How To Quit A Job...... If You're A Jerk!!!

There's a good chance that this guy isn't going to get a letter of reference, as this developer came up with a unique way of quitting. Got to give it to him, as there are not to many people who would go through the trouble of creating a Mac OS X app just to give his former employer the finger.

Check the quote:

"He believed he was in a temp-to-hire position, and after three months of extra hours and butt-kissing, turns out it's just a temp position. He was a good worker too. I'd have recommended him. Too bad he burned his bridges... Obviously he had contemplated quitting long enough to make this thing, but still refused to speak to anyone about his feelings. Ironically, he complained about the 'divas' at his last job."

Well at least he can say that he quit with style!!!

[Gizmodo]

Microsoft announces 6 SKU’s For Windows 7

Just when you thought Microsoft had learned from their mistakes and started to put together a solid OS in Windows 7, word comes that it will still be in several different flavors. Windows 7 had been getting a lot of PR love as of late and I have to say, after playing with it for a little while, I’m excited about it. It’s a solid OS, and I think Microsoft has finally created a true replacement for Windows XP. But to confuse customers with the same crap that they did with different versions of Vista is a mistake. Windows 7 should not come with more than 3 versions on release date, Windows 7 Home, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate. But word is out that Microsoft has at least 6 different SKU’s:

• Windows 7 Starter (limited to three apps concurrently)
• Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets)
• Windows 7 Home Premium (adds Aero, Touch, Media Center)
• Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop host, Mobility Center, Presentation mode)
• Windows 7 Enterprise (volume license only, boot from virtual drive, BitLocker)
• Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything)

The average user doesn’t know if they need Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, or Professional. And don’t expect the monkeys at Best Buy to honestly point users in the right direction, as they’re concerned with their bottom line. I’ve overheard customers being told that they needed Ultimate when all the user was doing was surfing the internet and downloading music. Way to go Microsoft….. Keep em’ confused as ever.

[Engadget]

Dad Nails Xbox To Tree, Looks Like A Moron

One of the things about “over reacting” is that the person who thinks they’re in the right tends to look like an ass. Case in point is this jag who thought he would teach his 3 boys a lesson about bad behavior while playing their Xbox, by nailing it to a tree. Check the quote:

“My husband had repeatedly warned our 3 boys about their behavior while playing the XBOX. Tuesday, after I arrived home from work, our oldest son told me to look in the backyard at "Dad's artwork". Well, I wasn't surprised to see the XBOX proudly displayed on the nearest tree... way to go Honey!!!!!”

Now I’m all about discipline, and perhaps the kids needed some ass kicking. But I’m not sure what you’re really teaching your boys when you nail a game console to a tree. Because let’s face it, he just shortened the time for those kids to ask him to buy an Xbox 360.

[ireport via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Loses $1 Billion In Xbox 360 Warranty Repair

Have you ever made a really bad decision?

Well Microsoft is certainly feeling the effects of this one, as word comes that the "Red ring of death" has cost the company about a billion dollars in warranty repairs. And the kicker is that it didn't have to, according to research vice president and chief analyst at Gartner. Microsoft chose to go the cheap route with their graphics chips and not go with a application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) vender. Microsoft figured they would design it themselves and had Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing make it.

That call saved them tens of Millions of dollars in design costs..... Yeah, that's what I was thinking too!

Dumb!!!

[EETimes via Gizmodo]

No Multiplayer For 'Force Unleased' On PS3/Xbox 360

I'm not sure what Lucas Arts was thinking with this decision but it's clearly a mistake!

It looks like the highly anticipated game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will only be multiplayer on the Wii. The Wii will get the cool dual mode, while the Xbox 360 and the PS3 will not have any multiplayer component. Check the quote from Lucas Arts:

"To be specific, there's no multiplayer in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, because there is on the Wii, PSP, and DS. As far as specific reasons are concerned, we don't really like to get into the reasons why we don't do things because I don't think there's really a satisfactory answer that people would really be happy with. So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is..."

