Not only is the Phoenix Sun’s Steve Nash one of the best NBA point guards of all time, he’s also skilled at the fine art of pop-culture parodies. In this movie, Nash spoofs Avatar during a flight on the team airplane. The short is called Bar’bo’sa, which pokes fun at the Na’vi race and Nash’s teammate Leandro Barbosa. It’s cute, goofy, and fun…and a lot more useful and creative than bringing a gun to the locker room. Check it out!
Japan Getting Licensed PS3 Hard Drives for DVR Software
PlayStation 3 owners in Japan will get to choose between two 500GB external hard drives from Buffalo to use with the PS3’s upcoming DVR software. According to Andriasang:
PC hardware maker Buffalo is about to take new steps in official PlayStation licensing. The company announced today two external hard drives that have been granted official recognition from Sony. According to Buffalo, this is the first time Sony has granted licensing to hard drive peripherals, a move that comes in anticipation of March’s release of PS3’s “Torne” digital video recorder kit.
Although Torne is a huge step towards my dream console, I’m not sold on the USB 2.0 connection these hard drives will use. That’s more than enough bandwidth for SD recordings, but I’d worry about HD recordings. The likely scenario is the Torne will use the PS3’s considerable power for some aggressive compression. The other choice is leaving the data relatively uncompressed, in which case I’d worry about hiccups in the connection.
Are you ladies and gents interested in using your PS3 as a DVR?
GameFly Says FFXIII for Xbox 360 is on Three Discs
Loads of gamers have been wondering if Square Enix would meet its goal of shipping Final Fantasy XIII
This is a three disc game, but it only counts as one disc against your rental plan.
So there you have it! If you’re planning to play the game on Xbox 360 then expect at least two disc-swapping interruptions.
Harry Potter Theme Park Commercial Heading to Super Bowl
Here’s a teaser for the Harry Potter theme park opening at Universal Studios Orlando this Spring. The full commercial will air during the Super Bowl. As a Harry Potter nerd, I definitely want to make a pilgrimage to the park. Check out the video and let me know if you’re up for a road trip!
Coffee Talk #77: The Superman 64 Award–Nominees Wanted!
You guys had fun talking about the Razzie Award nominees yesterday. In the spirit of the Razzies, N8R called for a poll for the worst game of the decade. Ladies and gentlemen…I present to you…the Superman 64 Award!!! (Trophy by N8R!)
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,the Super Bowl commercial you’re looking forward to the most, Edge turning tweener, or this excellent Final Fantasy VII mash-up album, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
You guys had fun talking about the Razzie Award nominees yesterday. In the spirit of the Razzies, N8R called for a poll for the worst game of the decade. Ladies and gentlemen…I present to you…the Superman 64 Award!!! (Trophy by N8R!)
Named after the worst game I ever played in my life, this piece of crap from Titus was so wretched that it gave me nightmares for years. If you guys and gals want to vote over the worst game released from 2000 to 2009, I can’t think of a better title than Superman 64 to “inspire” you.
A few of you started sending in nominations yesterday. Let’s keep things neat and consolidate them here. If there are any games you want to nominate for the Superman 64 Award for Worst Game of the Decade, please leave ’em in the comments sections.
Apple Working on Second Tablet That’s More Mac Than iPhone?
While it’s fun arguing about the future prospects of the Apple iPad, TechCrunch’s excellent MG Siegler has thrown a huge wrench in the works. According to one of his sources, Apple has another tablet that’s “pretty far along” in development. This one should be quite different from the iPad. Siegler wrote:
From what I’m hearing, Apple is pretty far along on work on second tablet device. A bigger one. And this one may be much more like a Mac than an iPhone.
Some of you (*cough* Smartguy *cough*) are down on the iPad because of its limitations that stem from operating in a closed an environment. This second tablet should keep tech enthusiasts and Mac power-users happy.
