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XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition (now with video!)

11/19/2009 01:12:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



We've seen the new Android-based XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson at a fast pace and a snail's pace, but have we ever seen it so stunningly middle of the road? We just got a chance to play with the phone in person for the second time, and from our random sampling of three or four different handsets, it seems that performance is very contingent upon how much content is loaded into the device and what particular thing it's trying to perform. Sometimes we'd fly through the stacks of faces, while other times we'd sit there waiting for the simplest thumbnails to load up. The good news is that we have until next year to see this thing really come together, and the word is that the software is improving and at a rapid pace. The big change about this phone is the "Nexus" UX platform, which actually all takes place in two "apps" at the moment, Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is an integrated view for social networking and messaging, with an "infinite view" to see all types of communications for a particular person, while Mediascape is a more tame media app with a modicum of internet and social integration. It all seems very logically placed, and we like the fact that SE hasn't really sacrificed the Android experience -- you can still do Gmail and the Android Market and so forth, with very familiar UIs -- but it's going to have to be a lot more bulletproof before it hits the market if Sony Ericsson really expects us to use this day to day. Oh, also: the soft keyboard is terrible. We hear they're working on it, but boy does it need work.

Vanness Wu's half-naked body boosts ratings; no regrets in showing off muscular figure

11/19/2009 01:12:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Vanness Wu showed off his muscular upper body in idol drama 'Autumn's Concerto', boosting up the ratings to a very good result of 4.25%. However, he said that he no longer receives any add oil text messages from his friends. On the other hand, Tiffany Hsu revealed that on Sunday, a friend kept sending her text messages during the Sunday broadcast, to talk about her acting skills. Apparantly, that 'friend' was her boyfriend Ethan Ruan.


Last Sunday, 'Autumn's Concerto' broadcasted the scene of Vanness crying while lying in Tiffany's arms. To adjust her mood for this scene, Tiffany first pictured a situation in her mind, so to let herself completely immerse into the scene. She said: "When filming crying scenes, I think of my sick family members, so I am able to fully relax and cry!" She also said that when she was watching the Sunday broadcast, her boyfriend kept sending her text messages. She laughed saying: "He was scared that if he phoned, it would interfere with my watching, but then he kept sending text messages, so I still got disturbed anyways!"

Palm Pixi one step closer to free, now $25 on Amazon

11/19/2009 01:12:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



Start placing your bets folks,'cause it now looks like its almost certainly no longer a question "if" the Palm Pixi will drop to a free-on-contract price, but "when?" The latest stop on the saga is none other than Amazon, which is now offering the webOS-based phone for a mere $24.99 with a service plan, beating Walmart's already bargain price by a full five dollars -- which should be just enough to let you buy a second Pixi next month at the rate things are going.

5 Expectations for Google's Chrome OS Event

11/19/2009 01:11:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

Google will finally take the wrapper off its highly-anticipated Chrome operating system during a presentation at Google HQ on Thursday. The event will include a complete overview of the product featuring a Chrome OS demonstration and Q&A session. Sundar Pichai, Google's vice president of product management and Matthew Papakipos, Google engineering director for Google Chrome OS, will speak at the event, according to TechCrunch.

Thursday's presentation will provide at least some answers to the many questions gone unanswered since Google announced the project in July. I have no doubt Google's event will inspire more questions than it answers, but at least it's a start. Here's what we're likely to find out:

How Long Until Liftoff?

Part of Google's presentation on Thursday should include more information about when the OS will be available to consumers. It's possible Google will remain silent, and stick to its "second half of 2010" statement that we got earlier this year. But I'm hoping the company will be able to narrow it down to a particular month or at least a season.

What the Heck is Google Chrome OS?

Despite hyperbolic statements that Google dropped a nuclear bomb on Microsoft with its Chrome OS announcement, the fact is no one really knows what this system can do. Questions about Google Chrome OS's capabilities should disappear on Thursday. We should also find out whether Chrome OS is just another Linux distribution or something entirely new.

Where Do Developers Fit in?

Part of Google's promise when it announced Chrome OS is that it would make the operating system's code open source by the end of the year. If Google makes good on its promise tomorrow, where will developers fit into Google's ecosystem?

Google is making strides to involve developers in creating Google Chrome extensions and Google Wave applications. But an operating system that will supposedly change everything should present new opportunities for developers. What will those be? Is Google hoping its developer community will simply help the company improve the OS, or does Google have a more interesting plan in the works?

What's Up With the Hardware?

When Google starts the Chrome OS demo on Thursday, everyone will want to know what kind of computer is running the OS, and when we can expect to see consumer products on store shelves.

