Angelina Jolie is 'wrong' choice to play Patricia Cornwell heroine, say author's fans, after Jodie Foster turns the part down

Angelina Jolie has sparked fury among the fans of Patricia Cornwell's best selling crime novels by being chosen to play its heroine Kay Scarpetta.


Many say Jolie is too 'exotic' looking to play the screen version of the medical examiner.

The character in 17 best selling books is a petite, middle-aged woman with short blonde hair - much like the 53-year-old author herself.

But while fans of the books are unhappy, Cornwell is pleased with the casting of Jolie, 34, with filming set to begin later this year.

'When Angelina came out of the left field last year, I was floored', said Cornwell.

Jennifer Lopez Issues Statement On Label Split; “Love?” Album Due Summer 2010

Pop star Jennifer Lopez has issued a statement reassuring fans that her seventh album, Love?, is still set for release, despite news that the “Louboutins” singer parted ways with her longtime label home earlier this week.



There’s still no word why the Artist Formerly Known As JLo has left Sony’s Epic label, but DeadlineHollywood.com is floating the rumor that Sony may have dropped the star after her lead singles “Louboutins” and “Fresh Out The Oven” failed to generate any buzz for the album.

New Opera 10.50 beta aims to surpass Chrome

The Opera Browser made some serious headway in keeping itself relevant when it introduced a new JavaScript engine for its upcoming revision. The latest edition of Opera 10.50 beta 2 for Windows contains no new major features, some minor feature improvements, and is mostly a bug-fixing release that incorporates around 100 changes since the first beta.



Also, in an effort to prevent attention from drifting away from the Mac version of Opera 10.50, the publisher has also announced a new release candidate for the beta. While that milestone is unusual, it's not unheard of for browser publishers to do this. Mozilla released Firefox 3.5 beta 99 last summer, just prior to moving Firefox 3.5 beta 5 up to release candidate status.

Flash Player 10.1 and the Nexus One's Battery Life


After all the talk of Flash Player 10.1 and what it does to gadgets' battery lives, the folks at FlashMobileBlog decided to take the old-fashioned approach to finding out how the Google Nexus is affected: Playing a lot of videos.

They found that "video can be played for well over 3 hours over Wi-Fi from YouTube in H.264 (Baseline 1.2)." One's gotta wonder whether this is acceptable battery consumption or not, but the big idea is that we can extend that time by playing with configurations (backlight, Wi-Fi vs 3G, etc) and encouraging the availability of optimized content.

Apple “Explicit” App Store category spotted

After the ongoing arguments about Apple’s decision to yank titillating applications from the App Store, it now looks like the Cupertino company have a new category in mind to corral anything with a vaguely adult theme.  Cult of Mac heard from a developer that a new category has been added to iTunesConnect, the system through which new software is submitted for inclusion in the download store, called “Explicit”.



The source supplied a screenshot of the new category, and confirmation from a second, unconnected developer was obtained by Recombu.  As yet there’s no sign of any Explicit listing in the App Store itself, but it seems likely that once Apple have organized all suitable content into it they’ll push out an update to users’ devices.

Lee Hyori and Rain to comeback and promote in the same time period after 7 years

It will be the first time in 7 years that the male and female representative sexy stars Rain and Lee Hyori perform on stage in the same time period.


It is planned that Lee Hyori will be releasing her 4th album late-March and Rain will also be releasing his special album early-April. With news that the 2 mega stars will be releasing new albums 1~2 weeks apart, fans are unable to contain their excitement.

Rain also talked about it when he met up with reporters at an event he was attending on 22nd February, “I heard that I would be promoting in the same time period as Lee Hyori. It has been 7 years since it last happened. I’m excited too. As much as time has flown, each of us will be back with great performances.”

The previous time the 2 stars promoted together in the same time period was in the earlier half of 2003. Lee Hyori was promoting the 2nd song from her 1st album and Rain was promoting ‘How to avoid the sun’ from his 2nd album.

Michael Jackson Death Call Leaked [AUDIO]

A recording of the moment paramedics first announced Michael Jackson’s dead has surfaced online.


“Patient is Michael Jackson, the pop star singer. No pulse, no breathing. Unresponsive. Tried to resuscitate him. Unsuccessful. We’ve done everything we can. We should be there in five minutes. It doesn’t look good. It doesn’t look good,” a voice can be heard saying.

Lee DeWyze pits Simon against Kara and Randy

We're halfway through the show, and I've only heard one performance I really dug -- and the judges hated that one. Maybe Lee DeWyze can turn things around, but, right now, it's looking like the judges were right that the girls are stronger this year than the boys. On the other hand, a lot of the male contestants I'm especially curious about are coming up in the second half.