That's your answer Lucas Arts? Just deal with it?

So they don't put multiplayer on the two platforms with the best online multiplayer service, because they're going to put it on 3 platforms with the worst? That is the most ass backwards decision I've ever heard.

Good going Lucas Arts!!!

[Destructoid]

Law Introduced To Make Internet Traffic Shaping Illegal

I love Comcast!!!

With lawsuits hitting them in the face for Internet traffic shaping, Comcast finally admitted to the deed. Comcast was slowing down traffic from bittorrents, stating that they're doing it for the greater good of all of their customers. I have to call B.S on that, but that argument is for another day. So you would think with all the lawsuits Comcast would stop slowing down traffic, nope. They changed their terms of Service to state that they have the right to "shape" internet traffic.

That's just great!!!

Well it looks like there are some people in this world who think that is just plain dumb. A bill will be introduced to the House that will prevent Comcast or any other ISP from Internet traffic shaping. This is in the best interest of the public who can't have their Internet messed with because of the reliability of services like VoIP.

I'm glad that this bill was introduced, with the hope that it will stop the insanity that is Comcast. Sometimes, they think that we work for them!

Comcast Defends Role As Internet Traffic Cop [Washington Post via Crunchgear]

EA Pimp Slaps Fox News For Mass Effect Story

Certainly not to step on Malcolm's posts, but EA's Vice President Jeff Brown responds with an open letter to Fox News Live Desk with Martha MacCallum's attack of the game Mass Effect. Check out the Bullet point smack down below:

Ms VanHorn,

I’m writing to request a clarification of serious errors FNC made in a story which aired about the video game Mass Effect. (See attachment) As the parent company of BioWare, the studio which created the game, EA would like you to set the record straight on a number of errors and misstatements which incorrectly characterize the story and character interactions in Mass Effect.

Errors include the following:

• Your headline above the televised story read: “New videogame shows full digital nudity and sex.“
• Fact: Mass Effect does not include explicit or frontal nudity. Love scenes in non-interactive sequences include side and profile shots – a vantage frequently used in many prime-time television shows. It’s also worth noting that the game requires players to develop complex relationships before characters can become intimate and players can chose to avoid the love scenes altogether.
• FNC voice-over reporter says: “You’ll see full digital nudity and the ability for players to engage in graphic sex.”
• Fact: Sex scenes in Mass Effect are not graphic. These scenes are very similar to sex sequences frequently seen on network television in prime time.
• FNC reporter says: “Critics say Mass Effect is being marketed to kids and teenagers.”
• Fact: That is flat out false. Mass Effect and all related marketing has been reviewed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and rated Mature – appropriate for players 17-years and older. ESRB routinely counsels retailers on requesting proof of age in selling M-rated titles and the system has been lauded by members of Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. In practical terms, the ratings work as well or better than those used for warning viewers about television content.
• Other sources used in the segment made similar incorrect statements about the game. Judging by the inaccuracy of their comments, they have had zero experience with Mass Effect and are largely ignorant about videogames, the people who play them, and the ESRB system that governs their ratings and sales.

The resulting coverage was insulting to the men and women who spent years creating a game which is acclaimed by critics for its high creative standards. As video games continue to take audiences away from television, we expect to see more TV news stories warning parents about the corrupting influence of interactive entertainment. But this represents a new level of recklessness.

Do you watch the Fox Network? Do you watch Family Guy? Have you ever seen The OC? Do you think the sexual situations in Mass Effect are any more graphic than scenes routinely aired on those shows? Do you honestly believe that young people have more exposure to Mass Effect than to those prime time shows?

This isn’t a legal threat; it’s an appeal to your sense of fairness. We’re asking FNC to correct the record on Mass Effect.