We already know that some of Google's Chrome OS partners include Acer, ASUS, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Toshiba, but when will we see some merchandise and what will it be? Google said Chrome OS will be available on netbooks to start, but what about the specs? For instance, does Google believe a Web-centric netbook should come with a lot of storage space? Does it even need a hard drive? What about RAM or optical disc drives?

Wave and Microsoft

I'm also interested to see if Google highlights Chrome OS's integration with Google Wave. As anybody who's on Wave can tell you, Google Wave is the coolest spot on the Web, but there's not much to do right now. How important is this revamped e-mail project to Google, and how will Chrome OS complement it?

We should also get a sense of how Chrome OS might fare against Windows. Who knows -- Microsoft may even issue a statement about it. Let's be honest; it's laughable to think the most dominant operating system since the human brain is going to be upended by a fancy Web browser. But hey, you never know.

Chrome OS Doubts

Although a lot of excitement surrounds Chrome OS, I can't help thinking the importance of this product is already overblown. I mean, if you wanted a lightweight operating system that just gets to the Web faster, why not pick up a copy of Linux, and just run Firefox on it? If you want one-click shortcuts to get to specific Web apps you can use Mozilla's Prism for that. You'll also have access to a huge library of Firefox add-ons to enhance your browsing experience.

Will Chrome OS be any different than what I've described above? Maybe a little, but I'm not getting my hopes up for Thursday's announcement. What about you?

Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games

11/19/2009 01:11:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

If you think Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has had a major impact on just the video game industry, you may need to adjust your expectations.


According to Activision Blizzard, the game's publisher, Modern Warfare 2 has set records across the entire entertainment industry.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the "biggest entertainment launch in history," Activision said in a statement. In its first five days of availability, the game set a worldwide record with about $550 million in sales, according to internal Activision figures. It's impressive. But more impressive is the list of launches that it beat out.

In the first five days of availability, Modern Warfare 2 has eclipsed the largest worldwide box-office opening, held by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which tallied $394 million over its first five days. It also beat "The Dark Knight," which holds the U.S. box-office record with $203.8 million in first five-day sales.

The game also narrowly trumped Grand Theft Auto IV, which captured $500 million in sales in its first five days of availability.

In other words, Modern Warfare 2 has had a major release.

The game's success also translated to major numbers on Xbox Live. Activision reported that "more than 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day alone." On November 10, 2.2 million unique gamers played on Xbox Live, setting a new one-day record for the online-gaming platform.

Of course, it should be noted that all these figures come from Activision's internal estimates, which might differ from the NPD Group's official totals when it announces November video-game sales.

But until then, Activision can (rightfully so) celebrate Modern Warfare 2's success. And maybe the video-game industry, which has always received second billing to film in the entertainment space, can finally stake its claim to the top spot. Video games are, based on Modern Warfare 2's success, just as viable an entertainment platform as movies.

HK star Andy Lau keeps new wife indoors to stay out of media glare

11/19/2009 01:11:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

HONG Kong superstar Andy Lau has barred his Malaysian wife Carol Chu from going out, Sin Chew Daily reported.

The newspaper reported that an agreement was reached between the couple in the hope that media attention on their marriage would be played down.

Andy also recently made up to Carol by booking a whole cinema to watch the Michael Jackson film, This Is It, in Hong Kong.

The cinema's staff members were stationed outside the building to ensure that the couple enjoyed the show without being disturbed.

Andy's parents and 10 of his assistants also watched the film with the couple.

It cost about HK$5,000 ($900) to book the cinema, which has seats with massage functions, the report said.

After learning that reporters had gathered outside the cinema, the couple left by the backdoor, which led to the car park.

Andy's love life has been in the news this year.

In February, he denied being married in an interview with Hong Kong's Cable TV.

Then in October, Hong Kong journalists discovered marriage records from the Clark County Recorder's Office in the US state of Nevada that showed the 47-year-old star had wed Carol in June last year.

Andy had used his stage name Andy Lau Tak Wah, instead of his birth name Lau Fook Wing, for the occasion, having changed his name formally many years ago, Hong Kong's Apple Daily reported then.

Relationship made public

Carol is a 43-year-old former Malaysian beauty queen.

The report also speculated that as the acknowledgement date and marriage date in the records fell on the same day, the couple probably decided to get married on the spur of the moment.

They are said to have started dating 24 years ago, and had kept the relationship under wraps, though there had been widespread speculation in the media and among Andy's fans that they were together and were even married.

In September Andy apologised for lying about his marriage, saying he behaved inappropriately for a public figure.

