Halo: Reach leaked
Just like its predecessors Halo 2 and Halo 3, Halo: Reach has been leaked this weekend, with modders at Game-Tut finding a way to download the game from Microsoft’s own servers.
Microsoft has been hosting the full game online.
Only a few people were allowed to download the game, and each needed a special code.
Game-Tut cracked the security, and has made the files available via P2P, torrents and warez for the public as [JTAG] Halo Reach RF ISORip XBOX360-XB3.
Gamers have already uploaded videos showing off battles in the game’s Firefight mode.
Microsoft’s response (via Joystiq): “We are aware of claims being made regarding a security exploit related to Halo: Reach and are aggressively investigating the matter. We have no further details to share at this time.”
T-Mobile teases the G2, first HSPA+ smartphone
T-Mobile has teased their upcoming flagship smartphone, the G2, the first phone to access the carrier’s extremely fast HSPA+ data network.
The phone is expected to be the long-awaited successor to the T-Mobile G1, the world’s first Android device.
T-Mobile posted the teaser page today, although it gives little details.
Says the site: The T-Mobile® G1® was the world’s first Android™ -powered phone. Launched nearly two years ago, it created an entirely new class of mobile phones and apps. Its successor, the T-Mobile G2™ with Google™, will continue the revolution.
The T-Mobile G2 will deliver tight integration with Google services and break new ground as the first smartphone designed to run at 4G speeds on our new HSPA+ network. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about the G2 and offer exclusive first access to current T-Mobile customers.
Multiple sites have gone wild with speculation on the specifications, and a few have said the device will have dual 1.2GHz processors, a first for phones, as well as incredibly powerful. Additionally, a leaked T-Mobile memo seems to point to a September release.
T-Mobile says the device has “a theoretical peak capability of 14.4 Mbps.”
We will keep you updated.
VEVO launches music video app for iPhone
The music video website VEVO has launched a native iPhone app today, giving users a way to access the service’s millions of music videos on the go.
Vevo, launched last year as a joint venture by YouTube, UMG and Sony Music, has reached over 1.1 billion streams, with almost 60 million unique visitors in the U.S. and Canada, monthly.
The service has licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music, ABKCO, Beggars Group, Big Machine Records, CBS Interactive Music Group, Concord Music Group, Hollywood Records, Lyric Street Records, Razor & Tie Entertainment, Ultra Records, Walt Disney Records, Wind-up Records, Caroline Distribution, Fontana Distribution, INgrooves, IODA, RED, SAAVN and The Orchard.
Vevo’s app is pretty straightforward, giving users the option to search for music videos, as well as filter through top video, premieres, new artists, artists on tour, and “nearby” videos that are hot in your city.
Any video debuting on Vevo.com will be available simultaneously via the app.
Unfortunately for users with iOS 4.0 installed on their iPhone/Touch, the app cannot multitask, yet.
SanDisk to launch Fuze+ MP3 player
If a new leak proves accurate, SanDisk may finally be updating their aged MP3 player line, launching the new Fuze+ media device.
The Fuze+ will be the company’s first update to the line since 2008.
SanDisk’s new device will have a color OLED screen, capacitive touch buttons and new support for AAC and H.264.
Additionally, the device will have a microSDHC slot which includes slotRadio, and an FM radio.
A few models will be available ranging from 4GB to 16GB, with strong stated battery life of 24 hours for music and five hours for video.
Not priced yet, the device will go on sale in mid-September.
PSJailBreak claims to run PS3 game backups
PlayStation 3 has given modders and hackers a run for their money. For nearly fours years hackers have tried to create a working mod that would bypass the PS3 software protection and run homebrew applications and backups. However, there has been no real breakthroughs, until now, if you believe what PS3News has to say.
According to the site, a product called PSJailBreak will allow owners of any version of PS3 to run backups of PS3 games as well as homebrew applications. The $170 mod is a piece of software stored in a USB drive. By inserting the thumb drive to your PS3 you’ll be able to install and run the launcher application in seconds without permanently modifying the console or its software.
The PSJailBreak application also includes a backup tool which allows users to backup their game discs to the PS3 hard drive. Movies whether DVD or Blu-ray, or previous generation PlayStation games aren’t supported by the tool. The backup manager can also be downloaded for free.
At OzModChips.com the Stock Status says they’ll be shipping preorders by the end of the month.
There are couple of YouTube videos (below) and Twitter updates that say it is working. Hopefully we can confirm this in the coming days. However, for now you should probably take it with a grain of salt.
HTC to launch Google Chrome tablet on Black Friday?
According to multiple reports today, HTC is set to launch their Google Chrome OS tablet on Black Friday, in conjunction with Google and Verizon.
Dubbed the HTC Chrome, the tablet will be the first real competitor to the Apple iPad, which has sold 3.5 million units already since its launch in April.