Sincerely,

Jeff Brown
Vice President of Communications
Electronic Arts, Inc

EA Takes FOX News To Task Over Mass Effect [GameInformer via G4TV]

School Bans Cellphones After Principle is Caught On Video Fighting With Student

In another edition of how silly our education system is, comes this gem about a principle and a student fighting. The incident took place at Huntington High School, and was caught on video with a cellphone. So with a principle fighting a student, how do you think the Caddo School Board would respond? Dismissal of the principle? Suspension?

Nope.

The board decided on a ban of cellphones in the school was a more appropriate act. In fact the board did nothing about the principle until the student showed the video to the local media. The board responded by putting the principle on paid administrative leave. I think the more appropriate response would be to remove the morons on the board who thought it was a good idea to ban cellphones. Removing the devices that catch your teachers and principles doing things that they shouldn't isn't the answer.

Try hiring administration that will set a good example and not join in on the fray.

[Shreveport Times via Gizmodo Image courtesy Chicspeare]]

Why Criminals Should Install Their Own PC Hardware

This kind of story makes me feel all icky inside, because I know that the rights of individuals should be respected, no matter how sick they are. Such is the case with Kenneth Sodomsky who in 2004 brought his computer into Circuit City to have a DVD Burner installed. While they installed the drive and the software that comes with it, the techs test to see if it works. While doing the testing, (for some reason) the Circuit City tech pulled up an Windows XP search box and scanned the users hard drive for video files to ensure that the drive was working properly. The tech found a file containing child pornography on the computer, contacted the police and Sodomsky was arrested.

Sodomsky said that his privacy was violated, and a lower court agreed with him. But an appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior Court said that because he voluntarily turned his computer over to the techs, and the search was "routine", no laws were violated in discovering the file.

Now why would Circuit City need to do a "routine" search for video files to install a DVD burner? I can't tell you how many burners I've installed on many different OS platforms, and not once did it require, need, or want you to do a search for video files on a hard drive. There is no reason to do this search, unless the tech wanted to see if there was some porn that he didn't have in his own collection. This is why you should install your own hardware components yourself.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Sodomsky should burn in hell, but why is Circuit City "routinely" violating privacy every time a customer brings in a computer? Why are they searching computers for video files if that isn't required? And how stupid are the lawyers if they don't ask someone if this is necessary or required to install a DVD Burner.

Morons all around!!!


Court: Privacy no defense when Circuit City finds child porn [Ars via Crunchgear]

Conspiracy Theories By Michael Bay: Microsoft Wants Both Formats To Fail

I've heard many "Evil Empire" stories about Microsoft, but I think this one is the best (or the most out there one). Michael Bay the director of 'Pearl Harbor', 'The Island', and 'Transformers' hasn't made it a secrete that he's more of a fan of Blu-Ray than HD DVD. So much so that he said that he wasn't going to make 'Transformers 2' because Paramount went exclusively to HD DVD (he's recently changed his mind on that one). But he hasn't stopped his campaign for Blu-Ray, and for conspiracy theories. Check the quote:

"Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads…. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just [to] embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."

Now digital downloads may be the future of HD formats, but I just don't see Microsoft dumping $100 of millions to a format with a hope that they'll both fail. That makes no sense!

With this kind of imagination, this guy should be making movies..... Oh, wait....

DVD Formats [The Official Michael Bay Forums via Crunchgear]

Nerd Loses Mind After Reaching Level 60 In WoW

http://view.break.com/409062 - Watch more free videos

Ya see!!!

This is why people make fun of nerds. This level of excitement should only be reserved for winning the world championship of your sport, winning the lottery, or having a super model screaming out your name in a romp of passion.

Not for reaching level 60 in World of Warcraft!

Man.... I'm embarrassed to be a geek.

[Crunchgear]

AT&T Pulls Data-Only Plan From Hearing Impaired

In another installment of AT&T are jags, this one comes from a AT&T store in Colorado. Seems like this store was providing hearing impaired iphone owners a data-plan only for $27.99 a month, since they don't get much use out of the voice plan.

