BlackBerry 6.0 Screens Unearthed: Too Little, Too Late?

Boy Genius Report has posted a bunch of screens of an early version of RIM’s BlackBerry 6.0 software. The site claims to have seen the OS in action. BlackBerry fans will want to check it out, as the OS looks like a much-needed advancement. While RIM is still king in the business world, its OS is laughably crude compared to modern, consumer-oriented operating systems iPhone OS, Android, and WebOS. Meanwhile, RIM’s competitors have made significant strides in the enterprise space.

BlackBerry 6.0 is expected to launch on a new phone this summer.

If you get a chance to check out the screens, I’d love to know what you think. Will BlackBerry 6.0 be enough for RIM to stay competitive in the consumer space? Or will the company continue to get trounced in the consumer market while slowly losing ground in the business space?

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Nintendo Classic Controller Pro Now Available for $19.99

Nintendo has announced that the Classic Controller Pro for Wii is now available for an MSRP of $19.99. The controller is available in black and white colors. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

Featuring two rows of shoulder buttons and ergonomically designed grips, the Classic Controller Pro is compatible with more than 460 Wii, WiiWare and Virtual Console games. It plugs directly into the Wii Remote controller to provide a unique control option for veteran gamers and newcomers alike.

Are any of you planning on buying one? If so, are you going black or white?

The Ethics of Gizmodo’s iPhone 4G Scoop

First off, I want to make it clear that I really enjoyed Gizmodo’s coverage of the next Apple iPhone. For those of you not familiar with how it went down, the site acquired an iPhone prototype that was lost at a Bay Area bar. It pounced on the opportunity to write a story and produce videos on the biggest Apple scoop of the year. That all seems normal, right? Where it gets murky is the fact that Gizmodo paid money for the iPhone prototype.

According to Edible Apple:

Gawker editor Nick Denton said that the company paid $5,000 for the device, with some reports claiming that additional fees were to be paid if certain traffic goals were met.

That’s a pretty hefty sum, but considering the tremendous amount of traffic the story has generated, it’s probably worth it…until California law is considered. The Guardian noted this tidbit of California civil code that can be applied to the situation (the iPhone situation, not Jersey Shore‘s The Situation):

Any person or any public or private entity that finds and takes possession of any money, goods, things in action, or other personal property, or saves any domestic animal from harm, neglect, drowning, or starvation, shall, within a reasonable time, inform the owner, if known, and make restitution without compensation, except a reasonable charge for saving and taking care of the property.

Obviously the person that “found” the iPhone prototype is in the wrong, but is Gizmodo also in the wrong for buying the device? The Guardian cited California Penal Code 496 PC:

This means that even if you weren’t aware at the time that you received the property that it was stolen (but later learned or suspected that fact), you must immediately contact the owner of the property or the police to avoid prosecution.

The bad news (for Gizmodo) is that the law seems to be against them. The good news is that Apple has had a tough time suing bloggers in the past.

I want to know what you think about the whole deal. Was Gizmodo merely doing its job? Or did the site cross a line?

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Coffee Talk #127: What Magazines Do You Read?

To be completely honest, this edition of Coffee Talk is 30% self serving. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Amazon currently has some great deals on magazines — including some “buy-one-year-get-two-years deals. If there’s anything there that interests you, a subscription would really help out the site. That said, I’m also genuinely curious to learn what kind of magazines you ladies and gents read.

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, Mosley/Mayweather 24/7, your batting average being higher than Mark Teixeira’s, or losing iPhone prototypes at a bar, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

To be completely honest, this edition of Coffee Talk is 30% self serving. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Amazon currently has some great deals on magazines — including some “buy-one-year-get-two-years deals. If there’s anything there that interests you, a subscription would really help out the site. That said, I’m also genuinely curious to learn what kind of magazines you ladies and gents read.

I subscribe to a bunch of magazines…but don’t read most of them since the Internet keeps me filled with info. I have ESPN: The Magazine, mainly for “Insider” access. I read Entertainment Weekly to keep up with pop culture. The books I receive, but usually don’t get to include Tennis, Interview, GQ, and The Atlantic. All of those subs are Internet specials that cost a few dollars. The sole gaming magazine I receive is Game Informer; EIC Andy was nice enough to put me on the comp list and I’m friends with a bunch of those guys, so it’s nice to read their work.

Now it’s your turn! What magazines do you read regularly?

Happy 420! And Also, Props to WWE!

For some reason, April 20 always reminds me of Rob Van Dam. I can’t think of another pro-wrestler that was on the cover of High Times. Ha! Anyway, if you’re into that particular herbal remedy, enjoy your day!

I was impressed with last night’s episode of Monday Night Raw. WWE had to call an audible (several really) since most of the Raw roster is currently stuck in Ireland due to Bjork throwing a tantrum and exploding a volcano in Iceland (or something like that). It wasn’t the greatest show, but it was good considering the circumstances. I enjoyed MacGruber (he managed to put Kozlov over) and thought Jack Swagger did well despite losing his match. CM Punk and Jericho were entertaining, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

With the annual WWE draft taking place next week, what are some of the big roster shakeups you’re expecting or hoping for? Any chance Cena will be assigned to NXT?!? (Only in my dreams, I know.)

Questions Wanted: Ask Jesse Divnich!

I’ll be catching up with EEDAR director of analyst services Jesse Divnich this week to get his thoughts on the current state of the gaming industry. Also, I kind of just want to catch up with him and see how he’s doing because he’s a cool dude. Naturally, I want your questions! If you have anything you’d like Jesse to answer — preferably taking advantage of his experience as a gaming analyst and not as a former resident of a trailer park — please leave your questions in the comments section.

Coffee Talk #126: Would You Pass on a Console Due to Child Labor?

The National Labor Committee (NLC) posted an interesting report on a Chinese factory that makes several Microsoft products — including Xbox 360 controllers and remotes. As you can imagine, the factory’s conditions were deemed horrid. Children as young as 16 allegedly work shifts exceeding 15 hours in an extremely small space without air conditioning. The workers allegedly sleep 14 to a room and can only take sponge baths.

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, Sergio Martinez achieving boxing greatness at 35, the disgusting tale of Edwin Valero, or the first round of the NBA playoffs, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The National Labor Committee (NLC) posted an interesting report on a Chinese factory that makes several Microsoft products — including Xbox 360 controllers and remotes. As you can imagine, the factory’s conditions were deemed horrid. Children as young as 16 allegedly work shifts exceeding 15 hours in an extremely small space without air conditioning. The workers allegedly sleep 14 to a room and can only take sponge baths.

Microsoft corporate vice president Brian Tobey claimed that Microsoft inspects the factory regularly. He recently stated on the company’s corporate blog that, “We take the allegations raised this week quite seriously. Another comprehensive on-site audit of the facility will be conducted next week, with a specific goal of investigating the allegations raised in the NLC report. In addition, we will have monitors on site pending the results of the inspection.”

There are loads of products we buy and use that are manufactured under harsh conditions like the ones pointed out by the NLC. My question for you today is this: If you were aware that a gaming product you want was built in a factory that exploited teenagers and had inhumane working conditions, would you still buy it?

Pokemon Sunday Shows First Pokemon Black/White Gameplay

Here’s a brief gameplay clip of the upcoming Pokemon Black/White from the Pokemon Sunday show in Japan. Zorua and Zoroark are shown after the clip. It gives you an idea of the how the new environments work…but more importantly, it gives me a new dream. I would love to work on a goofy-ass Pokemon show in America. Sadly, I don’t think it would play here. Ha!