsty until I'm 80 years old," she says. "I think it keeps things fresh. But I think that angst is such a derogatory word toward teenagers."

"It just means you're figuring sh!t out."

In addition to acting, Taylor fronts the punk-rock band The Pretty Reckless. She complains that "people don't take me seriously" because of her age.

She's different than people her age, she insists.

"[People] think most 16-year-olds don't know what they want to do. But I actually really do, because I've been thinking about [music] since I was 2."

Don't worry, Taylor. Soon you'll be 17 ... and you can then be compared to another 17-year-old who knows just what she wants: Miley Cyrus.

Show Luo’s 7th Album “Rashomon” – Pre-Order Sign-Sing Function breaks 4,000!

12/31/2009 01:18:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Show Lo’s 7th album “Rashomon” is set to release on January 15. Record stores and convenient stores nationwide began pre-orders on December 22. Show Lo has begun promotions for his new album, and yesterday (12/26), he was in Pingtung and Kaohsiung holding his pre-order sign-sing functions. Because it was the Christmas holiday on top of Pingtung’s nice weather, plenty of fans attended. In the two functions, there totaled over 4,000 people! Show happily expressed, that his shout-out in a video clip : “To take a good looking pictures, there comes a price. Friends and fans, if you don’t support y album, or if you buy a pirated version, you guys are dead meat!” really worked in persuading his fans!

For his album “Rashomon,” his first release is “Love’s Premier Show” and has already premiered on 12/23 on HIT FM. In discussing his album title, they were torn between “Love’s Premier Show” or “Rashomon,” but in the end, under Show’s persuasion, “Rashomon” it was! Show expressed, because he didn’t want listeners to just base or generalize the music production on the title of the album, “This time, I worked hard in trying out new styles of music, it’s like opening up many doors of music. This also made me rediscover : Show Lo, in the world of music, still has so many possibilities to explore!”

Thus, besides his first release “Love’s Premier Show” which infuses techno, pop-rock, pop and big beat, there’s also a dance mix of R&B, Hip-hop, and break beat in “Rashomon.” And the theme of “Hi My Sweetheart” Band Sound – styled, “Head Over Heels in Love,” and the atmospheric Jazz in “Why We Must Be Together, “ along with the slow rock ballad “As Long As You’re Used To it.” They’re all more mature and different from Show Lo’s previous singing styles. Show also said, “I’ve already released 7 solo albums, of course I’d be anticipated to have my fans and other listeners simultaneously sense the changes in each of my new songs, having them listen to music as if they were opening up music’s Rashomon doors, and getting unexpected surprises!”

Show Lo’s album from last year “Trendy Man Chronicles” not only broke his personal record sales record., but also landed in the first place of 102 billboards globally, and for 2 consecutive years, he’s withheld a spot in the annual top 10 records sold placement. The figures are perhaps one of the strangest, with rising numbers even in the recession of the music industry! Even his 15 second commercial, after being placed on YouTube for 4 days had broken 37,000 views, thus Gold Typhoon Music set out large expenditures of $1 million on a “Premier Extravagance Version” with the A4-sized Trendy Man 80 Page photo book, and half a million dollars on “Love Show De La Mode Version” with trendy man postcards and film roll shades.

In the insert of Show Lo’s album, he also tried out several outfits, and personally demonstrated an “Accessorized” style, and very cleverly used many accessories in his outfits. From all sorts of wild and avant-garde shades, earrings, ties, wool shawls, riveted tiles and metallic fashioned scarves, etc…he used these to accessorize with different styles of clothing. Show also said that the so-called “Accessorized Trendy Man” is to break the formulaic impression of a men’s clothing styles and freely fashion all sorts of styles, accessorizing your own brand new attitude.

Donned in the exaggerated and avant-garde shades, Show Lo was unable to see anything while he was dancing, it’s like he was living in a world of darkness or he became temporarily blind, “So when I was dancing the dance I had choreographed, I can only rely on my memory to think of the steps. I think the pinnacle of dancing is this kind of of “Blindman’s Dancing!” And his record company was worried that his atypical shades would injure Show Lo’s charismatic, electrifying eyes, they had had helped bought a $50 million dollars insurance for him!