Sounds cool right?

Well I guess some insensitive hearing assholes were complaining about it to AT&T Corporate Marketing, and they shut it down. So no more data-plan only for the hearing impaired. Once again AT&T has dropped the ball, forcing people to pay for a plan that they simply cannot use. Why can't they keep in the higher ups who have common sense?

AT&T puts the kibosh on voice-free iPhone plans for the deaf [TUAW via Crunchgear]

Driving And Texting In Phoenix = Ticket

Well if you're planing to drive through Phoenix anytime soon, you better not text message while doing it. The Phoenix City Council made it illegal to text message while driving within their city limits. Drivers cannot send or read text messages while operating a vehicle, or face a citation for doing so. The first ticket was issued on November 5th, and the city hopes that this will be a deterrent to texters and hopefully prevent more accidents.

Yeah right!

Phoenix hands out its first citation for texting while driving [AZ Central via Crunchgear]

In-Store Movie Downloading Kiosks Coming To Blockbuster

I know that this seems to be "beat up on Blockbuster" week, but they're providing all the ammo needed. This time with the announcement of their 'In-Store downloading Kiosks', that will be installed in all of there Brick and Mortar stores. The idea is that you can bring in your portable media player, plug-in and download a movie. The only problem with it is that most people already have something like that at home, it's called a computer.

Why would anyone get up out of the comfort of their home to drive to Blockbuster, just to download a movie on an ipod? Most of those features are available on the Internet, so what would be the point? If I walk into Blockbuster, why wouldn't I just get a dvd to watch a movie on a larger screen than an ipod? It seems that whom ever is making the decisions at Blockbuster really doesn't get it, or possibly could be completely out of touch with what the consumer wants.

If this is really part of their big "revival" plan, they might be gone sooner than even I thought.

[Gizmodo]

Nerds Fight, Forum Shut Down

I knew that the HD format war was starting to heat up, but I had no idea how stupid passionate people were about this. So much so that the administrators at AVS Forum had to shut down an HD DVD vs Blu-Ray thread that was getting a little out of control. Check the quote from the admins:

"We have seen members attacking other members not only in debate, which is the right way, but with physical threats that have involved police and possible legal action. This type of behavior is just not welcome here PERIOD,"

Nerd on nerd violence is never a good thing, but these guys got pissed off like they own stock in one or the other formats. For the admins to have to shut down a thread because one geek can't watch Spiderman and the other can't watch Transformers is just plain dumb.

Please nerds, take that energy and put it towards meeting a girl, maybe even talking to her.

HD Disc Format Areas Currently Closed For Posts [AVS Forum]

Comcast: Competition Will Bring Higher Rates, What?!

As you know I don't like long posts, but I'm in rant mode over this one, so please bare with me.

If you've ever lived in an apartment or condo complex, you might have run into the situation of the association only giving you the option of one cable company to go with. I've always though that is was a little unfair, and didn't give people the chance to choose which cable company they would like to go with. Well the FCC finally thought the same thing, and overturned the "exclusive contracts" that cable companies have enjoyed for decades.

FCC Chairman Kevin J Martin said “Exclusive contracts have been one of the most significant barriers to competition,” he also stated that cable rates have risen over 93% in the last decade. I'm not even sure if gas prices have risen that much in the last decade. So how does Comcast respond to the ruling? By stating that they may have to raise rates because it'll cost money to compete with other companies, and it will cost more to fight this ruling in court.

What?!

So they're going to raise rates because they can't continue to get over on people by locking them into using their company. They're going to raise rates because they will have to ADVERTISE more? That is the one of the dumbest things I've ever heard!!! Check this out from Techdirt:

“The following statement may be attributed to Sena Fitzmaurice, [Comcast] Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations: ‘Consumers in apartment buildings and condos across the nation received a blow today from the action taken by the FCC. The result of this decision is likely to be higher prices for services and years of litigation and uncertainty for consumers. The significant concessions building owners have been able to bargain for on behalf of their residents will be lost.’”

