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Xbox LIVE’s Price Changes

Microsoft Changes Subscription Costs

Aug 30 2010 Posted in Gaming by Ted Webb with View Comments

xbox

Gamers who love playing online might be in for a disappointment. Microsoft is raising the price of an Xbox LIVE Gold membership from $49.99 to $59.99 for an annual subscription in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Other Xbox LIVE rates are also rising. A three-month subscription will increase from $19.99 to $24.99, while month-to-month costs are also going up from $7.99 to $9.99, PCWorld.com reports. The price hikes go into effect Nov. 1.

So, why are these price increases happening? Microsoft has added more content and entertainment features since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002, but has kept the price the same over that time period, Microsoft’s Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hryb wrote on his blog promoting Xbox. Microsoft is offering current customers a discount on a yearly subscription at $39.99, if they renew now, according to Hryb’s blog.

But some gamers may not like Microsoft’s boost in prices, saying Sony’s PlayStation Plus service offers a better deal, with premium content for $50 per year.

Photo by Timothy Pilgrim via Wikimedia Commons. Microsoft Xbox with controller.


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Sony Receives Temporary Ban on PS3 Hack Chips in Australia

Aug 31 deadline for Sony to convince courts to make ban permanent

Aug 27 2010 Posted in Featured News, Gaming by Julius Rocas with View Comments

PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3 maker Sony Corp has obtained a temporary ban preventing Australian distributors from continuing to sell a hardware hack for the PlayStation 3, reports the BBC.

The dongle aptly called the “PS3Jailbreak” allows gamers to play pirated games on the PS3. The dongle is made by OzModChips and allows users to save their games on the PS3′s hard drive, defeating the console’s security system.

The hack device first appeared online in August but was met with doubts as to whether it truly works or not.

According to a spokesperson for Console Pro, another distributor based in the Netherlands, the mod chips turn the PS3 into “dev units”.

Dev mode means it will run any – even unsigned – code. Using a simple backup maker or player software, you can play backed-up [saved] games without the actual disc being in the PS3.

The mod chips enable users to play homemade or “homebrew” games on the PS3 which by default, isn’t allowed on the console.

Though the legality of mod devices vary according to country, it is legal in Australia prompting experts to doubt Sony will receive a permanent ban in the country.

Image by William Hook


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Lisette Lee Arrested In Ohio Carrying 506 LBS Of Pot

Jun 16 2010 Posted in Featured News, U.S. News by Dan Evon with View Comments

Federal authorities arrested Lisette Lee, a possible heir to the Samsung Electronics Fortune,  along with her bodyguard and two assistants, after landing at a Columbus, Ohio airport. Lisette Lee was allegedly carrying 506 lbs of marijuana in her 13 suitcases.

Lee, who is 28 and from Beverly Hills, says that she was flying to Columbus, Ohio, to meet her boyfriend, and had no idea that she was carrying drugs.

According to CBS, police found 506 lbs of marijuana, as well as cocaine, and a ledger that showed $300,000 in profits.

The Associated Press reports that Lee was charged with conspiracy and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, and is being held without bond.

If convicted, Lisette Lee could face up to 40 years in prison, and a 2 million dollar fine.


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Computer Maker Foxconn Gives Workers 30% Pay Raise

Jun 2 2010 Posted in Technology by Mark Leevan with View Comments

Will suicide rates become the new labor negotiating tactic? If the results of the public outcry over the rate of suicides at Foxconn are an indication, yes.

Foxconn raised pay for every single one of its Chinese computer makers by 30% yesterday.

Parent company Hon Hai originally said workers would get a 20% raise, but labor activists cried foul and the company upped the ante to a 30% pay raise.

All the time, the maker of computers for Apple, Dell, Sony, Motorola and HP, denies that working conditions have contributed to the 10 suicides in the past few months.

Low pay is the biggest gripe against Foxconn, but reports indicate that employees work almost non-stop with little time for sleeping or eating.

Hon Hai says they will pass the costs on to the end purchasers, but may take months to gauge the actual impact of the 30% pay raise.

Reports are that Apple will actively contribute to the higher wages,giving up some profit for good PR. CEO Steve Jobs says Foxconn is not a sweatshop and insists the suicide rate at Foxconn is lower than Chinese and American averages.

Photo via


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Apple iTunes On Justice Department Radar

May 27 2010 Posted in Business by Ted Webb with Comments Off

ipod

Apple is on the Department of Justice radar, according to CNET.