Apple tablet mockup spotted hiding on Clearwire website?

12/31/2009 01:18:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments



If you were a hardcore skeptic and entertaining serious doubts about the Apple tablet, well, let’s just say Clearwire’s latest home page won’t do you any good. Spotted just behind the Zune HD there, and to the left of a PSP Go, there is an odd looking creature with a shiny touch screen, a dock on the left side and a background and toolbar that looks suspiciously Apple-esque. Unfortunately, it’s also a fake tablet image we’ve seen before that has floated around the internetz. Better luck next time, Clearwire?

Nexus One trounces 3D benchmark, gets caught in high-res photoshoot

12/31/2009 01:17:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

With the flurry of recent news reports surrounding the Google Nexus One phone: an apparent Google announcement on January 5th, a rumored pricing plan at $180, and tales of the Nexus One already being rooted, there’s finally some concrete viewable media out in the wild in the form of a 3D Neocore Benchmark of the Nexus One.


For the uninitiated, the 3D Neocore Benchmark is an objective test that assesses the 3D performance and capabilities of a media phone’s mobile graphics chip. The analysis is carried out in real-time 3D, similar to performance benchmarks built for the PC platform.

The results and the opinions of the tester, one Bruce, translated from French, states “26.7 fps, not bad but a little disappointing. The lack of PowerVR feels”. All in all, it’s still nice to have such an early test run on the Google smartphone (which is running Android 2.1). Bruce has also uploaded several new high-resolution shots of the Nexus One, to be found here.

Five Ways Apple's Tablet May Change the World

12/31/2009 01:15:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

The iPad is on the way, and it just might reduce calling costs, cut your commute, and, to the delight of journalists everywhere, pull print media back from the brink

Business writers love hyperbole. The ground will swell. The paradigm will shift. But what if occasionally a new tech gadget comes along that really does shake up society? Apple's planned tablet may just be such a device.

Speculation about Apple's one-device-to-rule-them-all iPad reached fever pitch this month when Yair Reiner, an analyst at Oppenheimer, dug through Steve Jobs' production pipeline and found evidence that the tablet was being readied for an April 2010 launch.

The timing makes sense. The iPhone is three years old, the U.S. economy is rebounding, and gadget demand is pent up among Americans who held off on toy upgrades during the recession. By spring we'll no doubt be past the holiday sales of the black-and-white e-readers that still look vaguely like medical prostate screening devices.

The world is recovering from its Wall Street hangover, and it's looking for a new tech party invitation. An Apple tablet would be the guest of honor. Laura DiDio, an analyst at Information Technology Intelligence, has predicted the Apple tablet will be "the next big thing," complete with 10- to 12-inch high-res screen, Web connection, and a video cam. Other manufacturers such as Dell (DELL) are preparing tablets, too, but Apple is the one to watch—because Apple is best at making radical new hardware formats undeniably cool.

Print Media Comeback

So yes, the Jesus Tablet will appear. And yes, you'll buy one with an artificially high price of, say, $800 as penance for being an early adopter. Within two years the price will fall to $199 until everyone including your 6-year-old has a gleaming, do-anything, interactive pane of glass on his or her desk.

As that happens, the iPad will change the world in at least five ways.

• Magazine and newspaper publishing will bounce back as consumers rediscover paid subscriptions. Sorry, Chris Anderson, but not everything will revert to free. It's no mistake Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated invested in a sexy tablet magazine demo that's also due to hit the market next year.

Publishers realize they have a very narrow window to recapture the paid subscribers they lost to the Web, and they'll do anything to grab you with the Apple gizmo. Expect to see publishers launch visually stunning versions of their magazines with swooping typography, video insets, CNN iReporter-style news uploads, social media overlays—whatever it takes to make you think you're seeing a magazine or newspaper like never before, so much so you'll even want to pay for it.