Hey Moron, for once the FCC did something that actually benefited the customer. Stop trying to make it sound like you're on our side. Oh and the FCC didn't deal us a blow, they freed us from having to deal with your continuous price raises. And if there is "likely to be higher prices for services and years of litigation" guess what, people finally have the choice to go to your competitor. Ya see, that's how it's supposed to work in this country.

Raise all the prices you want, people have a choice now!!!

Corporate Doublespeak: By Forcing Competition On The Market, We Will Need To Raise Prices [Techdirt via Crunchgear]

AT&T: Wildfire Victims Must Pay Us $300

Man I just love AT&T!!!

On top of them threating to turn your Internet off if you say any bad things about them, they've managed a way to look even more like an ass. Case in point a California couple lost their home in the wild fires that have plagued the area, while they were on a cruise. Well AT&T was nice enough to charge them $300 for the loss of equipment-non-negotiable!!!

AT&T wouldn't even postpone the bill until the couples insurance kicked in. That's so cool AT&T, this couples lives have burned to the ground, but to hell with them, where's our DRV right? So if you have any AT&T gear, your ass better run back into that burning home and get it. Forget your photos and stuff you can't replace, AT&T wants their receiver.

AT&T: Your World, Burned to the Ground (but get my dvr first)
What a joke!

[DSLReports via Crunchgear]

Update: AT&T has responded to the situation. It was actually a Dish Network employee that they were transferred to and that person did not follow the disaster policy that they have in effect. So this wasn't really a case of AT&T being insensitive, just a moronic employee at Dish Network.

Thanks DSLReports

Galactica Final Season Delayed Until April

I'm going to certainly file this one under "This is BS" file!!!

If you've been waiting for the fourth and final season of "Battlestar Galactica", you're going to wait a little longer than expected. In what has turned into a full Sorpranos move, the "Battlestar Galactica" last season has been moved back from January until April 2008. Considering that season 3 ended in March of 2007, that is a long wait to find out what happens next.

And there's still no word on if the Sci-Fi network will air the fourth season in its entirety, choosing to spread the series out over 2008-2009.

That is a long time to spread out 20 episodes.

[latimes.com]

3D Email Service: Morons Have A New App

Are you tired of that boring ass email service that you have now? Do you wish you could have a cool looking, visually stimulating, representation of your email?

Are you just plain stupid?

Well my friends, you can take a spin on the 3D train ride of "3D Email". Yes my friends, imagine all of your emails simulated by a jumbo jet flying into a simulated LAX.

“Email meets flight sim. In Level 2 of 3D Mailbox, each of your emails is represented by a jumbo jet. Based on the country of origin/destination, over 80 national airlines are employed, along with thousands of real pilot-controller conversations. Cargo jets haul your attachments, and the integrated SpamBayes spam filter sends your junk to the airport boneyard.”

Doesn't that sound great!

Worlds Worst Email App Gets Worse: Aircraft Simulation Meets Inbox [TC via Crunchgear]

AT&T: Criticize Us, And We'll Shut You Down

No wonder why AT&T is running a close second for the most hated company next to Sony. Any opportunity people get to avoid using their service (i.e. iphone unlocks) it is jumped on. This isn't shocking considering their latest insanity that they've put together.

AT&T's new 'terms of service' basically states that if you're a internet customer of theirs, you can't publicly complain about their billing or service. If you do, they have the right to discontinue your internet service.

Now, I've never heard of a company that WORKS FOR YOU say that if you say bad things about us, we'll shut you down. That's the most communistic thing I've ever heard from a company.

If your service is as good as you say it is, then what do you have to worry about?

UPDATE: Here is the exact wording for the new TOA:
AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes...(c) tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.

[AT&T T.O.S via Crunchgear]