December 17 Archive

  • CA Mobile Released ally, a Real-Name Social Networking Service Using Positional Information to Connect Friends Has Been Released!

    Posted on January 18, 2011 | No Comments
    var AdBrite_Title_Color = '0000FF'; var AdBrite_Text_Color = '000000'; var AdBrite_Background_Color = 'FFFFFF'; var AdBrite_Border_Color = 'CCCCCC'; var AdBrite_URL_Color = '008000'; try{var AdBrite_Iframe=window.top!=window.self?2:1;var AdBrite_Referrer=document.referrer==''?document.location:document.referrer;AdBrite_Referrer=encodeURIComponent(AdBrite_Referrer);}catch(e){var AdBrite_Iframe='';var AdBrite_Referrer='';} document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,83,67,82,73,80,84));document.write(' src="http://ads.adbrite.com/mb/text_group.php?sid=2053203&zs=3436385f3630&ifr='+AdBrite_Iframe+'&ref='+AdBrite_Referrer+'" type="text/javascript">');document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,47,83,67,82,73,80,84,62)); TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CA Mobile, Ltd. has released ally, a real-name social networking ...

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  • Japan’s Red Cross uses Augmented Reality to get geeks to donate blood (video)

    Japan’s Red Cross uses Augmented Reality to get geeks to donate blood (video)

    Posted on December 21, 2009 | No Comments
    This is one of the reasons why I live in Japan and nowhere else: In order to get more people to donate blood, the Japanese Red Cross Society decided to skip juice and cookies and to go high-tech by using augmented reality-powered digital signage systems [JP] and cute anime characters.

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  • FCC extends deadline on Verizon’s ETF response, lets it enjoy the weekend

    FCC extends deadline on Verizon’s ETF response, lets it enjoy the weekend

    Posted on December 18, 2009 | No Comments
    They're not exactly calling off the hounds, but the FCC's standing down just a wee bit in its hunt to get to the bottom of Verizon's astronomical new $350 "advanced device" early termination fee; the original deadline for the carrier's responses was yesterday, December 17, but instead, the FCC will now be checking its mailbox on Monday. Even in the most extreme outcome, it'd likely be months or years before the FCC would actually go from an inquiry to applying pressure on Verizon to lower the fee. In the meantime, though, failure to respond to the questionnaire will probably result in an entertaining series of strong verbal admonishments and -- if Genachowski's in a feisty mood -- perhaps a flurry of punishing blows to Verizon's torso and upper body.

    FCC extends deadline on Verizon's ETF response, lets it enjoy the weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Final Fantasy XIII gets 39/40 rating from Famitsu magazine

    Final Fantasy XIII gets 39/40 rating from Famitsu magazine

    Posted on December 9, 2009 | No Comments
    The Famitsu [JP], Japan's (and probably the world's) most important video game magazine, awarded New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii with a perfect 40/40 rating just last month. It was only the 13th game to receive that score (4 editors giving 10 out of 10 points), and many people believed Final Fantasy XIII for PS3 would follow today. But that didn't happen.

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  • FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 ‘advanced device’ ETF

    FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 ‘advanced device’ ETF

    Posted on December 4, 2009 | No Comments
    Early termination fees have always represented the flipside of subsidized pricing -- the necessary evil that keeps free phones free. Thing is, they were tough enough to swallow at $175 or $200, but Verizon's recently gone for the jugular in a hell-bent effort to keep subscribers locked in by upping the fee on vaguely-defined "advanced devices" (read: any phone a power user would ever want) all the way up to a mind-bending $350. Turns out the FCC is as confused and worked up as everyone else, though, having fired off a 4-page communique to Verizon's veep of legal and external affairs today asking how customers are notified of the new ETF, how the prorating formula is calculated (hint: they don't like that you still pay $120 after 23 months of a 24-month contract), and how an "advanced device" comes to be, among other things. Riding on the letter are a few extra questions about inadvertent mobile web charges for customers that aren't signed up for a data plan, totaling nine paragraph-long queries that the feds want answered by December 17. Your move, Verizon.

    [Thanks, Daniel P.]

    FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 'advanced device' ETF originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Final Fantasy XIII PS3 Slim to land in Japan by year’s end

    Final Fantasy XIII PS3 Slim to land in Japan by year’s end

    Posted on September 24, 2009 | No Comments
    The PS3 Slim is a hit, but hopefully Final Fantasy diehards haven't already purchased one. Sony has a special white and pink edition coming that will honor the franchise. Plus, it will come rocking a 250GB HDD. So far the special edition is only announced for Japan though. It's slated to be released on December 17 for ¥41,600. (That's a ¥11,620 premium over the standard PS3 Slim)

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  • December 17: Tron Legacy in IMAX 3D

    December 17: Tron Legacy in IMAX 3D

    Posted on September 22, 2009 | No Comments
    When in doubt, make a sequel. When in doubt in the year 2009, tack on 3D. That's the mentality of Hollywood these days—“remakes” are another in thing—and it looks like will be in theaters on December 17, 2010Tron: Legacy . Considering my only knowledge of Tron comes from that one Simpsons episode, I'm not going to pretend to be excited. But maybe some of you are!

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  • Final Fantasy XIII hits Japan on December 17, ‘overseas’ in spring 2010

    Final Fantasy XIII hits Japan on December 17, ‘overseas’ in spring 2010

    Posted on September 8, 2009 | No Comments
    What's the absolute best way to buttress the launch of the PS3 Slim? That would be to launch Final Fantasy XIII very, very shortly afterward. I'm pleased to say that that's exactly what's happening, at least as far as Japan is concerned. Yup, Square Enix just announced the release date of the game: December 17, 2009. For whatever reason the game will be a whopping ¥9,240, or around $100.

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