Author: Jack Loftus

The Consumerist, as always, is right on top of Barnes & Noble’s recent Nook-related failings. Yes, people are still without their Nook, and yes, customer service woes are still running rampant at the fledgling eBook retailer.

You see, the $100 gift cards promised to customers if their Nook did not arrive by Christmas? That’s good customer service. However, those $100 cards have yet to arrive in many cases. That’s bad customer service.

Worse still, blogger Jesse Vincent has been writing dutifully about the cards and more since the holidays, and things haven’t gotten any better. Broken promises, vanishing orders—all there, and all indicative of a retailer that grossly underestimated demand for its savvy e-reader and overestimated its ability to sell them.

The silver lining? B&N customer service is super polite when they tell you your order has been canceled or disappeared or whatever. So there’s that, although I’m pretty much with Kat when she says these thing will never truly hit the mainstream. [Consumerist]

How’s this for conference schwag? GDC attendees, meaning “speakers and conference associates,” will be gifted their choice of a Motorola Droid or the Google Nexus One. If you’re a fan of either phone, commence your jealous hatred now. [GDC via Joystiq]

The tumorific Motorola MOTOROI, first spotted heading to Korean shores earlier this month, could be coming Stateside soon (via T-Mobile), if a filing with the FCC is to be believed.

We brought you the details earlier this month, but for those averse to clicking here’s a recap:

Running on Android 2.0, it’s got native apps multitouch on that 3.7-inch WVGA screen, takes photos with an 8-megapixel camera, records video in 720p, and has an HDMI out and a T-DMB TV tuner for watching 24 of South Korea’s channels. 8GB of storage and a microSD card slot are pretty decent for storage options, and just like with its older brother the Droid, it comes with a docking station.

The smoking guns, if you will, that say this is the same Korea-only MOTOROI we spied earlier are: The FCC filing does not make mention of a slider. It also uses the Sholes codename for this phone. Then there’s the “T-Mobile friendly 1700 / 2100MHz HSPA,” says Engadget. Triple word score.

These bits of evidence, taken together, all but confirm T-Mobile will be the carrier that brings the phone to the U.S., possibly by March. [FCC via Cell Phone Signal via Engadget]

Microsoft and Apple, already strange bedfellows if we’re to believe Apple’s seriously considering Bing over Google on future iPhones, are at it again, albeit indirectly. This time it’s Microsoft’s turn, as they present counterarguments in an Xbox 360 antitrust case.

The disgruntled player is a company called Datel Design & Development, which dubiously argues that Microsoft is monopolizing the market for “Multiplayer Online Dedicated Gaming Systems.” With their supposed monopoly, Microsoft is allegedly controlling the related market for accessories by using software-related barriers that bar 3rd party devices from competing with Microsoft Xbox 360 accessories. In a nutshell, this means Datel’s unlicensed Game Genie-type cheats device is barred from being sold for use on the Xbox 360 platform.

Now, I say dubious because Datel conveniently leaves out any mention of market leader Nintendo Wii, as well as the PS2, PSP and DS handhelds in its argument. If one only considers the Xbox 360 and PS3 in the dominant market, as Datel does, the argument has some merit, maybe. Add in those pesky “other consoles”—the ones Datel says don’t count because their owners aren’t really gamers, or something—and poof, a little bit less believable.

Nevertheless, the Datel complaint led Microsoft to cite Apple’s legal battle with Psystar, and hence the strange bedfellows comment above. From the Microsoft motion, transcribed by TechFlash *deep breath*:

[Psystar responded with antitrust claims] “much like those alleged by Datel, alleging that Apple had sought to monopolize a primary market for the Mac OS as well as the aftermarket for hardware that could be used with the Mac OS and had tied the Mac OS to its own hardware. [Much like Apple owners agreeing to the OS X EULA] Xbox 360 purchasers knowingly and voluntarily gave Microsoft the right to prohibit the use of unauthorized accessories…each Xbox 360 comes packaged with a software license requiring consumers to agree that the Xbox 360 software can be used only with Microsoft authorized accessories.”

The one thing I’ll give to Datel is their accessories really expose how Microsoft gouges us all with their accessory pricing. For $30 MS gives us 512MB memory cards. For $40, Datel sells us 2GB. The case goes to court March 1. [TechFlash, Datel’s Motion (pdf)]

Camera rumor site Photorumors snagged a pair of images today that purportedly show two new Pentax cameras, yet to be released. Seen here is the Pentax Optio L10. Below is the Optio H90:

The images were obtained with the help of Google cache, as they were almost immediately removed from the retailer site where Photorumors found them in the first place. Little else is known other than what we see here, but Pentax sure loves its whited out cameras these days, no?

