bowls

Here's a few things I need to tell you about BlackBerry's Z10.

You cannot launch a Soyuz rocket from it. You cannot use it to make scrambled eggs with truffle oil. You cannot cut your hair with it.

You cannot milk a cow with it. Nor can you milk a rhinoceros with it.

You cannot use it to floss your teeth, steer your alpaca or clean your windows with it.

You cannot marry 12 wives, using it as your minister.

You cannot get it to construct a new mansion for you in the Turks and Caicos Islands. You … Read more

As the second half got underway at the Super Bowl, old-fashioned technology got in the way of play. Power at the Superdome reportedly surged, knocking out a majority of lights as well as CBS' play-by-play announcers. According to Entergy, which supplies the power to the Superdome, the issue is on the "customer's side."

An outside power feed coming to the stadium got disrupted according to NFL officials, said CBS's announcer on the sidelines Steve Tasker. Play-by-play announcers Jim Nance and Phil Simms were off the air for more than 30 minutes. Power was restored and play … Read more

Okay, so what now?

BlackBerry opted to go with the whimsical and fantastical with its Super Bowl commercial, showing what the new BlackBerry Z10 can't do instead of what it can do. To say it's a little strange would be an understatement.

Indeed, it's a bold choice, one that some would argue might be a little head-scratching. But it's one that BlackBerry Chief Marketing Officer Frank Boulben believes will turn some heads and get consumers primed for a launch that's still more than a month away.

"The Super Bowl is a big wake-up call … Read more

My remarkably imposing, draconian, single friend Taylor -- who's a girl -- tells me there are only two types of men: those who have two sheets on their bed and those who have one.

Similarly, there are two types of online travel sites: those where you bid and those where you don't.

It seems, however, that Priceline has tired of all that bidding. Which makes you wonder what they will do with the resurrected Negotiator, or, indeed, with whatever people used to think of Priceline.

In a campaign that launched three weeks ago, but is now given heightened … Read more

There should be no shortage of Wi-Fi at the Super Bowl. And the NFL want to make sure it stays that way.

The Wi-Fi network at the Superdome in New Orleans has been structured and reinforced to handle a stunning 30,000 simultaneous connections during the big game, starting shortly, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. Ars Technica reported that detail and lots more about the setup -- for instance, the 700 wireless access points inside the stadium and the 250 right outside for folks in the parking lots.

Clearly, the NFL understands that we're already … Read more

This had almost passed me by.

Things do sometimes.

And then, searching for something fascinating on the Web, I bumped into this highly peculiar teaser for Cars.com's Super Bowl ad.

It reeks of pain, passion and dramatic twists of fate. Which is rare for a focus group.

It reeks of unbridled passion and a love triangle that has gone terribly wrong.

As if love triangles ever go terribly right.

The teaser promises that during today's big and possibly unpulsating game, Cars.com will bring the drama.

What might happen? Will there be all-out scratch-your-eyes-out war? Will there … Read more

In the first quarter of today's Big Game featuring big people doing big things to each other, Amy Poehler will be trying to do big things for Best Buy.

Unlike the players -- who will probably be tied 3-3 in a dull defensive battle when Amy appears -- Poehler has one shot to give the Best Buy brand a shot in arm. Or perhaps a shot at redemption.

Best Buy has been crossing some turbulent oceans recently, so securing the services of one of America' funniest actors is a pleasant coup.

The company has released a sneak preview (embedded … Read more

It is possible for an online business to endure.

It's even possible for an online business to have the same ad campaign for more than a few clicks of the mouse and the clock.

So during the third quarter of today's roughhouse foot-fest, you will see E*Trade's baby again. Yes, yet again.

While CareerBuilder's chimps have departed the Super Bowl arena, this little tyke is still offering his wise, non-Madoffian assessment of how you can ensure people won't make off with your money.

E*Trade's little ones have captured hearts in ways that … Read more

Some brands will make you wait to see their Super Bowl ads.

Not Samsung.

Having teased quite brilliantly with its mockery of the NFL's strict trademark regulations, Samsung has now released the full version of the real thing.

The real thing from The Next Big Thing again features Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd.

Like Samsung's Galaxy Note, this ad is a slightly bloated but likable affair, indulgently allowing its stars to free-associate with good humor and not so much dwelling on niceties such as, well, the products.

Mr. Show's Bob Odenkirk again comes along for the ride, … Read more