Lee brings out his guitar for Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars. He starts quietly, but when he starts to crescendo, he's got a little bit of that Chris Daughtry/David Cook rasp. A couple of notes slide too much, but overall this is a very solid performance -- especially considering the competition so far.

Nintendo's oversized DSi XL heading to the US on March 28th for $190 (update: video)


Nintendo just announced that its new DSi XL (known and sold as the DSi LL in Japan) will be hitting North America on March 28th, and will retail for $190. In exchange for a couple mm of extra thickness and a significantly larger footprint the XL pairs two 4.2-inch LCDs for a jumbo-sized look at your well worn, oft-rehashed DS catalog. The unit will retail in Burgundy and Bronze flavors at launch, preloaded with two DSiWare Brain Age games, Photo Clock, Flipnote Studio and the DSi Browser. Unconvinced? Check out the teardown of the LL edition right here while you wait your turn to consume this American style. Feeling left out in Europe? Don't, because you guys are getting the XL on March 5th. PR is after the break.

Update: Nintendo put out a feel-good promo video, we threw that below the break as well.

You can follow Joystiq's ongoing coverage of the Nintendo Media Summit here.

Nokia serves North American X6 up for pre-order: $455 unlocked


Nokia's downright seductive X6 just started shipping to those across the pond, and shortly after the company announced a Comes Without Music edition, along comes this: a NAM version for those who call North America home, sweet home. The pre-order page (which is live this very moment, by the way) makes no mention of a Comes With Music requirement, giving you complete freedom to shove whatever you darn well please onto what's left of that 16GB after the OS install and a hidden 'thank you' note from Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. So, is that $455 peeking out of your Fifth Pocket really that important to you?

The titanium iPhone is real, really real (video)


You came, you saw, some of you were not convinced. So what's a gadget blog to do when picture evidence isn't enough? Why, get those pictures moving, of course, right up to 30 frames a second. The stunning titanium iPhone 3GS from this morning is back, proving not only its existence in the corporeal realm, but also its much-disputed ability to place a call -- something that even the default plastic-backed units sometimes struggle with. Look, we're not in Austria and therefore can't lick it and tell you if it really tastes of titanium, but on the evidence we have the thing looks legit. Judge for yourself after the break.

Apple serves up 10 billionth iTune, smiles all the way to the bank


Whether you love it or loathe it, there is now no way to deny the spectacular success of Apple's iTunes Store. The proprietary digital media player, organizer and salesperson has just now recorded its 10 billionth song download, marking a truly unique achievement in the still nascent world of digital distribution. Congratulations to Apple, whose response has been to thank you all for spending so much cash and making El Steve look like the techno pied piper. Hit the source link to find out what the most downloaded songs of "all time" were... you might not be surprised by the top three, but you should definitely be horrified.

TVXQ’s Japanese new single in March, Will TVXQ have new activities in Japan again?

According to the latest news on Japanese official website, TVXQ will releasese their new single including “Ceasing the time” and “TVXQ Nonstop-MIX VOL.2?


The new single which is for the advertisement of a Japan cosmetic brand MENARD is being highly focused. Yunho”s solo “Checkmate” would be also concluded.

“BEST VIDEO CLIP” and “4th LIVE TOUR 2009 The Secret Code FINAL in TOKYO DOME”’s Blue light DVD version will be released on 17th March.

Isn't that dress a bit too tight? Mariah Carey's gold mini struggles to contain her expanding figure

Mariah Carey may have admitted 'gaining a few pounds' since her marriage to Nick Cannon, but she clearly isn't ashamed of her curvier physique.


Performing at the latest stop on her Angels' Advocate Tour in Los Angeles last night, Carey showed off her figure in all its glory in a figure-hugging gold dress.

The two-piece dress, which started as a billowing ball gown before a section was whipped off to reveal a ruffled mini, appeared slightly too small for her ample curves.

Clearly feeling confident with her figure, Carey showed off her tanned legs in a pair of silver sequinned £775 pair of Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels as she performed with her troupe of hunky dancers at the Gibson Amphitheatre.

Adam Lambert Used to Have Casual Sex With Strangers

Adam Lambert admits he used to go out to bars, get wasted and take home a stranger.

The American Idol runner-up says he can relate to the lyrics of his new song Soaked — which was written by Muse — because he knows what it’s like to be in a “dark place”.

“I love the song; lyrically I feel I can relate to it,” Lambert told British magazine Gay Times. “From a dark place, it’s about that viscous circle of going out and trying to fill a void by getting laid, but doing it by getting wasted in a bar and going home with somebody.