A third, nameless camera was also spotted, but there was an issue with the image download, and it was lost. Lost until we know more, anyway. [Photorumors]

Jim McCormick promised his ADE-651 wand could identify anything, including bombs, simply by waving it around with the right RFID card inside. Yeah, totally fake, and now he’s in prison. Too bad Iraq already spent $85 million on them. Updated.

Literally, the $40,000 (apiece) devices did absolutely nothing. Nada. Zilch. Experts think the insides contained nothing more than a dumb RFID card. Powered by nothing. Nope, not even a power supply. Just some snake oil, if that. $85 million!

Even worse, “inventor” McCormick was a firm, open believer in dowsing (as in, finding water with a stick), and that’s what the device was based on. Dowsing!

The BBC ran an investigative report on the device, during which McCormick claimed, without breaking his stride, that the device could detect explosives up to one kilometer away. Video below (money shot at 7:30 when the insides are shown to be empty):

Now the money lost is bad, but the loss of life is worse. Immeasurable. Security personnel and Iraqi soldiers were using these powerless dowsing rod devices in the field to detect bombs at security checkpoints and who knows where else. Scores died with this murderous thing gripped tightly in their hands. Hundreds more when the security checkpoints, armed with these devices, failed to protect them.

Update: We ran the US’s doubts on this device in November. This story confirms without a doubt that devices were fake, probably resulted in hundreds of deaths, and that McCormick, thankfully for the human race, has been arrested and is awaiting trial (although he’s currently out on bail).

Update 2: The story gets worse. As some have pointed out below, the Iraqi government is standing by these useless devices, even after the BBC report and complaint were filed. [BBC, CrunchGear]

MS Paint aficionado scorpiongold (his YouTube account name) spent four years creating this “masterpiece.” At 2.5mx2.3m, it’s more than a mere painting—it’s an entire world, filled with fanciful whimsy and magical characters. Did I mention it took four years?

As for the hairband soundtrack? Well, like all hairband music, it’s a bit older than four years. And yet, it’s oddly fitting given the circumstances. Interpret the “insane” however you want in this case.

Four years. [YouTube via Geekologie]

With all the Apple tablet talk these days, it’d be OK to lose sight of the fact that the company’s been there before (sort of) with the Newton. Seen here is a rare “Batmobile” prototype of that defunct PDA.

From Flickr user and Batmobile owner splorp, we learn that the Batmobile was a pre-release model of the Apple MessagePad (related to the Newton platform). Sadly, this particular unit does not work, and may have never worked, having been a “technical sample only.” [Flickr]

Since no one wanted to buy the space shuttles when NASA first offered them up for sale, the agency has decided to slash the price to a more modest $28.8 million each. And the engines? Free (pay only S+H).

Discovery is already headed to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, but those other two? Atlantis and Endeavour? Totally available and looking to score.

And the engines I mentioned above originally went for about $400,000 to $800,000 apiece, but no one bit when they were put up for sale in December 2008. Now, when they go out of service with the rest of the shuttle program, they’ll be yours if you pony up the cost of shipping. [NYT via Slashdot]

“Excuse me, sir, but do you have the time?” “Why yes, yes I do.” “Well, what is it then?” “Menacing.”

Anyway, that’s how I see that conversation going down if, by some slim chance in the near future, I’m wearing this $400,000 watch and some curious chap asks me for the time. I’d be wearing an eye patch while drunk, if that helps you visualize the encounter any better.

Designed by Fabrice Gonet, the Black Pearl is a limited run timepiece that includes a number of subtle pirate-themed additions, including the prerequisite skull and bones (etched in glass on the back), a tiny cannon, and some nautical navigation touches. Then there’s the fact that it costs as much as some pirate’s treasure…

There were only eleven made, each with the aforementioned $400,000 asking price. [FLYLYF via technabob]

There’s been tons of great tech-related charitable news this week, and here’s a little more: As of last Thursday, T-Mobile USA has waived all international calls to and from Haiti. The program will last until January 31. Every little bit helps, and if you haven’t donated yet, it’s as easy as texting HAITI to 90999. [Ubergizmo]

As a soccer player living in a country slightly apathetic to the sport, I appreciate any mention of it that I can get. Even so, the geek in me wept a little at hearing this news out of the U.K.:

Steve Jobs: Soccer player?! A full 20% thought so, while 10% thought he was a turtleneck-wearing trade union leader. As for Bill Gates, he was one of the Great Train Robbers of the 1960s, according to 10% of survey respondents. There’s video too, if your inner geek can handle it (although I swear some of these blokes don’t have British accents…):

Twitter didn’t fare much better (not that I really give a hoot about Twitter). What’s going on in the U.K.? [CNET]

This news just missed mention in our ultimate ebook reader guide, too bad so sad, but nevertheless there’s an eReader coming soon from Asus. The 6-inch OLED reader plays flash, includes wifi/3G and lasts up to 122 hours per charge.