• Television and radio ratings will continue to fall. Unlike print, TV and radio won't fit easily into the Apple tablet's format. Sure, U.S. consumers still watch 5 hours and 9 minutes of live television a day, but the problem is ratings don't hold when commercials actually air. Certainly, Apple will try to push TV shows and movies through the tablet via iTunes, but we're betting they don't sit well in your hand. Rather than being a device to watch television, the Apple tablet is more likely to be an interactive distraction when real TV ads come on your basement set.

Nielsen noted this trend of "concurrent media usage" this spring, in a $3.5 million study that recorded what hundreds of people actually do when commercials air. When TV spots came on, people picked up laptops, magazines, or cell phones and did something other than watch the screen. Expect that trend to accelerate when you have an Apple tablet in your lap.

• Augmented-reality views of the world will increase. If you missed this trend, it's simple: Augmented reality puts computer graphics on top of live video feeds, similar to the yellow line you see on the field in NFL games.IPhone users now can download applications that overlay a video feed from their iPhone camera—providing floating arrows on the screen showing you, say, the distance to the nearest New York City subway station.

With a larger tablet, such video overlays on reality will become even more compelling. Expect app makers to leap ahead by giving construction workers 3D instructions at a job site, providing consumers with product reviews that float over items on sale at the mall, or serving daters a visual display of the job history, FICO score, and criminal record of that cute guy or gal they meet at a bar.

• Two-way video on tablets will push communication costs even lower. Yes, technically you can do portable video today, if you're willing to walk around town with a laptop flipped open near a Wi-Fi zone. But by and large, our infrastructure still can't accommodate simple two-way video on the go. Add a tablet with built-in Webcam, and suddenly video calls are as easy as holding up a mirror. You better believe AT&T (T) and Verizon Wireless (VZ) are sweating about the advent of Skype video in subway trains or on Hawaiian beaches. (Perhaps Apple will throw its partner AT&T a bone by holding off on tablet Webcams for a few generations. Or it will throw AT&T under the bus by cutting a tablet deal with Verizon Wireless, a scenario at least under consideration earlier this year.

• Telecommuting may finally take off. If you hate your commute and care remotely about the environment, then why do you still sit in traffic for two hours each day? Because society has decreed face time is better than phone time. But when Apple tablets make portable video truly accessible, plane tickets and poor coffee in cars may become things of the past.

We could be wrong. Perhaps it's too much to hope for: a world where Apple provides low-cost, two-way video anywhere that saves print journalism while reducing phone costs, augments reality while cutting your commute, heck, even brings humanity closer together while stopping traffic jams and pollution.

But heck, Apple. Even if you can't solve the world's problems, we'll buy one anyway.

James Cameron already considering Avatar sequel

12/31/2009 01:15:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Hollywood director James Cameron has revealed that he is already considering a sequel to his latest smash-hit movie Avatar.

The film, about blue aliens on a faraway planet, cost a reported $300m, making it the most expensive film ever made.

However, it has already raked in $600m worldwide just two weeks after its release.

Cameron said he now he wants to expand on his tale about the inhabitants of Pandora, but insisted that the second movie would have a different locale.

He said: 'The planet in Pandora's sky is called Polyphemus and it's the primary for a system of moons… Jupiter has 50 some moons and they're discovering smaller ones all of the time.

'We have some story ideas for how to branch out into other moons of Polyphemus and the Alpha Centauri A solar system, but we've got to make some money with this movie first before we think about the sequel.'

Godfrey Gao refutes rumours between him and Jolin Tsai

12/31/2009 01:14:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Taiwanese artiste Godfrey Gao appeared bemused when he cleared the air on his alleged May-December relationship with Jolin Tsai and said that the rumours were "rather hilarious". The 26-year-old artiste was recently in town to participate in a Channel 8 variety programme, 3 Plus 1 and appeared to be troubled by his alleged relationship with Jolin.

"I am not really familiar with her! We were introduced by friends .We were out with a group of friends that day, we were not dating! There is no relationship!"

He further clarified his stance and said, "Nobody shot [photographs of] the both of us being alone too."

Apart from his refutations, the 1.94m-tall actor praised Jolin for being a very professional singer with a serious working attitude and gave her the nickname, "Taiwan's Diva". When the reporter asked if he was a fan of Jolin, he obligingly replied, "She can be counted as my idol. She is really very charming."

Godfrey shared that it was Taiwanese artist, Lee Wei, and his co-artist from the same company, Peach, who introduced him to the pop princess, who is four years his senior.

"That is a misunderstanding. It was a group of people who went, nobody took photographs of the both of them being together alone," said Peach, who was also present at the filming of 3 Plus 1.

She further explained, "Godfrey and I belong to the same management company and Lee Wei knows Jolin. As it was a gathering between a group of friends, we did not have the intention of introducing them to each other."

Perplexed at the ongoing speculations, Godfrey said in resignation, "These are all rumours. I feel that they are a little silly."

Despite the rumours, the good-looking one does not plan to stop his partying ways. Strongly influenced by the western culture due to his upbringing in Canada, he said, "I love the feel of going to parties. You can go there to socialize and get to know many people. It might even help you in your career, and may clinch you a good job."

Leaked: Swype For Android Beta Unofficially Available For Motorola Droid

12/31/2009 01:11:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

When Swype was nice enough to give us the world’s first hands-on with their ultra-nifty alternative keyboard on the Android platform, I wasn’t about to leak the installation files. It’s just not my style. Now that someone else has gone and leaked them, though, I’m more or less obligated to show you how to get it up and running. I tell you, folks — this blogging thing is one endless inner conflict.


After coming up with an awesome name for their blog, the guys over at DroidMuff.in got their hands on a beta copy of Swype for Android and uploaded it for all to share. This specific installer won’t work on every Android handset — in fact, it won’t work on most. This one’s tailored to work with WVGA phones, so it’ll work fine on the likes of the Moto Droid and the Xperia X3, but not the Droid Eris or HTC Hero.

If you’re ready to dive in, here’s how to get it done:
  • Download and install the Astro file manager from the Android Marketplace
  • Unzip that file, which will give you a file called “[mfhs]Swype-SwypeReference-WVGA854-trial-release.0.35.3959.apk”
  • Copy the APK file to your handset’s SD card
  • On your Android handset, go to Settings > Applications > and check the box next to Unknown Sources
  • Use Astro to browse for the apk file on your SD card, install it.
  • Go to Settings > Language and Keyboard. Enable the Swype keyboard.
  • You should now be able to switch between the standard keyboard and the Swype keyboard by tapping-and-holding on any text input field.
Enjoy!

Microsoft Zune Eats Apple iPod Dust in Holiday Sales

12/31/2009 01:07:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

OK, it's really no shocker that Apple's iPod touch trounced Microsoft's Zune HD in holiday sales. But couldn't the Zune have at least done a little better? Amazon's list of Bestsellers in Electronics has the iPod touch in the second and third spot, (8GB and 32GB models), while the Zune HD (32GB) languishes at number 89.


Sure, the hugely popular iPod touch benefits from Apple's marketing brilliance, the iPhone glow, and the lure of 100,000-plus games and other time-wasters in the App Store. It also has the major advantage of being cool with the younger crowd: Kids want an iPod touch, not a Zune HD.

But the Zune HD, which received favorable reviews from the tech press when it debuted in September, has a lot going for it too. PC World contributor Dan Tynan sums it up nicely:

"From its luscious multitouch OLED screen to its slick social media tools, the Zune HD is as cool as anything that doesn't have an Apple logo. The HD stands for both high-definition radio--the new Zune handles music and data streams from multicasting radio stations--and high-def video. Using an external dock, you can connect the Zune HD to your HDTV and watch movies at 720p. Log on to the Zune Marketplace via Wi-Fi, and you can buy tunes and shows, [and] stream music."