“That’s what it’s about for me. I’ve been through that: I’m 27 years old and I’ve lived a life where I was looking for something… for meaning, or love, but looking for it in the wrong way.”

Lambert recently hit out at Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle, whose album, I Dreamed A Dream, beat his debut release to the top spot in America.

America Ferrera “In Denial” Over “Ugly Betty” Cancellation

It’s been nearly a month since ABC bosses announced that the current fourth season of the network’s once popular dramedy Ugly Betty will be its last, but series star America Ferrera is still “in denial” that Betty has been cancelled.



The actress has portrayed frumpy NYC fashion mag assistant Betty Suarez on the award-winning program since 2006 and is devastated that it is about to end. One reason America is so disappointed to say goodbye to Betty because is because the role has helped her evolve as a person.

Future iPads to have front-facing cameras, flash (bulbs, not software)


What the deuce? It seems that the new iPad SDK 3.2 Beta 3 has some very interesting bits of code and UI components that point to a front facing camera – a boolean called hasFrontCamera – and a boolean for a flash LED (not Adobe Flash) called hasFlash. There are also two buttons in the interface for accepting and declining video chats.

Now remember: the iPad has a little spot for a front-facing camera in it already but all signs point to the fact that it won’t be implemented in this first version. Unless there’s some amazing October surprise that pops up when they ship final hardware, don’t expect to be comm-screening with J.F. Sebastian using your futuristic videophone this time around.

Windows 7 Activation Technologies Update now live, ready to be dodged


Remember that polarizing Windows 7 Activation Technologies Update we told you about? You know, the one that helps you to "verify that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is activated correctly and is genuine?" It's available for download now through Windows Update, and it's not particularly easy to spot. The main label simply says "Update for Windows 7," though we'd be sure to avoid KB971033 if you weren't up for having this thing looking into your business. Your call, though.

Italian Court Finds Google Employees Guilty Over a Google Video They Had Nothing To Do With

Some shocking news reaches us via the Google blog today—apparently three Google employees have been convicted in an Italian court over a video uploaded to Google Video back in 2006. Scarily, they had nothing to do with it.


Writing on the blog, Google's VP and Deputy General Counsel Matt Sucherman described that some Italian schoolkids uploaded a video four years ago of them bullying an autistic peer. After being notified by Italian police, Google took the video down and aided them with details of the kid who uploaded it. So far, par for the course—you could say Google acted quickly and responsibly in the situation.

But unfortunately the story doesn't end there, as instead of being sent a bottle of Tuscan wine, four Google employees were slapped with charges "for failure to comply with the Italian privacy code" and criminal defamation. Pretty absurd, right?

Album jacket for T-ara ‘Crazy Because Of You’ revealed!


A new photoset for T-ara’s rapackaged 1st album ‘Braking Heart’ have been revealed! They also recently released the teaser MVs for the title song ‘Crazy Because of You’ off the album.

Go under the cut for the full photoset.

Lee Minho and Son Ye Jin for Personal Taste

With March nearly upon us, it’s the time where a load of new dramas make their debut and we have another one to introduce to you. The new MBC mini series, Personal Taste, starring Lee Minho and Son Ye Jin recently revealed their promotional stills, generating interest among fans.


Just like Lee Minho’s last drama, Boys Over Flowers, he will be romancing his co-star who is older than him by five years off the screen.

The photos were recently taken at MBC Dream Center at Ilsan on the 18th which portrays them living together under one roof as roommates. The story is adapted from a novel of the same name and is about a guy called Jeon Jin Ho who is a straight guy but pretends to be gay in order to become a roommate to his female friend, Park Kae In. Sounds familiar but what matters most is the process.

“Showgirls 2″ Trailer


A new NSFW trailer promoting the release of Showgirls 2: The Return has hit the Interwebs. That’s right, Showgirls — the now-infamous 1995 stinker that starred Saved By The Bell alum Elizabeth Berkley as a pole dancer — is getting a new lease on life on the big screen. Would anyone care to explain why there’s a sequel to what was possibly one of the worst films in motion picture history? Never mind. Watch the trailer at www.showgirls2.com, but don’t say we didn’t warn you……

Anna Faris, Jennifer Garner Are Throwing A “Bachelorette Party”


Jennifer Garner and Anna Faris have reportedly signed on to star in a upcoming comedy blockbuster about “a high-school teacher recently left at the altar [who] must now send off her uptight cousin with a huge bachelorette bash.” According to Pajiba.com, the newlywed Faris and 13 Going On 30 star Garner have accepted the lead roles in Bachelorette Party, a proposed project based on the novel of the same name by Legally Blonde writer Karen McCullah Lutz.

Every PlayStation 3 Now Has 70MB More RAM During Gameplay

When the PS3 launched, 120MB of its 512MB of RAM were dedicated at all times to the OS. (To put that footrpint in perspective, the Xbox 360's OS only used 32MB.) Luckily, Sony has refined their system.


Over the course of several updates, the PS3's OS has been weaned off RAM, its dependence cut to just 50MB—including the in-game XMB upgrade—meaning that an additional 70MB of RAM is available for game developers to use as they see fit.

No, that's not enough extra oomph to revolutionize the PS3 as a brand new console, but it's likely we'll see a slightly nicer lighting effect (or an equivalent) some time because of it.

Motorola Quench announced for TIM Brazil

Officially unveiled during MWC 2010, the Motorola Quench / Cliq XT will be available soon in Brazil, via TIM (the country’s third largest mobile carrier, with more than 40 million subscribers).


Running Android 1.5, the Quench is the only phone with MotoBlur that doesn’t have a hardware QWERTY keyboard.

Its features include: 3.1 inch HVGA touchscreen display, accelerometer, HSPA, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Swype, HTML browser, 3.5mm headset jack, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, 5MP autofocus camera with flash, 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM, and a Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 MHz processor.

Acer beTouch E110 passes the FCC with AT&T 3G

Acer beTouch E110, one of the company’s new Android smartphones, has just been approved by the FCC – and it’s compatible with AT&T’s 3G network (850 / 1900 MHz).


Of course, that doesn’t mean the E110 will be launched by AT&T, although it might. The handset could also hit Rogers (which has recently announced the Acer Liquid e for Canada).

In case you don’t know yet, the Acer beTouch E110 is an entry-level smartphone with Android 1.5, a 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, social networking integration, Acer web widgets, 3.2MP camera, 256MB ROM, 256MB RAM, and a ST Ericsson PNX6715 processor at 416 MHz.

Rainie Yang is waiting for love

As a result of her older sister's marriage, Rainie has a new outlook on love, with her mother beginning to demand, "When are you going to give me a grandchild?" She revealed that her ideal partner needs to be constant, and her real life situation is the same as her famed love song "Ambiguous Love", based on the line "Ambiguous love makes people more greedy."

During her CD release last year, she had expressed, "I want to receive a new years text from a certain someone." In the new issue of Times Weekly, she once again revealed her wish for love, but because of her rationality any starts had no ends. "Even if it becomes likely again, I still feel that it will never work out. I think that this reasoning stems from the lack of security."

She is a self-proclaimed shallow person. "Although I will not fall hard in a relationship, that doesn't mean I don't have a good heart. It means that in comparison, I would rather be shot dead with one bullet than slowly choked to death." Most girls love hearing their boyfriends say "I love you", but Rainie dislikes it. "Previous boyfriends would say, 'We will be together for a lifetime.' Although my heart is happy, my rationale will quickly pop into my head and say, 'Will we really be that in love?'"

China's Version of "Pandamen" rejected; Malaysia has no intention of changing versions

Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Due to executive director Jay Chou (Zhou Dong) insisting that <Pandamen> be re-edited for airing on CTS, previously sold China versions have been rejected! According to Taiwanese media reports, Hong Kong's TVB has confirmed that they are not going to air China's version, with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand following suit, all changing to the Taiwanese version that Zhou Dong edited himself. However, 8TV's spokesperson denied this saying, "<Pandamen> has already aired mid-way on 8TV, we have no intentions of airing another version at this moment."

<Pandamen> in China and Taiwan are polar opposites; although the China version has 2nd, 3rd place ratings in that nation, but violent content were all cut out due to conservative public sentiment, provoking netizens to criticize it harshly as "retarded" and unfathomable. The Taiwanese version re-edited by Zhou Dong has received positive reviews, and overseas investors also want Zhou Dong's Taiwanese version. TVB has now changed to the Taiwanese version, and are unwilling to air the China version.

Japan Gold Disc Award, Arashi: winner for the first time & 1st artist to take home 10 trophies

Grand Prize 『Artist of the Year』
Domestic: Arashi
International: The Beatles

New Artist of the Year
Domestic: Hilcrhyme
International: LADY GAGA

5 Best New Artist Domestic
JASMINE
supercell
BIGBANG
Hilcrhyme
Erina Mano

Best New Artist International
Keri Hilson
Susan Boyle
LADY GAGA

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