The Pyramids at Giza sound like the perfect place for an Apple Store.
(Credit: Crave UK)Apple has opened an Apple Store at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, an upscale shopping center beneath the famous Louvre art gallery. We reckon Apple products will look right at home in an art gallery, and we've come up with some suggestions for where Monsieur Jobs should open the next branch of Apple Store.
The new Magasin du Pomme, which opened this weekend, is located beneath the Louvre Museum. It features the usual white decor and split-level glass staircase.
The Paris shop is the first Apple Store in France. A branch in Montpellier was ready sooner, but the opening has been held back until Saturday to let the Paris branch grab the headlines. Microsoft, which is branching into its own dedicated stores, has a cafe on Rue Sebastopol where Parisians can try out, but not buy, Windows 7.
So where next for Apple? Here are our suggestions.
Read more of "Apple Store opens in the Louvre: Where next?" at Crave UK.
Dong Ngo is a PC and will mess you up if you look at him wrong. This isn't actually a pic of Dong as he's much more friendly-looking than the gentleman pictured here.
(Credit: Microsoft)Welcome back peoples. We get started right off the bat today and discuss the current state of telephone customer service. Calling a local number these days can actually have you whisked away to some far-off land. How exciting!
Dragon Age: Origins. It's here! I've gotten nothing done in the last week thanks to it, but I'm 100 percent OK with this. We talk about marrying up, incest, if-then scenarios, and moral choices. And then, we discuss Dragon Age! LOL, I kid.
Then there's some tech stuff discussing two new Apple hardware refreshes, the Dell U2410, and a couple of listener e-mails, including one that mistakes Dong for another Asian dude.
To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the podcast link on the right. Don't forget to leave us voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.
Listen now:
Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)
(Credit:
Gizmodo)
The single-purpose TwitterPeek is a crazy device. But hey, now that Peek has gone down this road, why stop there? Here are some ideas for the next generation of Peek handheld devices.
NotepadPeek
Take notes on the go! Never be without your shopping list again! Doesn't sync with anything on your normal computer. $99 for six months of service or $199 for lifetime use.
YelpPeek
Find restaurants and businesses around you, and leave reviews of those you go to. How convenient! No GPS. $99 for six months of service or $199 for lifetime use.
TimeZonePeek
What time is it in various time zones? Now you know with this Peek! $99 for six months of service or $199 for lifetime use.
ClockPeek
What time is it? Never ask such a stupid question again! No alarm function. $99 for six months of service or $199 for lifetime use.
The final expansion pack (or episode) for Grand Theft Auto IV has been released in the form of The Ballad of Gay Tony. You assume the role of Luis; nightclub owner Gay Tony's right-hand man who must handle his dirty work across Liberty City.
The Ballad of Gay Tony can be downloaded via Xbox Live (for $20) or in a $40 disc form (called Episodes from Liberty City) which also includes The Lost and Damned, GTA IV's first additional episode.
We've had sometime with the final version of the game and here are our thoughts:
(Credit:
Gamespot)
Jeff:
First thing's first. If you haven't downloaded The Lost and Damned, go out and buy Episodes From Liberty City. It's tough to recall such a great value in gaming prior to this double pack, and Xbox 360 owners don't need a copy of the original GTA IV to jump right in. There is an incredible amount of gameplay value here; it's like getting two full $60 games for less than the price of one.... Read more
On Sale Now: $39.99
View the latest prices for Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (Xbox 360)
Sure, October impressed us with some top-notch video game releases, but historically November has always delivered some of the most anticipated titles of the year. This November is no different, and as 2009 goes out with a bang, we highlight 11 of our top picks for the month.
RPG fans are set for the rest of the year as Dragon Age: Origins has already dazzled us with its thrilling story and addictive gameplay. God of War fans will be pleased to know that both original PS2 games will get the HD treatment on November 17 in God of War Collection.
Speaking of November 17, most of our slideshow features games releasing that day. Left 4 Dead 2, Tony Hawk RIDE, and Assassin's Creed II all ship that day.
There's plenty more to look forward to in November including what's arguably the most anticipated game of the year, Modern Warfare 2. Make sure you check out our slideshow for our complete list. What are you going to be playing this month?
On Sale Now: $54.99
View the latest prices for Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
On Sale Now: $44.99
View the latest prices for Left 4 Dead 2 (PC)
On Sale Now: $46.99
View the latest prices for Assassin's Creed II (PC)
On Sale Now: $55.99
View the latest prices for Assassin's Creed II (Xbox 360)
On Sale Now: $55.99
View the latest prices for Assassin's Creed II (PlayStation 3)
On Sale Now: $55.99 - $399.99
View the latest prices for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (XBox 360)
On Sale Now: $59.99
View the latest prices for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC)
On Sale Now: $55.99 - $59.99
View the latest prices for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
You'd think that in a world of 24Mbps Internet, where color printers cost less than $65 and you can get free laptops with broadband subscriptions, fax machines would be as dead as jokes about the dodo. But no.