Want more proof? The Zune HD was ranked #22 in the PC World 100: Best Products of 2009.

Unloved Zune

Several factors contributed to the Zune's lackluster holiday showing. First, the MP3 market has reached the saturation point, at least in the U.S.

"MP3 players have been down year over year over the holiday season. The whole category has really been struggling," says NPD Group consumer electronics analyst Ross Rubin, who points out that MP3 functionality is migrating to smartphones.

But the Zune HD isn't your run-of-the-mill media player. And if the MP3 device market is tanking, why is the iPod touch still selling like crazy?

"The Zune HD is a higher-end product, obviously designed to compete with the iPod touch, which has done well for Apple, but which has had the benefit of leveraging the iPhone's success, and applications and [the App Store] ecosystem," Rubin says.

"Microsoft has released some games for the Zune. The device has the Tegra processor, so it's pretty capable from a 3D [gaming] perspective," he adds. But Microsoft has not opened up the Zune to third-party developers the way Apple has with its iPod/iPhone platform.

Other Plans for Zune?

Microsoft didn't exactly go all out to promote the Zune HD to holiday shoppers, which leads one to wonder: What are Redmond's long-term plans for its media player?

"Microsoft has said the Zune, moving forward, is going to be less of an integrated device and service, and more of a media brand available across multiple platforms, such as Xbox, where it already is," Rubin says.

The Zune HD's best features, such as its OLED screen and multitouch interface, may migrate to Windows Mobile devices over the next few years. But the device's future as a standalone media player isn't looking very bright right now.

Online holiday sales hit $27 billion

12/31/2009 01:07:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , 0 Comments

Holiday shoppers brought good cheer to e-commerce retailers, spending $27 billion online from November 1 through December 24, a 5 percent jump over last year, ComScore reported Wednesday.


The period from Black Friday through Christmas Eve was also bright and merry as sales grew by around 3.5 percent, even after adjusting for an additional shopping day this year. Consumer electronics proved to be the hottest selling category, rising 20 percent. Larger retailers outpaced smaller vendors thanks in part to their use of free shipping and marketing via social-networking sites, said ComScore.

The growth in this year's online holiday sales showed improvement over 2008, when sales dropped by 3 percent. Results were likely helped by a snowstorm that blanketed the East Coast the weekend of December 19-20, forcing many shoppers to pick up those last-minute gifts online.

"Online sales growth this year was driven by a continued increase in the number of people buying online, but consumers' economic challenges resulted in a slight decline versus last year in the amount spent per buyer," said ComScore chairman Gian Fulgoni in a statement. "The season featured a strong start as a result of early retailer promotions and a very strong finish helped by the snowstorms that occurred the weekend of December 19-20, retailers' willingness to offer free shipping later in the season, and consumers' confidence in expedited shipping arriving in time."

2009 Movie Review: Megan Fox Sucks, New Moon Rules

12/31/2009 01:20:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

The year in movies came to a positive end Christmas weekend, as theaters across the nation took in the largest box office haul in Hollywood history.


But how will events, actors and films from 2009 be remembered beyond that? According to a newly-released Moviefone.com poll, very well if you were part of New Moon; not as well if your name is Megan Fox.

Below, we list the results of that site's year-end poll, including the percentage of film buffs that voted for 2009's Best Movie, Worst Actress and other categories...

Best Movie: New Moon (41%)

Worst Movie: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (24%)

Funniest Movie: The Hangover (52%)



Worst Female Performance: Megan Fox (Transformers, 31%)

Worst Male Performance: Jack Black (Year One, 22%)

Best Male Performance: George Clooney (Up in the Air, 29%)

Best Female Performance: Sanda Bullock (The Blind Side, 44%)

Sexiest Male Star: Robert Pattinson (46%)

Sexiest Female Star: Megan Fox (45%)

Agree with these results? Disagree? Dying to see Megan Fox nude, just never, ever on the big screen again?