Investigators are asking questions about how Apple handles its digital music business, interviewing record company and digital music store execs, CNET reports.

Apple now dominates the market with innovative products like the iPod, recently edging out Microsoft. But has that dominance led Apple to engage in anticompetitive practices?

According to CNET, investigators are curious about whether or not Apple discouraged two of the largest record companies from taking part in an Amazon promotion known as the “MP3 Daily Deal.”

Apple has recently drawn some heat for pushing for police to investigate the loss of an iPhone prototype and for using Foxconn, which has had a string of suicides at one of its Chinese factories, as a supplier for Apple products. (See “The Sweatshops Behind Apple, Dell And HP” on Indyposted.)


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Top 10 Things I Want to See at E3 2010

Mar 29 2010 Posted in Gaming by Allison Boyer with View Comments

E3 logo

With gaming conference E3 less than three months away, companies are starting to give hints as to what we’ll see at this year’s press conferences and booths. While I’m sure there will be tons of surprises, here are the top 10 things that I want to see this year. Please note that I’m trying to be realistic here. Anyone who knows me knows that the personal #1 on my list for the third year in a row will be “Zack & Wiki 2″. Come on, Capcom…pretty please?

Project Natal

10. Project Natal used in various gaming situations

This one is pretty much a given, since Microsoft recently announced that they’re doing a second press conference just to show of Natal. Last year’s show was impressive, but I want to see the full potential of this system. Give me more than talking to an on-screen character or games that look like they belong on the Wii. Photo credit: Jake Metcalf

Wii balance board

9. A reason to buy a Wii balance board

I don’t use my Wii to work out, and snowboarding isn’t really my thing…so I haven’t bought a balance board yet. I hope Nintendo gives us some reason to make the peripheral worth the money, because so far, I haven’t felt the need to buy one. Photo credit: Dddeco

World of Warcraft

8. An MMORPG to take on WoW

We’ll undoubtedly see some Final Fantasy XIV (aka Final Fantasy Online 2) at E3, but to be honest, I’m skeptical about that game and it definitely has a much different audience than WoW. I want to see something that is perhaps comparable to Everquest. Right now, WoW has definitely taken over the MMO market, and it would be great to see a competitor that doesn’t fail (I’m looking at you, Age of Conan).

Infamous

7. inFamous 2

Ok, a little disclaimer here: I didn’t play the first one. Yet. It’s on my list, I swear. It doesn’t matter – I know from others’ reviews that it is an awesome game, and I wouldn’t be sad to see a sequel announced at E3.

Fable III

6. A demo of Fable 3

Personally, I feel like Fable 2 was a bit of a let-down, so it is time for the franchise to redeem itself. It’s certainly coming at some point in 2010, and I hope it is shown at E3 in demo., which is most likely to happen in the Project Natal press conference.

PS3

5. A PS3 price drop

My hope to see a PS3 price drop is completely fueled by the fact that I want to purchase a Ps3 in the coming year. I think it is unlikely, but hey, you never know. What I do think is more likely is some kind of price drop for the PSP, especially if Nintendo’s handheld is going 3D. Photo credit: Ffgamera

Brink

4. Brink in full force

Everyone cried when this new Bethesda game was delayed, so to make up for it, they better have it out in full force at E3 this year. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t, to be honest, and I’m excited to see more of it.

Zelda logo

3. A release date for the next Wii Zelda

There’s no question about it – a new Zelda game is definitely in the works at Nintendo. I think asking for a demo may be too much at this point, but I definitely want to see a trailer, hear Miyamoto talk about it, and get a release date. It’s in Nintendo’s best interest to have something fore core gamers on the table other than Metroid: Other M, which we’ll almost certain see in demo, to help counteract all the casual games they’ll also likely showcase.

The Last Guardian

2. A demo of The Last Guardian

It was a major blow to Sony fans when it was announced that Final Fantasy would be available on Xbox as well as the PS3. One of the big titles that Sony does have going for them, though, is The Last Guardian. The trailer for this game, which is a successor to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, gave me chills when they showed it off last year, and it will undoubtedly be one of the best games to show off the visual capabilities of the console.

1. Something new and awesome from Valve

Hopefully, the team at Valve will give us a Portal 2 update (a release date would be nice), but to be honest, what I’m really hoping for is something completely new from the company. They’ve been living on the Left 4 Dead franchise for awhile now, and while I love killing zombies as much as the next person, Left 4 Dead 3 is not the answer, especially when fans are still a bit miffed that the sequel came so soon after the original. Give me a new, innovative series, Valve!


