Win an HTC Evo 4G From Sprint

Sprint Premier customers have a chance to win an HTC Evo 4G before it comes out. If you’re a loyal Sprint customer and lusting for some Android-WiMax action then check out this contest. Ten lucky winners will take home an Evo 4G, while four finalists will win a trip to a city that has Sprint 4G service (Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, or Maui).

Are any of you Sprint Premier customers? If so, are you going to enter the contest? I used to be Sprint Premier, but left the company for T-Mobile…and am totally pleased with my decision. I love underdogs (T-Mobile), but can’t back a loser (Sprint).

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Outstanding Feature on Mark Cerny

I think this is the first time I’ve done this on RPad.tv, but 1Up Sam Kennedy’s feature on Mark Cerny is so good that I want you to leave my site for a bit and visit his. It profiles Cerny’s career — which is legendary and underrated at the same time — with excellent text and several video interviews. Cerny is one of my favorite people in the business. I’m just blown away by everything he’s done and how under-appreciated he is by Joe Gamer.

Anyway, please, Please, PLEASE check out this profile on Mark Cerny.

MLB.tv Comes to PlayStation 3

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that MLB.tv content is now available on the PlayStation 3. Subscriptions for the service start at $19.95 a month or $99.95 for the entire season. A premium package is available for $24.95 a month or $119.95 for the season. Here are some bullet points from the press release:

  • Home and Away Feeds — Choose to watch either the home or away broadcast feed.
  • Live Game DVR Functionality — Use the live video overlay to pause and rewind live games or fast-forward back to live game action.
  • Scrollable Linescore — Go directly to any half-inning to watch only that portion of the game.
  • MLB Scoreboard — Scrollable league-wide scoreboard for each day’s games in three modes: Pre-game with scheduled starting pitchers; Live with up-to-the-minute game status; and Post-game with final pitching decisions and archived feed selection.
  • Favorite Team Selection — Pick a favorite team or teams to be featured first on the daily scoreboard.
  • Calendar Schedule — Scroll through the entire 2010 Major League Baseball schedule in calendar format or the user-designated favorite team’s schedule.

I know that a few of you are baseball fans and that some of you have excellent taste in teams (go Yankees!). Are you interested in MLB.tv‘s offering on the PlayStation 3? I’m very tempted. I’d love to be able to see Phil Hughes’ excellent game from yesterday, but don’t have a legal way to do it at the moment. Streaming live Yankee goodness in HD sounds excellent to me!

Poll: Avengers vs. JLA — Fight!!!

A few of you guys started this debate in today’s Coffee Talk. Now here’s the poll! In my mind, this is a blowout. I’m with the Justice League all the way. Who’s the most powerful Avenger? Thor? The JLA has Superman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter to mop the floor with him.

Anyway, kindly make your vote and state your case.

[poll id=”36″]

Coffee Talk #129: Should Digital Downloads Be Taxed?

RPadholic tokz_21 sent me this interesting article on digital downloads being taxed. The article focused primarily on movies and music, but it could easily apply to games as well. I don’t know what the deals are in the states you live in, but in California downloadable goods aren’t taxed. On one hand, I save some money. On the other hand, I do feel like I’m cheating (just a little bit).

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Madden’s new cover boy, Tim Urban finally getting the boot from American Idol, or flip phones in 2010, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

RPadholic tokz_21 sent me this interesting article on digital downloads being taxed. The article focused primarily on movies and music, but it could easily apply to games as well. I don’t know what the deals are in the states you live in, but in California downloadable goods aren’t taxed. On one hand, I save some money. On the other hand, I do feel like I’m cheating (just a little bit).

Obviously nobody wants to pay more money, but I wanted to see if you think digital downloads should be taxed. Be honest! Should downloads be treated like other goods you buy? Or should the state be hands-off? Do you feel like you’re depriving your state of funds by purchasing digitally or through online retailers that don’t charge tax? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

Amazon Kindle Coming to Target on Sunday

Target has announced that it will be selling Amazon Kindle e-readers starting Sunday, April 25. The device was previously available as an Amazon.com online exclusive. According to the company’s press release:

As the first brick-and-mortar retailer to carry Amazon’s Kindle, Target will make Kindle available at its flagship downtown Minneapolis store and 102 south Florida stores beginning April 25, rolling out to more Target stores later this year.

This could be potentially huge for Amazon. There are some people that just don’t like buying consumer electronics without trying them first. There are also some people that don’t understand the benefits of e-ink displays. Getting in a major chain like Target should provide a great sales boost for the Kindle.

Do you think the Kindle will do well at Target? Or do you think Amazon is getting desperate in reaction to the iPad’s initial (and impressive) sales? Also, I love my Kindle!

Chief Justice John Roberts Doesn’t Know What Email Is

United States Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. doesn’t know the difference between email and a pager. I find this troubling. A man in an extremely powerful position being unfamiliar with basic technology that millions of Americans use every day?!? Come on!!! According to Lawyers USA:

The first sign was about midway through the argument, when Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. — who is known to write out his opinions in long hand with pen and paper instead of a computer — asked what the difference was “between email and a pager?”

Wow. Initially I was going to dismiss it as some old guy being out of touch, but I vaguely recalled that Roberts isn’t all that old. I looked up his age and discovered that he’s only 55. Surely a 55-year old man should know what email is, right? Does anyone else find this tidbit as disturbing as I do? Or am I just overreacting?

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Hulu Starting a $9.95 Premium Subscription Service in May?

Hulu has been one of the darlings of the Internet thanks to its high-quality content that’s available for free. Millions of users love streaming television shows over Hulu, but will they love it enough to pay $9.95 a month for it? According to The LA Times, the company is preparing a premium service that could launch as early as May 24:

Under the proposal, Hulu would continue to provide for free the five most recent episodes of shows like Fox’s Glee, ABC’s Lost or NBC’s Saturday Night Live. But viewers who want to see additional episodes would pay $9.95 a month to access a more comprehensive selection, called Hulu Plus, these people said.

I go through phases with my Hulu consumption. There are some weeks when I absolutely love it and can’t get enough of its streaming awesomeness. There are also months when I don’t use the service at all. I would be willing to pay $9.95 a month for Hulu…but it would have to work across multiple devices like my consoles, iPhone, etc.

How about you? Do you dig Hulu? Would you be willing to drop money on a premium Hulu subscription?

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Live Long and Prosper: Leonard Nimoy Announces His Retirement

Leonard Nimoy, best known as Mr. Spock from the Star Trek television series and movies, has announced that he’s retiring at age 79. He told The Toronto Sun:

I’ve been doing this professionally for 60 years. I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I’ve had a great, great time.

I want to get off the stage. Also, I don’t think it would be fair to Zachary Quinto. He’s a terrific actor, he looks the part, and it’s time to give him some space. And I’m very flattered the character will continue.

Nimoy’s Spock is one of the most iconic characters in the history of geek culture. It’s great to see him leave on a high note. His performance in the Star Trek reboot was excellent, but prior to that he touched the lives of millions of nerds around the world for decades. He will be missed.

Out of curiosity, do you have a favorite Mr. Spock moment?

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