Angelina Jolie Cheating on Brad Pitt!

12/31/2009 01:20:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Brangelina gossip is the best.


Do these two actually do anything besides star in movies and spend time with their kids? Sounds like a great life, but it's not enough for Star and its ilk.

According to tabloids: Their marriage is an act; Angelina plays mind games; She wants baby #7, Brad moved out; Brad meets with Jennifer Aniston; Angelina had declared war on Jen; She contemplated suicide; She's plotting a revenge pregnancy.

That's only in the last three months, too!

The latest from the venerable writers at Star: Angelina Jolie has been cheating on Brad Pitt, and in turn, "the love is gone" from their hot relationship.

She's apparently "come clean" about other lovers (Johnny Depp, perhaps), and Brad said "I'm outta here" for the 12th time since mid-September.

In other news, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce have weight loss tricks, Brittany Murphy had demons and Charlie Sheen had a Christmas outburst that left his marriage to Brooke Mueller in tatters. Hey, at least one of those items is actually true!

Motorola XT701’s official website shows up, but not for long

12/31/2009 01:20:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Motorola XT701, one of the new Android phones prepared by Moto for China, has appeared on Motorola’s official website, although only or a short period of time.


This is the address where the XT701 appeared, but, as you’ll figure out by yourself, there’s nothing to see there anymore.

Rumored to be the Chinese version of the Motorola Sholes Tablet, the XT701 features Android 2.0, a 3.7 inch WVGA touchscreen display, GSM and WCDMA connectivity, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 5MP camera with autofocus and flash, and MicroSD card support (up to 32GB).

Motorola XT701 will be available via China Unicom, the second largest Chinese mobile carrier, for a price that is not known.





For the moment, Motorola China’s website only presents the Motorola XT800 and Motorola MT710, but there’s a reserved place for the XT701, too.

Microsoft bringing Xbox 360 LIVE Enabled games to Windows Mobile?

12/31/2009 01:19:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments



The idea of integrating Xbox LIVE into Windows Mobile has been bouncing around since Steve Ballmer’s CES 2009 keynote where he and his associates showed off Windows 7, Windows Mobile and the new Xbox Experience and promised that “Microsoft will connect your entertainment experience.” That pie in the sky dream was not realized in 2009 but a job posting at Microsoft suggests that the idea has not been forgotten. Recently, Microsoft is seeking a Principle Program Manager to “bring Xbox LIVE enabled games to Windows Mobile” and is someone who “will focus specifically on what makes gaming experiences “LIVE Enabled” through aspects such as avatar integration, social interactions, and multi-screen experiences”. Xbox LIVE integration may be the ace up Microsoft’s sleeve and may help bolster Windows Mobile’s position as a consumer oriented device.

Details on BoA’s new album

12/31/2009 01:19:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments


Back in late November, CD Japan released information that BoA's 7th album would be canceled. However, that information proved to be incorrect as the album wasn't canceled, instead AVEX Entertainment just pushed back the release date. Instead of the original release date of January 10, 2010, the date has been changed to a month later on February 10, 2010. The album will be titled Identity and there will be two versions of the album. A regular CD version and a CD + DVD combo version.

Earlier this month, BoA released the single album Mamoritai White Wishes and she produced a track titled The End. There's rumors that BoA will show off more of her producing skills on Identity. Thanks to Luna for the tip and information!

Tracklist
01:This Is Who I Am
02:EASY
03:BUMP BUMP! feat. VERBAL(m-flo)
04:LAZER
05:interlude#1
06:is this love
07:interlude#2
08:まもりたい ～White Wishes～
09:ネコラブ
10:THE END そして and… (album ver.)
11:Possibility duet with 三浦大知
12:fallin’
13:my all

DVD
01 : BUMP! BUMP! feat.VERBAL(m-flo) Music Video
02 : まもりたい ～White Wishes～ Music Video
03 : BoA Release Party 2009 “BEST&USA”

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