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Sony Glasses Promise 100 Hours Of 3D Viewing Per Charge

Mar 24 2010 Posted in Gadgets by James Johnson with View Comments

Sony 3D Glasses - 100 hours on a single charge

Sony 3D glasses currently come in two forms, the $133 TDG-BR100 and TDG BR50 models. With both pairs the company is promising a decent 100 hours of viewing time per charge.

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Final Fantasy XIII Has Biggest First Week in Franchise History

Mar 19 2010 Posted in Gaming by Allison Boyer with View Comments

Final Fantasy XIII

Games from the Final Fantasy franchise are easily some of the best-selling in the gaming world, and today, Square Enix announced that the latest installment – Final Fantasy XIII – has sold over one million copies in the five days since it was released in North America. That makes it the franchise’s front runner in terms of first-week sales.

Final Fantasy XIII was released on March 9, on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which is a departure from past Final Fantasy games, most of which were only released on Sony consoles. In total, Final Fantasy games have sold 96 million units world-wide. The latest game was released in Japan in 2009 and sold around 1.5 million copies during its first week of release in that country. It was the fifth best-selling game in Japan in 2009, which is impressive considering that the game was released in mid-December, very late into the year.

Reviewers have been critical of the game, saying that it is too linear and missing some elements that fans have come to know and love in all of the franchise’s games. In the future, I’m guessing that we’ll see further releases on both consoles, as this move opened the franchise to a whole new group of buyers, possibly helping to contribute to the record sales numbers.


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Jackson Estate Lands Record-Breaking Deal

Mar 15 2010 Posted in Music by Allison Boyer with View Comments

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson may no longer be with us, but he’s still proving that he will always be the King of Pop. AP sources recently reported that his estate has signed a record-breaking recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment. The deal will cover ten projects, which will be developed and released between now and 2017. If contractual conditions are met, the deal will be worth $250 million.

Even without meeting conditions, the contract is worth an estimated $200 million, making it the biggest recording deal in history.

An official announcement about this contract is expected on Tuesday, but sources say that the projects include an album of never-before-released Jackson songs to come out as early as November. His recently-released album, which accompanied This is It, is also part of the contract. So far, it has sold over five million copies internationally.

Says Sony Music’s Columbia Epic Label Group chairman, Rob Stringer:

“We’re dedicated to protecting this icon’s legacy and we’re thrilled that we can continue to bring his music to the world for the foreseeable future.”

Future Jackson projects may also include a re-release of “Off the Wall,” an album he originally released in 1979, as well as a DVD compilation of music videos.

Photo credit: BadMuroZ


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iPhone Hacker Challenges Playstation 3 and Wins

Jan 26 2010 Posted in Gaming by Dina Ely with View Comments

The internal workings of a Sony Playstation 3, like was hacked by Hotz.
It took him five weeks, but the man once famous for hacking Apple’s iPhone when he was a teenager has now hacked the Sony Playstation 3 gaming console, BBC News reports.

Playstation 3 has been on the market for 3 years, but has been previously thought unhackable. But George Hotz was not easily scared off the case. Much as he’d done when he cracked the iPhone code, Hotz let his curiosity drive him to analyze the console for 3 weeks, and spend another 2 hacking what he described as a “very secure system”.

“It’s supposed to be unhackable – but nothing is unhackable,” Hotz told BBC News. “I can now do whatever I want with the system. It’s like I’ve got an awesome new power – I’m just not sure how to wield it.”

In hacking the machine he had to alter both hardware and software, taking the sleek console and turning it into a mess of technological guts; a tangle of bare chips and wires deconstructed to suit his needs. The crude transformation was all part of the plan. “You can use hardware to inject an insecurity and then you can build on that,” Hotz explained.

Hotz is now working to refine his hack before he publishes the details on the Internet. He is expected to make public what he’s learned about the system’s “root key”, the master security code other hackers could use to perform their own experiments.

While Hotz was motivated by a desire to understand the inner workings of the Playstations 3, others may not have so pure motives. Hotz admitted that his work could lead to users hacking the console to play pirated games but said, “I’m not going to personally have anything to do with that.”

This comes as no surprise since Hotz also admitted he’s never been a fan of the Playstation 3, owning only one game he rarely played.


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