The reports say the Chrome will use a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, have a 1280×720 multitouch display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of SSD memory, a front-facing camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G and of course, Chrome OS as the operating system.
Says one source: “Expect it to be every bit as geek-tastic as the Nexus One.”
Perhaps more importantly, is price. Sources believe the tablet will sell for as cheap as $99, as long as you sign up for a two-year Verizon data contract.
Improving EMI revenue still leaves them in the red
According to the annual financial report for EMI, smallest of the Big 4 record labels, the company lost 624 million euros (just over $800 million using today’s conversion rates) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.
The report is prepared each year by EMI’s owner, Terra Firma owned Maltby Capital, a Terra Firma owned company which purchased EMI in 2007.
Maltby Capital Chairman Stephen Alexander began the report by addressing developments in recent months suggesting Citigroup, the principal lender in Terra Firma’s acquisition of EMI, might take over the company due to an alleged breach of lending terms.
Alexander wrote, “despite the issues around the financing structure and the related public speculation, both divisions of EMI have shown marked progress in their underlying performance during the course of the last twelve months.”
This translates into losing less money than the previous year, which saw a loss of more than 1.7 billion euros. He also admitted having no actual first hand knowledge of the legal proceedings between Citigroup and Terra Firma.
There is a glimmer of hope for the future if they can survive long enough. EMI’s goal, it says, is becoming “a comprehensive rights management company that can take full advantage of global opportunities in all markets for music to the maximum benefit of its artists and songwriters.”
But are they doing enough to make that a reality? The report’s section on EMI’s recorded music division focused almost entirely on a handful of best selling artists. Diversification into new areas like merchandise distribution and their live recording/distribution service, Abbey Road Live, were almost a footnote.
[More]>>
T-Mobile teases the G2, first HSPA+ smartphone
T-Mobile has teased their upcoming flagship smartphone, the G2, the first phone to access the carrier’s extremely fast HSPA+ data network.
The phone is expected to be the long-awaited successor to the T-Mobile G1, the world’s first Android device.
T-Mobile posted the teaser page today, although it gives little details.
Says the site: The T-Mobile® G1® was the world’s first Android™ -powered phone. Launched nearly two years ago, it created an entirely new class of mobile phones and apps. Its successor, the T-Mobile G2™ with Google™, will continue the revolution.
The T-Mobile G2 will deliver tight integration with Google services and break new ground as the first smartphone designed to run at 4G speeds on our new HSPA+ network. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about the G2 and offer exclusive first access to current T-Mobile customers.
Multiple sites have gone wild with speculation on the specifications, and a few have said the device will have dual 1.2GHz processors, a first for phones, as well as incredibly powerful. Additionally, a leaked T-Mobile memo seems to point to a September release.
T-Mobile says the device has “a theoretical peak capability of 14.4 Mbps.”
We will keep you updated.
Is Hulu really ready for a rumored IPO?
It looks like Hulu, the streaming video service owned by NBC Universal, News Corp & Disney is preparing to become a publicly traded company. The New York Times is reporting unnamed sources indicated an IPO (Initial Public Offering) could happen as early as this fall.
Assuming they can convince potential investors their new subscription service, Hulu Plus, can be profitable, there’s still another hurdle to overcome. Hulu’s management, led by ex-Amazon.com executive Jason Kilar, have been proponents of getting Hulu playing on every screen possible. But some of Kilar’s better decisions have been undermined by Hulu’s owners.
It’s quite possible the insider information given to Times reporters was intended to see how potential investors respond. An IPO may wait if their reaction isn’t positive.
But assuming they do go public eventually, Kilar and his team will need less oversight from Hulu’s content providers. Those providers have been resistant to the idea of Hulu’s free (ad supported) content making its way to TV screens through devices like media center PCs and game consoles.
Looking at it strictly from Hulu’s point of view, this seems like a big barrier to attracting subscribers for Hulu Plus. The problem is Hulu’s content owners are trying to solve the wrong problem.
The question isn’t whether some type of free internet distribution will compete with traditional television services. The competition, both licensed and unauthorized, is already there and the market isn’t going away just because they don’t cater to it.
[More]>>
Former Apple manager pleads not guilty to kickback charges
Last week, former Apple employee Paul Devine was arrested and charged with selling secrets to Asian suppliers in exchange for over $2 million in kickbacks.
Devine, one of Apple’s global supply managers, was charged “with offenses that include wire fraud, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions,” which began in 2006.
This week, Devine has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors say Devine’s email accounts clearly show him “orchestrating” deposits from the Asian suppliers.
Furthermore, Apple has filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against Devine.
Devine worked for Apple from 2005 until this year. Apple, in their suit, allege that Devine “colllected commissions” for years from at least six Asian supplier in exchange for confidential information that helped them to secure deals.
