Apple releases a new iPod Shuffle that looks curiously like something you would use to take care of constipation. It looks as if "SNL" wasn't that far off though when it suggested the iPod Pequeño. But hey, this one talks to you!
Hrm? Don't get them confused!
(Credit: Apple and Wikimedia)In more Apple news, Chinese hackers figure out how to crack the iTunes gift card system. Apparently, it's just a key code generator, and for a mere $2.60, you can get yourself a $200 gift card. We don't know if it works, and even if it does, it won't be for long. If you do know, tell us by calling 1-866-404-CNET (2638). Along those same lines, we find out that "Full frontal nerdity" is already taken for a show motto. Please send in more suggestions.
In depressing news, grammar is apparently becoming horrible on Twitter. No surprise given the 140-character limit. Let's just hope @replies don't wind up in some kid's term paper. Also more depressing, "Star Wars" is coming back as a television show. If the new J.J. Abrams-directed "Star Trek" movie becomes a hit, they may make restart the television franchise.
We've got a whole slew of guests coming on the show in the coming days including Erica Boeke, Dr. Michael Breus, debbiefromtoronto, and Jonathan Coultan. And our very own Justin Yu makes an appearance on the "Bore Out Loud." Keep listening to "The 404!"
EPISODE 296
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So does this mean Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" would be Jabba the Hutt?
(Credit: StarWars.com)Synergy. It's not just a square on the buzzword bingo cards you take with you to big meetings. George Lucas and Disney have been pals for quite a while. They even have "Star Wars" weekends at the parks.
Now I'm a fan of "Star Wars." Not a rabid one, mind you, but I can't believe I missed these before now:
Limited statues of Disney characters as Star Wars characters. Ooh ooh, and each one will set you back 195 clams.
Each.
I'll just sit back while you let that sink in for a minute. No rush.
(Checks watch, looks around.)
OK. Not to be Mr. Negative, but in These Troubled Times (TTT), are there really that many people who can drop almost $800 for a whole set (let's be honest; if you're buying one, you're probably going to get them all)? This, on top of admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida? Or Disneyland; out of the 600 made, 500 go to Florida, and the rest go to California.
The latest batch (previous statues included Goofy as Jar-Jar Binks, which I oppose on moral grounds) features Mickey Luke; Minnie Leia (in the gold bikini from "Return of the Jedi"); Goofy Chewbacca; and Donald in Carbonite. They look great, but still, I dunno.
Are they trying to tell us something about Mickey and Minnie's relationship by making them Luke and Leia this time?
'Star Wars' creator George Lucas made a surprise appearance Monday night at the launch event in San Francisco for the new video game, 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.' Click the image above for a full gallery of game launch photos.
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)Update 12:27 p.m.: This story has been modified to reflect comment from LucasArts about interest in the game, as evidenced by pre-sales and number of sales at retail.
SAN FRANCISCO--George Lucas was the "surprise" special guest at the official launch party Monday night here for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the new video game that marks the latest chapter in the epic story line. And despite his only making a two-minute speech, most on hand were excited at the rare opportunity to see him.
Indeed, Lucas doesn't venture into public very often, so for many of the people who had come to line up to buy the new game when it went on-sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, his appearance and quick talk were a treat.
The event took place Monday evening at a Best Buy outlet in this city's Mission district, an odd choice of venues for the launch of what many have been calling one of the biggest video games of the year.
On the other hand, the place was packed, something that one store employee said was a very unusual occurrence. So, all in all, the energy generated may have been worth it for Lucas and his crew.
A man dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi makes some of the guests at the launch event smile.
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)The new game, known by many simply as The Force Unleashed, is the first Star Wars game to be considered by Lucas an actual chapter in the overall story line that begins with the three prequel films--The Phantom Menace; Attack of the Clones; and Revenge of the Sith--continues with this summer's animated film, The Clone Wars and then, of course, concludes with the original three films, Star Wars; The Empire Strikes Back; and Return of the Jedi.
In the new game, the main character, played by actor Sam Witwer, is an apprentice of Darth Vader, and the story line centers on that apprentice's path to redemption.
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Two fans pose for pictures bearing light sabers at the San Francisco launch party for the new video game, 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.'
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)SAN FRANCISCO--In four hours, the latest--and maybe greatest--Star Wars game, The Force Unleashed, will go on sale.
No one knows if the game will be a best-seller, but if you judged by the energy at the Best Buy in this city's Mission District on Monday night, where the game's official launch event is being held, it's got a bright future.