That said, it seems unusual that Apple would introduce this product so soon and possibly confuse the market. If the device is “pretty far along” then it’s reasonable to think that it would be launched this year. Considering how new the market is, that’s probably too soon. Why confuse customers and splinter the developer community? The counterargument is that Apple’s competition will soon release competing products that will probably lack the iPad’s refined interface but offer more versatility. Perhaps this second tablet will fend off those products.
What do you think of this rumor? Is Apple going tablet happy? What do you think the second tablet will be called? How long will it take before someone Photoshops a picture of Moses holding two Apple tablets?
30th Annual Razzie Award Nominees Announced
The Golden Raspberry Foundation has announced the nominees for the 30th annual Razzie Awards. In addition to “awarding” the worst movies, actors, and actresses of 2009, this year’s nominees include special categories for the worst picture, actor, and actress of the decade.
Check out the nominees and give me your picks (especially for the last three awards)!
Word Picture of 2009
• All About Steve
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Land of the Lost
• Old Dogs
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (aka Trannies, Too)
Word Actor of 2009
• All Three Jonas Brothers, Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience
• Will Ferrell, Land of the Lost
• Steve Martin, Pink Panther 2
• Eddie Murphy, Imagine That
• John Travolta, Old Dogs
Worst Actress of 2009
• Beyoncé, Obsessed
• Sandra Bullock, All About Steve
• Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
• Megan Fox, Jennifer’s Body and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Worst Screen Couple of 2009
• Any Two (or More) Jonas Brothers, The Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Experience
• Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper, All About Steve
• Will Ferrell & Any Costar, Creature or “Comic Riff,” Land of the Lost
• Shia LaBeouf & Either Megan Fox or Any Transformer, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Kristen Stewart & Either Robert Pattinson or Taylor Whatz-His-Fang, Twilight Saga: New Moon
Worst Supporting Actress of 2009
• Candice Bergen, Bride Wars
• Ali Larter, Obsessed
• Sienna Miller, G.I. Joe
• Kelly Preston, Old Dogs
• Julie White (as Mom), Trannies, Too
Worst Supporting Actor of 2009
• Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
• Hugh Hefner (as himself), Miss March
• Robert Pattinson, Twilight Saga: New Moon
• Jorma Taccone (as Cha-Ka), Land of the Lost
• Marlon Wayans, G.I. Joe
Word Remake, Rip-off or Sequel
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Land of the Lost
• Pink Panther 2 (a Rip-Off of a Sequel to a Remake)
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Twilight Saga: New Moon
Worst Director of 2009
•Michael Bay, Trannies, Too
• Walt Becker, Old Dogs
• Brad Silberling, Land of the Lost
• Stephen Sommers, G.I. Joe
• Phil Traill, All About Steve
Worst Screenplay of 2009
• All About Steve
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Land of the Lost
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Twilight Saga: New Moon
Worst Picture of the Decade
• Battlefield Earth (2000)
• Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
• Gigli (2003)
• I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
• Swept Away (2002)
Worst Actor of the Decade
• Ben Affleck: Daredevil, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Paycheck, Pearl Harbor, Surviving Christmas
• Eddie Murphy: Adventures of Pluto Nash, I Spy, Imagine That, Meet Dave, Norbit, Showtime
• Mike Myers: Cat in the Hat, The Love Guru
• Rob Schneider: The Animal, Benchwarmers, Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo, Grandma’s Boy, The Hot Chick, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Little Man, Little Nicky
• John Travolta: Battlefield Earth, Domestic Disturbance, Lucky Numbers, Old Dogs, Swordfish
Worst Actress of the Decade
• Mariah Carey: Glitter
• Paris Hilton: The Hottie & the Nottie, House of Wax, Repo: The Genetic Opera
• Lindsay Lohan: Herbie Fully Loaded, I Know Who Killed Me, Just My Luck
• Jennifer Lopez: Angel Eyes, Enough, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Planner
• Madonna: Die Another Day, The Next Best Thing, Swept Away
Were Your Surprised That Edge Won the WWE Royal Rumble?
As expected, WWE Superstar Edge made his return at yesterday’s Royal Rumble. While his return was rumored for weeks, a lot of dirt-sheet writers were surprised that he won. Most were expecting John Cena to win, while a lot of fans were pulling for Shawn Michaels. I was expecting a Cena victory (to put him in the main event in WrestleMania), but was hoping HBK would win to set up a match with The Undertaker. (To be honest, I knew Shawn wasn’t going to win since the writers have been pushing that angle too hard.)
At the end of the day, the WWE writers gave the Rumble victory to The Rated-R Superstar. This sets up all sorts of interesting matches. Which belt do you think Edge will go after? Who do you think his WrestleMania opponent will be? I’d love for Jericho to get one of the straps so that the two could have a grudge match at Mania. The mic work leading up to the fight would be awesome.
Nobuo Uematsu Meets Jay-Z in Vinyl Fantasy 7: Download Now!
I’ve been listening to Team Teamwork’s Vinyl Fantasy 7 mash-ups for the last couple of hours. This pay-what-you-want download features some unforgettable Final Fantasy VII tracks mixed with hip-hop artists like Jay-Z, Outkast, Ghostface Killah, and more.
Some of it is really cool (I loved “Those Who Fight” with M.O.P. and “Jenova” with Skyzoo + Wale). Some of it didn’t work for me (hip-hop with the Gold Saucer and Costa Del Sol themes?!?). Sadly, Aerith’s theme wasn’t mashed up. FFVII fanboys around the world would have went nuts and I would have been terribly amused.
The download is available in a bunch of formats, including MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC, and ALAC. It’s definitely worth downloading and if you can throw a few bucks at Team Teamwork that’s cool too. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Vinyl Fantasy 7, so give it a download and a listen.
Here’s the complete track list:
- Kool Keith + Tom Waits – Spacious Thoughts (The Prelude) 04:07
- Jay-Z – Lucifer (Mako Reactor) 03:17
- M.O.P. – Ante Up (Battle!) 03:42
- MF DOOM – Air (Barrett’s Theme) 02:35
- Outkast + Raekwon – Royal Flush (Sailing from Junon) 03:34
- Skyzoo + Wale – Lyrically Inclined (Jenova) 03:18
- Gucci Mane – Stoopid (Costa Del Sol) 04:10
- Clipse – Fast Life (Sephiroth’s Reunion) 03:52
- Dorrough – Ice Cream Paintjob (Gold Saucer) 04:07
- Murs – Me and this Jawn (Mideel) 03:02
- Slum Village – Get Dis Money (One-Winged Angel) 03:11
- Ghostface Killah – Save Me Dear (City of the Ancients) 02:34
Another Case for Why the Apple iPad Will Succeed
Similar to this interesting analogy of the iPad being the Wii of personal computing is developer Ethan Nicholas’ view on Apple’s upcoming (and divisive) product. While some of you don’t like that fact that the iPad lives in a tightly controlled environment and is limited to the functions deemed acceptable by Apple, Nicholas believes this is why the system will appeal to a certain group of users. In a guest column for TechCrunch he wrote:
The iPad is a computer for people who don’t like computers. People who don’t like the idea of upgrading their 3D drivers, or adjusting their screen resolution, or installing new memory. Who don’t understand why their computer gets slower and slower the longer they own it, who have 25 icons in their system tray and have to wait ten minutes for their system to boot up every day.
It’s an excellent point that a lot of tech enthusiasts don’t consider. People forget that the iPhone didn’t succeed because of its power; it was a success because it harnessed the power of a smartphone with an incredibly refined interface that anyone could use. While the iPad is certainly more limited than a thin-and-light laptop, it’s also completely simple to use and maintain.
Now that I’ve had more time to think about it, I’m pretty sure Apple will sell millions of these things. Between people that want a simple (but powerful) computing device, tech hipsters that have to show off at Internet cafes, and Apple fanboys that will buy anything Steve Jobs sells, the iPad has a great chance at being another massive hit for Apple.
What do you think? Is the iPad Apple’s latest “insanely great” device? Or is it the second coming of Newton?