[UPDATE] – Data restoration was announced by Microsfot.

I can still remember the first time I had the chance to see the new T-mobile Sidekick back in October 2003! I was so impressed by all of the revolutionary features that it boasted. The cool swivel screen,the full qwerty keyboard and the overall futuristic look of it. Instant messaging from a phone was unheard of in those days and this phone had it! At the time, texting was starting to pick up in popularity, but texting from a standard cell phone was cumbersome and slow. The Sidekick made it easy to send off text msgs in a snap.

The phone became a social phenomenon with the likes of Paris Hilton, Snoop Dog, Tony Hawk and even Dwayne Wade standing behind the product. Unfortunately, over the years, I have noticed features that just weren’t cutting edge anymore. The Sidekick OS was not very compatible with certain webpages, youtube was just introduced in the latest LX 09 and Pandora is still not supported. Other phones had newer more exciting capabilities that were attracting new customers, Blackberry and I phones for example. However many side-kickers were loyal and stayed with their product…until now!

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks,you probably have noticed that the Sidekick has suffered one of the most catastrophic cloud server crashes ever! They have committed the almighty sin of all sins, losing customer data.

Contacts stored on the sidekick are generally not stored locally. You can save a few to the sim card, but when you have over 1400 contacts, a few won’t cut it. Therefore the majority of the contacts are stored on a cloud server that Danger ( a Microsoft Subsidiary) maintains. Someone decided to perform a server uprgade without backing up any of the data. When the upgrade crashed, the data was lost forever into the abyss! This has caused an uproar in the sidekick community, as blogs and threads are telling stories of absolute chaos.

Many of us, used our sidekicks for business. Business contacts that are garnered over 6 years are considered a valuable business asset. The fact of the matter is that the Sidekick was not “backup friendly”! To backup all of your contacts, calendars and notes, you would have to purchase a sidekick intellisynch program and download all of your contacts to your outlook. The process was cumbersome and quite annoying! Luckily I performed a backup in August because of a critical hardware issue on the new LX 09!

The new LX 09 has to be the worse product ever introduced to the mobile phone market… ever! The phone had so many problems its a wonder who is in charge of quality control over at Danger! The phone overheats when charging, turns off on its own, has no battery life and the biggest disaster of all, the keyboard is defective! I had to return my phone 3 times because of a bad keyboard. They are made up of this rubbery material that hardens after a few days of use. Texting is almost impossible after a week because the buttons practically turn to stone! T mobile agents say its not a known issue, but according to the many discussion forums, everyone is getting carpal tunnel syndrome from this phone!

Couple the deplorable LX 09 unit with the catastrophic data outage that occurred this week and its spells THE END!  Iphones and blackberry sales will be up in the next few months as  sidekick users vertically migrate to better products!

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Title: Dissidia: Final Fantasy

Platform: PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Developer: Square Enix

Number of Players: 1 ( 2 players Ad Hoc)

Square Enix made every Final Fantasy fan boy’s dream come true with the reveal of Final Fantasy Dissidia. Ever wanted to find out who would win Cloud or Squall, or maybe who is the toughest baddie around Kefka or Sephiroth. Dissidia is a hybrid of an action RPG, and a fighting game that takes lead protagonist, and antagonist from each entry of the series providing crossover mayhem. Besides being the ultimate Final Fantasy cross over, Dissidia also boosts with impressive visuals, and large variety of game modes that keep the game fresh, thru many plays.

First impressions of Dissidia started off strong and rather impressive. After starting up the game for the first time, I was asked a variety of questions based on my play style, and which day would I play the most. These two options help to enhance the player experience. Your play style grants various awards of increasing value depending on the style you choose. For instance the casual play style will only take fifteen battles to complete, but the rewards will not be as great as completing the hard-core sixty day plan. The second option simply grants additional experience, Gil, AP, and PP on the selected day.

After setting your quick preference you reach the main screen, where you have several options from the get go. Story mode; Arcade mode, Quick Battle, Communications mode, and many more to choose from. This menu is just a small taste of the amount of options that become available to you through out the course of the game. So after briefly shifting thru the main menu its time to finally to grab your favorite final fantasy character and get things going in the story mode.

When you hear the words Final Fantasy you know a good story is on the way. Unfortunately at first glances you made be disappointed. The games main plot is divided into to portions. Called Destiny Odyssey, and Shade Impulse. Destiny Odyssey is essentially a re-hash, of one specific part of the corresponding characters’ story. After completing Destiny Odyssey, you can enter Shade Impulse, here Dissidia’s Plot begins, and is pretty enjoyable.

When your very first battle begins Square-Enix eases you into the battle. Dissidia has a fair amount of depth to it, and can be a little overwhelming for either the fighter buff, or the Role-playing fan. The game plays like an action RPG very reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts, and Crisis Core, while maintaining complexity of role-playing character growth. In battle you have several gauges, and number on screen, that all surround your characters portrait. You have your Hp (health), then you have bravery, which determines the number of Hp damage you can inflict on your opponent. Performing bravery attacks by hitting the circle button can increase this number. The last gauge is your Ex gauge which servers as a form of special transformation, giving you enhanced abilities, and the ability to perform ex bursts (super moves) that will usually turn the tide of the battle.