There is a special guest scheduled to speak in about 15 minutes, and by now, it's no secret that it will be George Lucas himself.
For now, however, fans of the game--and hired hands--are milling around the Best Buy here in all kind of Star Wars costumes, and every now and then I hear the easily recognized beep bleep bloop sound of R2-D2.
Stay tuned to this blog for more on this event as the evening goes on.
Darth Vader 'chokes' a Best Buy employee at the launch party for 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed' on Monday night.
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)
George Lucas
(Credit: Lucasfilm)Star Wars, one of geek realm's most hallowed stories, is giving birth to a TV series, according to published reports.
George Lucas, the Star Wars creator is looking for writers to help pen a live-action series about the lives of robots, according to a story published Wednesday in Los Angeles Times.
Does this mean C-3PO and R2-D2?
Lucas isn't saying yet but the producer/director told the Times that there won't be any Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker.
"The Skywalkers aren't in it, and it's about minor characters," Lucas said in an interview with Times' reporter Geoff Boucher. "It has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader or any of those people. It's completely different. But it's a good idea, and it's going to be a lot of fun to do."
Walt, Kara, and George talk movies and games.
(Credit: CNET Networks)George Lucas is onstage at D5, with his video game guy. He's talking about building game characters that the player can "buy in to."
First up, the water effects in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. If you want to make a maelstrom a mile wide, Lucas has your guys.
Next up, a preview of the game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. One of the concepts is to "amp up" the Force--allowing players and characters to do much more Force-y things than we've seen in the Star Wars movies. For example: picking up stormtroopers and flinging them to their death (or at least grievous injury). Basically, it's Half-Life's gravity gun. Without the gun. Looks like a lot of fun.
The Force: Now with extra zapping power.
(Credit: CNET Networks)Also, using a technology they're calling Euphoria, they're giving nonplayer characters a "nervous system" to allow them to react on their own, rather than having scripted or animated responses to game events. The demo showed Indiana Jones balancing on a wobbly bridge--very convincing. It's all to create "unscripted" interactions.
Wookiees and Ewoks enjoy word games as a way to pass time while awaiting the space-elevator.
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com)Star Wars just turned 30, and with it, a whole slew of silly names just turned 30, too.
Greedo? Oola? Pablo-Jill? Isn't anyone in space just named Steve?
There are enough silly names in the Star Wars universe to inspire an equally silly game, so I've gone ahead and done that.
Of the words below, all you have to do is figure out whether each one is a Star Wars character, a baseball player from the days of yore, or a Thai food dish. You'll be amazed at how hard it can be.
Good luck! The answers appear in the TalkBack section below, which is practically begging for you to list your favorite Star Wars characters, baseball names, and other silly words.
Star Wars character, baseball player, or Thai food?
- Mee Krop
- Admiral Schlei
- Max Rebo
- Van Lingle Mungo
- Mungo Baobab
- Kit Fisto
- Bibb Falk
- Larb
- Dengar
- Chalmun
- Namtok
- Choo-Chee Plah Ga-Pong
- Putsy Caballero
- Pote Snitkin
- Sig Jakucki
- Dud Bolt
- Muddy Ruel
- Kaeng Musuman
- Pad See Ew
- Ody Mandrell
- Urban Shocker
- Stass Allie
- Voolvif Monn
- Rad Na
- Eppa Rixey
- Sibby Sisti
- Phat Kaphrao
- Muftak
- Pickles Dillhoefer
- Fried Banana with Ice Cream
Researched on the StarWars.com Databank, The Hardball Times, and Wikipedia.
(Credit:
Mimico)
We're not Star Wars fanatics, honest. But judging by the interest in previous related items we understand that a fair number of our readers are heavily influenced by The Force (euphemistically or otherwise).
To that end, we offer the latest installment in Mimico's theme-based USB drive series. Enter R2-D2, to join Darth Vader, the Stormtrooper and Chewbacca. No word yet on any reunion with C3-P0.
(Credit:
Mimico)
If we've learned anything from George Lucas, it's that he never lets the Empire have the final strike. So it made perfect sense that Mimico followed up its Darth Vader USB flash drive with a Chewbacca version a few weeks back. But now we learn from Josh Spear that a counterattack is being launched by Stormtroopers, in the usual sizes of 1GB, 2GB and 4GB. What will the Force come back with next?
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