Today’s Poll: What’s Your Next Mobile OS?

Microsoft made a big splash today with Windows Phone 7 Series. It adds another combatant to the extremely interesting mobile-phone market. I wanted to see which OS interests you the most. I realized a few seconds ago that I forgot all about RIM’s BlackBerry OS, but after a few minutes of thought, I realized that it was probably the right move. BlackBerry OS 5 is not a modern OS and isn’t really comparable to the others in the poll.

Anyway, take the poll and share your thoughts (please)!

[poll id=”26″]

Presidential Housekeeping

– Yeah, I totally forgot it was Presidents Day. I was wondering why my inbox wasn’t flooded with the normal Monday press releases and PR people weren’t picking up the phone. Ha!

– Some of you might have noticed a large Amazon box after every post and before the comments section. It’s a new feature I’m trying out. It’s kind of big and obnoxious, but it’s also pretty useful. You can search Amazon without having to leave RPad.tv! Try it out and let me know what you think. If it bothers you, I’ll remove it.

– Last week I posted two interesting videos. This super cool Super Street Fighter IV video didn’t get a lot of traffic, but it’s awesome and I recommend that you watch it. This Leona Lewis Final Fantasy XIII video got a bunch of views thanks to N4G.

– I started using a new advertising company last week. So far it appears to be much better than the last one. Hopefully it picks up.

– Traffic last week was strange. Monday through Wednesday things were pretty slow, which made me enter the “what the hell am I doing?” zone. Thursday and Friday were much, much better and totally saved my week/sanity.

– I’m set to go to DICE this week and I should have some fun interviews lined up. There’s a slight chance I won’t make it because I’m having hotel issues and don’t want to be schlepping around the outskirts of Vegas with a bad knee. Hopefully I’ll sort it all out today. Once I do, I’ll be asking for your question, naturally.

Gas Powered Games’ Chris Taylor Wants Your Help in Developing Kings and Castles

Gas Powered Games creative director Chris Taylor is taking a unique approach to developing Kings and Castles for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. He wants as much fan input as possible, using Facebook, Twitter, and silly YouTube videos like the one above to make development decisions. In a recent press release Taylor said:

We’re doing something different this time around. We want to take our fans on a great adventure with us. They’ll get to go behind-the-scenes and watch the game come to life from start to finish.

Synergy will be leveraged, and paradigms will be established. More importantly, buzzwords will be utilized.

Gamers are encouraged to follow Taylor on Twitter, email crackedout@gaspowered.com, join the game’s official Facebook page, and watch more silly videos on the official site to participate in the game’s creation. If you’re not up for that, watching Taylor with farm animals is always fun.

Chris is awesome and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with Kings and Castles!

Coffee Talk #86: Windows Phone 7, Xbox Live, and Your Next Phone

Earlier today, Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7 Series at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress. It’s an important step for the company’s mobile future and by most accounts, it’s a huge leap forward for the Windows Mobile Operating System. After losing ground to RIM’s BlackBerry OS in the business world, as well as Apple’s iPhone OS and Google’s Android OS in the consumer market, Microsoft is stepping up its game. One of the ways it’s attempting to reach out to consumers is through connectivity with Xbox Live. Here’s the official description of Windows Mobile 7’s “games hub”:

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, your lovely Valentine’s Day surprises, the NBA All-Star Game, or what you think of the Winter Olympics so far, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Earlier today, Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7 Series at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress. It’s an important step for the company’s mobile future and by most accounts, it’s a huge leap forward for the Windows Mobile Operating System. After losing ground to RIM’s BlackBerry OS in the business world, as well as Apple’s iPhone OS and Google’s Android OS in the consumer market, Microsoft is stepping up its game. One of the ways it’s attempting to reach out to consumers is through connectivity with Xbox Live. Here’s the official description of Windows Phone 7’s “games hub”:

This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox Live experience on a phone, including Xbox Live games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer’s avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox Live unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.