Note that, like with all electronics being marketed to consumers today, that battery life claim comes with a caveat: “Under ideal conditions.”

Update: You can check out the full specs over at Electric Pig

The due date is an ambiguous “end of the year” and no price is given, although it doesn’t sound cheap (even if it is coming from Asus). [Times Online via Engadget]

The New York Times experimented with paid content before, without much success, but that’s not stopping them from giving it a go again. This time, however, the paid-to-free content changeover might coincide with a certain unconfirmed mystery tablet.

The NYT announcement is expected to arrive in the “coming weeks,” which puts it smack dab in the middle of Apple’s mystery product press conference, slated for January 27. Convenient!

According to New York magazine, the paid content model could also arrive hand-in-hand with an Apple partnership or distribution deal.

It’s all just industry rumor and buzz for now, of course, but the part about a media partnership rings true considering all the Apple meetings and news we heard on that front in 2009. [New York Magazine via CNET]

With the environment and sustainability firmly in mind the Dell Froot concept saves the planet courtesy two projectors: One for the virtual keyboard, and another for the monitor.

Designed by Pauline Carlos as part of a sustainability contest sponsored by Dell, the Froot also uses a colorful case that’s constructed out of a biodegradable starch-based polymer. As it’s a futuristic concept, the lack of a mouse is understabdable—we’ll no doubt be using our brains by then.

More seriously, Pico projectors are *almost* there, but not quite, otherwise I’d be asking why this is still just a concept. [Behance Network via technabob via OhGizmo]

We’ve featured a few XCM branded gaming accessories here before, but this is the first one in a while that’s not a PS3-to-Xbox 360 adapter or arcade stick. This here is a PS3 light gun, with motion controls.

The video is a demo from XCM using hardware that’s only about 70% complete. Unfortunately that 70% doesn’t include pricing or a release date. Even so, you get a good idea of what this accessory is capable of in the two videos (one here, the other in the source link). [Maxconsole]

Forget the grisly effects of texting while driving for a moment, if you can. Instead, focus on a new epidemic, one that’s admittedly much sillier than the driving one, but no less dangerous. Ladies and gents, meet texting while walking:

Slightly more than 1,000 pedestrians visited emergency rooms in 2008 because they got distracted and tripped, fell or ran into something while using a cellphone to talk or text. That was twice the number from 2007, which had nearly doubled from 2006, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University, which says it is the first to estimate such accidents. [New York Times]

Yes, folks, the situation is so bad that there are now studies on it. There are reports of concussions, sprained ankles and broken appendages, not to mention the countless number of people who hurt nothing but their pride by walking into a parked car and never went to an ER (happens all the time, apparently). Darwin Award winners are not far behind.

Of course, there’s a larger trend here, of which walking while texting is but a small part. It goes by many names: multitasking, information overload, a Gizmodo weekday writer’s normal schedule. Whatever you call it, neuroscientists, cognitive researchers and other professionals are now actively studying its impact on our gray matter. So far, it’s bad. Basically, talking on a cellphone takes up so much of our attention it’s overwhelming ever-important things like, say, our survival instincts. Yes, say researchers, that conversation with your bro about the next Android OS is higher on the pecking order than keeping an eye out for that oncoming train or approaching light pole.

That said, a number of the people interviewed for this story were texting while walking, sure, but they were also flirting or talking with their significant other at the time of the accident. Seems to me the whole texting thing may be a boon to the species after all. Or not. [MSNBC]

Another day, another story about some cheap, plastic Wii motion control accessory finding an application outside of gaming. In this case, it’s the balance board, and not only is this device helping stroke victims recover, it’s saving them money, too.

In fact, doctors at the University of Melbourne found that the balance board, normally used for pseudo Yoga or navigating Mii’s down a virtual ski slope, was so sensitive it could very well replace traditional laboratory-grade “force platforms” doctors use to assess a patient’s balance.

When doctors disassembled the board, they found the accelerometers and strain gauges to be of “excellent” quality. “I was shocked given the price: it was an extremely impressive strain gauge set-up,” said lead researcher Ross Clark, in an interview with New Scientist.

Even better, Clark’s team has already published a paper that verifies the Wii balance board is “clinically comparable” to the nearly $18,000 lab force platform. That’s great news for many smaller physio clinics that would otherwise be unable to afford the traditional rig. [New Scientist]

The infinitely cheesy SNL Digital Short Laser Cats series got a $1 billion shot in the arm last night, courtesy a guest spot by James Cameron. See how many of his movie references you can spot before the “thrilling” conclusion.

It was good, but sadly it lacked the 3D effort put forth in Laser Cats 3. There’s always Laser Cats 6, coming soon to a VHS in Lorne Micheals’ office. [Hulu]