He confirmed the marriage in a brief message on his website, saying he did not announce the marriage because he wanted to shield Carol from the press, reported AP.

Andy said then: 'My recent behaviour amounts to a lie. It disappointed many people. Because I'm a public figure, I think I should publicly apologise to everyone who believed me. I hope everyone will forgive me.

Critics contend that Andy lied about his marriage to protect his image as an idol.

One of Asia's biggest celebrities, the star of Infernal Affairs and House of Flying Daggers has appeared in more than 100 movies since his debut in 1982.

Dubbed one of Chinese pop's Four Heavenly Kings in the 1990s, he also enjoys a successful recording career.

He said on his website that he and Carol had married so they could try to have children through artificial insemination, which is only authorised for married couples in Hong Kong.

'I don't have any children. I don't have any sons or daughters. The children you have photographed are the children of my relatives or friends,' he said.

Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649

11/19/2009 01:09:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



We've already given you a glimpse at the N900, but as of today, you Yanks in the crowd can wrap your own limber paws around Nokia's hero device. Admittedly tailored for enthusiasts and developers to use while the company maneuvers Maemo into its product line, the N900 is now available through Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, the firm's website and "various independent retailers and e-tailers." A tidy sum of $649 (or $510 if you're smart enough to check Amazon) nabs you an unlocked version with a 5 megapixel camera, 32GB of internal storage and a bombastic, Flash-lovin' web browser. Ain't no shame in lusting after one, but tell us earnestly -- are you forking out nearly seven bills to bring one home?

Official Google Phone confirmed for early 2010?

11/19/2009 01:09:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Ever since Android was first vaunted, people have been asking for an official Google Phone; however the search giant has always said it was only taking the lead in software, not hardware. Now, according to TechCrunch’s sources, that’s all going to change: they claim that an official, Google branded handset will drop in early 2010, with the company dictating every element of hardware and software to put together their own interpretation of today’s smartphone.

Who’s actually responsible for for hardware construction is still unconfirmed, though despite rumors of HTC involvement TechCrunch are saying it’ll be a Korean firm that produces the Google Phone. They’re leaning toward LG, since rival Samsung produces several of the components in the iPhone, a deal could lead Apple to pressure them not to get involved with the Google handset.

According to the sources, Google had hoped to have their phone on the market by the 2009 holiday period, but that timescale has slipped. However we should expect a “big push” in promotion and advertising in January 2010 in the run-up to launch. No hardware or form-factor specifications are known as yet.

Johnny Depp to reportedly receive $35 million for 'Pirates 4'

11/18/2009 12:54:00 PM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Johnny Depp will receive at least $35 million for making the new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film, it has been revealed.

The 46-year-old star - who plays the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow in the movie franchise - is returning for the fourth installment and is set to become Hollywood's highest-paid actor, topping the likes of Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Tom Hanks, with the huge pay day.

The 'Sleepy Hollow' actor is guaranteed the $35 million as a minimum for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides', due for release in the 2011, and could receive even more should it be a huge box-office hit.

Disney bosses are paying Depp such a high fee because his co-stars from the previous three movies, Keira Knightley, 24, and 32-year-old Orlando Bloom, have dropped out.

Geoffrey Rush will once again play Captain Barbossa, while Penelope Cruz is rumored to be in line to take the female lead.

Depp recently vowed to save Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage from financial ruin after because of a massive unpaid tax bill.

The star pledged to support the 'Con Air' actor through his plight because of the assistance he gave him when he was first trying to make it in Hollywood.

A source said: "Johnny feels he owes his career to Nicolas and now wants to repay him - if Nicolas agrees."

Miley Cyrus not a 'Twilight' fan: 'I've never seen it, nor will I ever'

11/18/2009 11:44:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

It’s like the Easter bunny just pooped on a unicorn. Miley Cyrus, tween America’s pole-prancing, party-in-the-U.S.A.-ing overlord, wants nothing to do with Twilight—arguably the only pop cultural benchmark more important to her target demographic than her own multi-media empire.

“I’ve never seen [Twilight], and nor will I ever,” she tells Ohio radio station Q92 in a filmed backstage interview. “I don’t believe in it—I don’t believe in it. I don’t like vampires, I don’t like any of the stuff, like the wolf that pops out of the screen when I’m watching my TV at night. I don’t like it, I don’t want anything to do with it. I don’t like the shirts, any of it.”

Watch the clip after the jump, beginning just before the one-minute mark:



Well, there goes her invite to Taylor Lautner’s Sweet 18! Though really, if a tree falls in the woods without a very special hip-hop moment, does it really make a sound?

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