There are a several interesting implications here. First of all, Microsoft has a huge opportunity to compete with and possibly eclipse the games market in Apple’s iPhone App Store. The company already has deep relationships with several of the best game developers and publishers in the world. Secondly, Windows Phone 7 Series has the chance to extend the social aspects of Xbox Live in a major way. So many people use Facebook and Twitter on mobile devices. By unchaining Xbox Live from a console or PC, the company could make the service a major force in social networking.

I want to know what you think of Windows Phone 7 Series. Check out the official press release and look at its impressive features. Can you see yourself using a Windows Phone 7 Series device in the future? If so, is Xbox Live connectivity a major reason why?

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Compares Himself to Malcolm X, MLK

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is arguably the most skilled boxer in the world today, but the idiotic things that come out of his mouth often overshadow his brilliant skills. Questioning — rightfully so — why Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao would pass on a $25-million payday over drug testing, Mayweather compared his efforts to bring stringent blood testing to boxing to the civil rights struggles of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Mayweather recently said:

It’s sort of the same stance Martin Luther King and Malcolm X made, so we could have freedoms, so everybody could tell the world that we’re equal. The only thing I’m saying is that we are equal. So if you’re not on nothing and I’m not on nothing, then let’s go take the test. That’s all I’m saying.

Wow. Just…wow.

Source

American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi Poses for Maxim, Says Dumb Crap

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi — also known as “the useless one” or “the horny cougar” — recently posed for Maxim. There’s no denying that she has a beautiful body, but this video interview shows that her moronic comments are real — she’s just as stupid and annoying in Maxim as she is on Idol!

What Do You Think of the New “We Are the World”?

Check out this video of the new version of “We are the World”. It’s an excellent song that benefits the people of Haiti. If you can buy the song and/or the video, I suggest you do it. It helps out a great cause…and more importantly, it gives you more of a right to rag on this pathetic remake. I loved the original. It was a star-studded single that featured some of the biggest music stars in the world. 25 years later the song has been bastardized by auto-tune and no-talent hacks. Again, it’s a great cause and I think you should buy it, mostly so you can help out the people of Haiti and partially so you can rip it apart.

As an added bonus here’s an old SNL skit featuring Billy Crystal as Prince, with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T as his bodyguards. Some of you might remember that Prince was a no-show at the original U.S.A. for Africa recording of “We Are the World”. The mock song, “I Am Also the World”, cracks me up.


Meet Computer Engineer Barbie!

The votes are in and Barbie fans have selected the doll’s latest career: computer engineer! That’s right, in Winter 2010 you’ll be able to meet Computer Engineer Barbie. Here’s a snippet from Mattel’s press release:

Computer Engineer Barbie, debuting in Winter 2010, inspires a new generation of girls to explore this important high-tech industry, which continues to grow and need future female leaders.

To create an authentic look, Barbie designers worked closely with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to develop the wardrobe and accessories for Computer Engineer Barbie. Wearing a binary code patterned tee and equipped with all the latest gadgets including a smart phone, Bluetooth headset, and laptop travel bag, Computer Engineer Barbie is geek chic.

I really want to make a joke about this doll, but I think it’s a great thing (though the pink laptop is a bit much). I like that Mattel is encouraging young girls to explore professions that are dominated by males. Hopefully it will push hobbies that are considered “guy things” too. Bring on Gamer Barbie and Comic-Book Nerd Barbie!!!

Source via Boy Genius Report

Super Street Fighter IV Animated Video: Chun-Li and Cammy vs. Juri

To promote its upcoming game Super Street Fighter IV, Capcom has released this awesome animated feature that pits SF veterans Chun-Li and Cammy against newcomer Juri. New to the series, Juri is a Korean powerhouse that works as a spy for S.I.N. Her left eye has been replaced with technologically advanced prosthetic that contains a “Feng Shui engine” that boosts her formidable tae kwon do powers.