(Credit: Crave UK)If you were born, it's highly likely you'll die. Sorry about that. For consumer tech, it's not quite so cut-and-dried. There are some gadgets that just refuse to kick the shiny bucket, in the manner of Daniella Westbrook--the chick whose nose fell off.
Dearest reader, we're about to explore the technologies that defy the wishes of Silicon Heaven's Grim Reaper, and delve into the more pressing matter of why they refuse his cold embrace. Why do real people--not IT departments or tech professionals, but the chap in the street, who's paid taxes on his money--keep buying this obsolete junk? We'll start with something you'd be forgiven for thinking was a bizarre first choice.
Read more of "Why won't they die? The tech we won't forget" at Crave UK.
With God of War III coming in March 2010, Sony and Santa Monica Studios are set to release both original God of War games on a single Blu-ray disc for the PlayStation 3 this month. Packed with a high-definition upgrade and smooth 60-frames-per-second performance, the God of War Collection will also include a voucher for the E3 2009 God of War III demo.
We spoke with John Hight, Director of Product Development for Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, at Santa Monica Studio to find out what else we can expect from the game.
JB: Why should someone who maybe has played both original God of War titles for the PS2 want to pick up the Collection?
JH: For the same reason you watch a favorite movie or listen to a favorite song. These are epic, well-crafted games that stand the test of time. Seeing these moments in HD makes the memory that much more real.
JB: What advantages does Blu-ray provide?
JH: With Blu-ray, we were able to place both games and the bonus video content on a single disc.
JB: Is there any new content in these games?
JH: We've added PlayStation Network Trophy support so you can compare progress with your friends and see how you measure up to Kratos' high standards for combat and exploration.
JB: Are there any other technical improvements we'll see in the Collection besides anti-aliasing and 60fps?
JH: We "up-rezzed" some of the textures and the user interface to match the higher resolution of the models and environments.
JB: The original God of War games were praised for their great control and gameplay mechanics. Was it difficult to preserve that experience during the revamping of the games?
JH: You'll find these games faithful to the originals in every respect. The extra horsepower of the PS3 allowed us to keep both games at a consistent 60fps. Most people may not notice, but it improves the responsiveness.
JB: And a follow-up to the above: was there anything being considered for the Collection that was taken out because it compromised the feeling of the original games?
JH: We had a few requests to go in and tweak the difficulty of some areas but decided against changing things--why mess with success?
God of War Collection is set for release on November 17. Check back then for our final thoughts on the game!
On Sale Now: $36.99
View the latest prices for God of War Collection (PlayStation 3)
The always-impressive Boy Genius Report has gotten its hands on a copy of Verizon and Google's newest commercial for the Droid. The commercial's called Stealth, and it's rather amazing, even though it doesn't tell us much about the Motorola handset that's set to drop Friday.
Mysterious and well-shot, the commercial should start running on TV this week, according to BGR. We're guessing you'll see it first during Tuesday night's premiere of "V" on ABC, or maybe during the World Series. With something this high budget you'd expect Verizon to put it in front of as many eyes as possible. We'll be watching the skies on 11/6.
Don't tell him I said that please.
(Credit: Touchgloves)Happy belated Halloween! I know, I know. Halloween is so last week! Still, Dong and I discuss our experiences of the most popular holiday that you don't actually get to stay home from work for.
Then, we move to the toilet. Or more specifically, toilet technology. Even more specifically, we talk about motion detection technology used in the toilet. And by toilet, I don't mean in the toilet, just, you know, in the washroom. Also, clam-shell packaging? Who needs it?
Then we get down to serious business with Dong detailing the WD TV Live and the first 6GBps SATA controller card. I think you can actually hear me snoring during this segment. For my part, I point you directly in the direction of the Monitor Buying Guide.
To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the podcast link on the right. Don't forget to leave us voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.
Listen now:
Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)
Episode 56 of the Digital City, where we discuss Apple's plans for a monthly iTunes TV subscription service; Joey wonders why everyone puts up with poor iPhone service (hint: it's the social utility of shared experiences); and Scott finds out how much laptop $350 can buy.
It's also a mixed bag for Nintendo, with Wii sales down 50-percent over last year, and a lukewarm reception to the larger screen on the DSi XL handheld -- but at the same time, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and targeted games such as Style Savvy may bring in holiday shoppers. Finally, check out a hands-on look at DJ Hero, and see Scott rock a trucker hat straight out of 2003.
Related links:
>>DJ Hero: Hands-on
>>Laptop bargain-hunting: What can you get for $350?
>>Nintendo's new big-screen DSi XL
>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter!
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)
Bonus -- Hands-on video with DJ Hero:
