Still I tried, and more often than not end up cursing and turning the system off. It looks like Nintendo is gearing up for the launch of the next game in the franchise – Super Mario 4. Nintendo of America has recently registered the domain SuperMario4.com.

Just because Nintendo is registering a domain, it certainly doesn’t mean the videogame will be coming soon. The company recently said that it is working on a new Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS to be released before April 2013. It’s not clear if the website is going to be aimed at a portable title or title for the Wii or perhaps the Wii U. In the mean time, the freshly-registered domain just redirects to the Nintendo website.

[via Eurogamer via GamingUnion]

You might remember that the PSP was the same way. You will have to exit your game and then start up your browser to see what’s on the web. Sony hasn’t confirmed this yet and it is speculated that support for the gaming/surfing multitasking will be released in an update at some point, but when it ships, it will lack this support.

I suppose it’s no big deal really. You usually don’t play games and surf the web at the same time. However, this feature would come in handy if you need to look up a cheat or a walkthrough when you’re stuck.

[via Andriasang via PlaystationLifestyle]

Looks like that poor dog is confused by the feeds. I can’t test the program myself since I’m on a Mac (without Parallels), but I think that you’ll need to sweep your icons off of your desktop and use an application launcher instead if you want to use Feedling, otherwise you might have a hard time selecting both feeds and icons.

Feedling has been tested on Windows XP, Vista and 7, and is available at SourceForge. Check out MakeUseOf for detailed instructions on setting up Feedling.

[via Channel 10]

That’s Jawed Karim, one of the co-founders of YouTube. Behind him are elephants. Aaaand that’s about it. Not a promising first, but a first nonetheless.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Elephants are cool because of their long trunks. Enlightening stuff. Was he stoned when they filmed that? Probably just nervous. But if you think about it, a lot of YouTube videos are still essentially like that – pointless and time-wasting. But we’ll keep on coming back, because hey, what else are we going to do at the office?

[via Gearfuse]

I found this hilarious, especially when I saw what he chose to represent Firefox. I use Firefox as my main browser, but it’s true that it can quickly become overloaded if you use too many add-ons or extensions. A fresh install is always nice when those memory leaks start to bog you down.

I do use Chrome sometimes, especially if I don’t want to open all of my saved tabs in Firefox, I’ve also noticed that it’s pretty fast, though in my unscientific tests, it’s not faster than Firefox. Still, Chrome and Firefox are getting more and more extensions and add-ons.

Which browser do you use most? And don’t say Lynx.

[College Humor via Presurfer]

Judge Oscar Magi (awesome last name btw) laid down the rule of the law on Google’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, along with former CFO George Reyes, and Global Privacy Counsel Peter Fleischer. Although none of them were involved in the uploading or production of the controversial video, the prosecutors claimed that Google should have noticed it and taken it down sooner because it quickly became one of the most popular videos at the time.

Google will of course appeal the decision, stating that it is a threat to “the principles of freedom on which the Internet was built.” My only question is, does Google even have the technology or manpower necessary to really screen the tens of thousands of videos uploaded to YouTube daily? I mean, do we even have the means to censor the massive content on the Web if we wanted to?

[via The Observer via Chip Chick]

On the other hand, the generator is a fun timewaster (see above picture). And actually it does have a couple of good ideas.

So maybe you already have a bunch of New Year’s resolutions, but the New Year’s Resolution Generator may make you add one or two items to your list. Especially if you’ve never eaten a mango.

[via The Presurfer]

The tube of the Fleksimus is flexible and is fitted with a lens on one end, while the other goes into a compact viewfinder or a 3-inch color display. Art Lebedev really bore this camera down to its essential features, allowing it be used very simply.

The camera itself allows you to capture either video or pictures, and will enable you to take your photography to a whole new level. No specs are given, but it will allow people to take photos at whole new angles.

Now it isn’t only peeping toms that will benefit, but getting that sweet spot in the right angle has always been challenging with a traditional camera. Since you can just look at the viewfinder and orient the tube the right way, it should be a lot easier with the aptly named Fleksimus.

[via Art Lebedev]

Blump’it is designed to provide an easy, fingertip-optimized interface for accessing Internet applications on wireless or 3G-connected touchscreen device. From what I’ve seen so far, it really just looks like a glorified touch menu for your web browser, but maybe I’m missing something.

To make it a bit more compelling, Blump’it is distributing an unbranded “lab” tablet with a 10.2″ LCD touchscreen (1024×600 resolution), running on an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU and a Linux OS/Blump’it interface combo. The tablet measures in at a rather hefty 24.7mm (.972″) thick, and weighs 950 grams (just about 2 pounds) – with the rechargeable battery pack in place. The tablet includes both 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi and CDMA 3G connectivity – which means that if you’re on a GSM network – you’re out of luck for now.

To see the Blump’it interface and hardware in action, check out this video from the guys at netbooknews… (to cut to the chase, skip ahead to 1:55 for the hardware, and 4:50 for the interface).

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Did you notice the Blump’it virtual keyboard is an AZERTY, not a QWERTY? That’s because the tablet comes from France. I’m assuming you’ll have a choice of keyboards once it’s released worldwide – if not, that sure would be silly. Interested? Blump’it is taking pre-orders for the tablet now at their website for €499 or $699 (USD). If you’re interested in checking out the software interface on your own computer, they plan on releasing a Firefox plug-in sometime in January and you can register for the Alpha here. Rumor has it, they’re also working on a Chrome version.

For those who aren’t familiar with the CrunchPad, it was (it was! oh the tragedy) basically a touchscreen computer that runs only Firefox and Skype, with data entry facilitated by an “iPhone-like touchscreen keyboard”. It all began last year, July 21, 2008, when Arrington outlined his (quite specific) ideas for a web tablet that would sell for about $200 (USD). There. Now you’re as pissed off as us about this whole thing.

Shown above is the concept drawing for the CrunchPad, made even before the name was coined. It’s quite close to the prototype “demo-ware” we’ve seen floating on the Internet, shown below. Arrington blames Chandra Rathakrishnan, CEO of Fusion Garage, which was supposed to be the manufacturing arm of the CrunchPad project. Says Arrington,“Bizarrely, we were being notified that we were no longer involved with the project. Our project. Chandra said that based on pressure from his shareholders he had decided to move forward and sell the device directly through Fusion Garage, without our involvement. Err, what? This is the equivalent of Foxconn, who build the iPhone, notifying Apple a couple of days before launch that they’d be moving ahead and selling the iPhone directly without any involvement from Apple.” Err, what indeed.

You can read the Arrington’s full eulogy/rant at TechCrunch. But before you do, check out Phillip Torrone’s article at MAKE, because he posted a question for Arrington that’s yet to be answered: the CrunchPad’s software and hardware were supposed to be open source; where are the specs for both?

It’s a valid question, because even if Arrington’s deal fell apart the CrunchPad doesn’t have to die… IF the hardware specs and software are released to the public. And that’s the something awesome I was talking about.

John Freeborn’s CODE Stickers are perfect for building geek cred with the guy in your rear-view mirror. For just $5 bucks, you’ll get a set of 5 vinyl stickers, including .NET, PHP, CSS, AJAX and good old HTML to cover your bumper or tailgate with. But they look best slapped onto the basket on the front of your Segway.

Java, Python, Ruby and Perl developers need not apply.

[via geekadelphia]

Believe it or not, the robot in the picture is supposed to be “happy”: its eyes change colors to convey its mood, for example yellow to convey happiness and red when its in T-800 mode a bad mood. It can also do other robot stuff, like move around and follow your finger.

It has 5 infrared sensors that prevent it from careening off the precipice that is the computer desk, which has supposedly become the favorite hangout of an increasing number of humans, all of them hungry for interaction and companionship, not realizing that its because they stay in front of their damn computers for so long that they lack company. Stupid humans.

The mydeskfriend has certain “needs”, like food, exercise and “meds”, and you and your friends can attend to it via Facebook. The robot also responds to touch, like poking or shaking, as well as voice commands. Its software will supposedly allow its “personality” to evolve over time.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Arimaz, the company behind mydeskfriend, is entertaining the possibility of licensing the technology behind the toy so that there’ll be more robots for everyone. I’m not sure I like the sound of that. mydeskfriend will be available in September for $99 (USD).

[via GetRobo via BotJunkie]

Yes, Microsoft is willing to pay you to use their browser. That’s all there is to it. Of course you could say that IE 8 isn’t necessarily as bad as the previous versions; it’s just that the browser’s reputation is so tarnished that people have to be given a little encouragement to try the latest spawn. Also, the ad that The Gadget Blog took a shot of must be an earlier version, as it is slightly more specific in terms of identifying who the IE 8′s archenemy is:

So how about it? Are you willing to join the hunt? Start here if you’re game. What? You want some tips? Let’s see: the instructions say that the prize in hidden is “a cleverly concealed webpage that only Internet Explorer 8 can view.” Hmmm. Well then I bet the prize is hidden in something like this. Either that or a page within the Windows Update site.

One more thing: wouldn’t it be funny though if someone using the IE Tab extension on Firefox found the hidden webpage? Or if we find out that Windows 7 will be sold for $10,001? Or…nah I’m all out.

HP has already secured the support of a few websites that will provide unique services and features available only to future users of the PSPWTSW. For example, users will be able to print USA Today stories straight off the printer’s touchscreen. Nickelodeon has a bunch of kid-friendly content for print such as word finds, color-ins and mazes. Users will also be able to print Google Maps, coupons, and even movie tickets. Neat.

The PSPWTSW will be available in the United States come autumn for $399 USD. Gizmodo was able to procure a test unit, and while they thought that the hardware is topnotch, they came upon the logical conclusion that the things you can do on the tiny touchscreen can be done just as easily – of not easier – on a normal computer. Maybe HP should have attached a printer to a monitor instead of attaching a tiny computer to a printer.

[via gadgetell]

The service “offers protection against internet crime such as fraudulent acquisition of passwords by detecting malicious or fraudulent sites.” According to Amy-Mae Elliott of Pocket-lint, the PS3 service will be pay-per-use, while the PSP service is free until July, when charging rates will be specified. Or when Trend Micro finally realizes the futility of the exercise and pulls the plug on the thing altogether.

The PS3 service costs £14.95 ($22.25 USD) for PS3 protection or £26.95 ($40.12 USD) for the bundle of the two products. That’s quite pricey; shouldn’t Sony subsidize this and market it as a selling point? Okay maybe I’m just biased and there’s a market for this after all; otherwise the service wouldn’t be offered in the first place. Right? Anyone?

So they went and tried to see if they could strengthen another biological material – in this case spider silk – by adding metals to it. After trying various metallic compounds, the scientists found that “all of the compounds dramatically increased both the tensile strength of the silk, as well as its extensibility. In short, the researchers had taken an unusually tough material and made it even tougher, with the best results produced by the aluminum and titanium treatments. ”

Here’s where it gets better: The scientists further theorized that this sort of spider silk can be mass produced. Woohooo! Segway schmegway: web slinging is the future of pedestrian transportation. Please let it be so.

[via Ars Technica]

It’s so fast that it left most of a browser’s functions at Google’s labs: plug-ins don’t work so it can’t play Flash videos. There’s no History, no Bookmarks, no Preferences, no Find, and you can’t even open a link to a new tab. But it’s fast.

If you want to try Chrome on your Mac, you can download the application at said developer’s blog; the compiled app is for Intel Macs on Leopard only (10.5 and up). Don’t delete your current browser yet because Chrome is sure to have lots of bugs. But it’s fast. Perfect for blog speed-reading.

I wanted to check out Google’s M-Lab after reading about it in Lifehacker. I clicked the link on the article but for some reason it didn’t go through. So I go to Google and type M-Lab. Imagine my surprise when all the search results had the “This site may harm your computer” warning underneath them! I tried Yahoo, speedtest.net, and technabob: still the same result. Finally, I searched for Google:

What. Anyone else see this?

*Update : Google’s back to normal again. My time as a detective comes to an end. *

Valued at up to $1,895 a piece, each pass will get you into the entire show, including:

• All sessions (Wed – Fri)
• Workshops on Tues, April 22
• All keynote and plenary presentations
• The Expo and all events held in the Expo
• All conference networking events
• Web2Open
• Continental Breakfast & Lunch (Tues – Fri)

Here’s How to Enter:

Simply write a really clever or witty caption for the photo above (taken at a previous Web 2.0 Expo), and post it in the comments below. The best two entries (in my opinion) will win passes. That’s all you need to do. Be sure to provide a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you are a winner.

Since the conference begins on Tuesday, April 22, and online registration ends this Friday at 5pm, this is going to be a very short contest. That said, entries must be submitted by 11:59pm Central time on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 to qualify. Each winning entry will receive a special code which can be redeemed for one full Web 2.0 Expo conference and workshop pass.

If you’re not able to get yourself to San Francisco for the conference, please don’t enter and let someone who can attend win and enjoy the show.

The NET-2000 Shooting Net Rod uses a charge of highly compressed air to fire a net at fleeing suspects from as far as 49 feet away.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

While it doesn’t spin a web of just any old size, it does fire a huge 52 square foot net made of high strength Nylon fiber. While the device may look like an innocuous flashlight when not in use, it sure packs a wallop when fired up.

In addition to law enforcement use, its designed for animal catchers to use in place of traditional manual nets. Importer Chinagrabber is selling the devices for just $419 a piece, but I’d suggest that you check with your local police department before you try to catch stray alley cats with one of these.