With all of the basics in mind you get to apply in real time using a combination of Hp and Bravery attacks, to set your foe up for the coup de grace. You can switch up, which moves your using by alternating directions with both the Square, and circle buttons. On average I would say each character ends up with twelve moves or more. Combine this with the roster of twenty-two characters keeps the game very fresh, and avoids repetition. Summons also make an appearance, and there is a very impressive amount as well ranging from classics like Bahamut, to appearances by the elemental Archfiends from Final Fantasy IV. The summons aid you in battle by affecting you, and/or your opponents bravery values. The only draw back the battle system has is the camera can be somewhat clunky at times. In order to keep the camera functioning properly you will always want to be locked on to your target.

With the battle system being very solid, what better way to enjoy then going head-to-head with your friends. Unfortunately, there is no online game play, so you will have to be within close proximity of your friends to play. The multiplayer plays fairly smooth after doing several matches I only encountered slight lag with some of the games more grand animations. You can also exchange friend cards with your friend to go up against a computer based opponent based off your friends last used character. The game also yields many benefits to those who play multiplayer. Obtaining artifacts, or duplicating your friends best accessories for your own personal use.

While the combat is solid Dissidia has a whole bag of tricks left to impress. While battling foe after you gain will gain Gil, which can be used to purchase various accessories, and equipment to enhance your character. There is also a good variety of equipment that create special effects when worn together as sets usually yielding rather potent results. You also have the ability to generate items mid battle, and use these components to create even better accessories for your character to take into battle. If you have a particular accessory you like you can use booster accessories to enhance them. Dissidia offers a plethora of ways to acquire new items. Also to quote the game itself after completing the story line the game is really just beginning.

Dissidia offers a great battle system, with a surprising amount of depth both in game play, and item procurement. To compliment this Dissidia also offers some of the most impressive visuals seen on Playstation Portable. The lighting fast battles have some incredibly flashy, and detailed animations. The summon animations were a bit of a disappointment, but the inclusion of them was a nice addition. Their animations are only 2D images that appear on screen for a brief moment. Dissidia definitely delivers when it comes to the visual department.

Visuals, aren’t the only beautiful thing about Dissidia, it further enhances the experience with an amazing sound track. Featuring a compilation of songs of each and every entry of the series. Typically each game receives a standard battle song, a last battle track, and various main themes from each game. Dissidia also brings some original tracks to the table that do not disappoint. One aspect of Dissidia’s Sound that is rather lacking is the voice over department. For the most part the character voices are, not to bad, but there are some characters that will make you cringe. To any Zidane fans out there I apologize in advance.

Overall Final Fantasy Dissidia is a must have for Playstation Portable owners. Offering a vast amount of extra content, and variety of game modes, players can spend well into One hundred hours exploring every inch of Dissidia. The multiplayer component, also offers some exciting game play with other Dissidia owners. The actual quality of the combat is very solid, and keeps a good pace for both on the go play, and more serious play. The story, visuals, and impressive sound track, are yet another reason that makes the forty-dollar price point even more worth it. In The end Final Fantasy Dissidia gets a 9 out of 10.

9/10

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Our friends over at ThinkGeek.com have come up with the answer to our portable emulation prayers! A single hand held unit that will run most of your favorite emulators and play all of your favorite roms.  We all love the Nintendo DSI, but this unit takes things to a different level with boundless possibilities for the user.

The unit has limited software when you first open it from the box. However, I am sure, all of our readers have all of the emulators and roms they need in some old hard drive stuffed away in the basement or attic.

The unit runs:

MAME
AMIGA
ATARI ST
Commodore 64
NES
SNES
GAMEBOY
GAMEBOY Advance
NEO GEO
and many many more…..

The unit does more than just emulate great retro games, it also plays MPEG 4 videos, xvid and divx.  The unit features voice recording, calendar, e- book reader etc etc etcetera…  You can navigate the menu through a  high resolution touch screen. All in all, this is a wonderful piece for the retro gamer. There is even an active community of developers that are writing for the unit, the possibilities are endless!

Price $179.99, thinkgeek.com

Here is a great site where you can download all the emulators available for the Wiz as well as other homebrew software. Please take a look at this before you buy.
http://dl.openhandhelds.org/cgi-bin/wiz.cgi

Product Features

• Pocket gaming system can emulate oodles of different old computer systems, arcade games and retro gaming consoles
• Emulation Software Available for: MAME (retro arcade games), Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore VIC20/64/128, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, NeoGeo and more
• Built-in support for Flash based games
• High-resolution OLED touchscreen with removable stylus
• Built in mic for voice recording
• Stereo Speakers
• Gaming controls feature a d-pad on the left with buttons/d-pad on the right and two shoulder buttons on the top
• Runs Linux
• Buit-in 2000mAh Lithium Polymer Battery runs the system for up to 7 hours
• Charges via USB

Specifications

• CPU – ARM9 533MHz (overclockable to 800MHz), H/W 3D Accelerator
• LCD – 71.12mm(2.8inch) QVGA OLED Touch Screen
• RAM – 64MB
• Built-in Storage – 1GB
• Expansion Port – SD/SDHC
• O/S – Linux
• USB – 2.0 High Speed
• Connecting Port – 24Pin (Other port supported)
• Battery – 2000mAh Lithium-ion Polymer
• Charging System – AC Power / USBPort
• Audio – Built-in Stereo Speakers and 3.5mm headphone jack
• Size – 121mm(w) x 61mm(h) x 18mm(d)
• Video Formats Supported – MPEG4, Xvid, DivxAVI
• Audio Formats Supported – OGG, WAV
• Video Resolution – Max480*272 30fps
• Bit Rate – Image: Max 2500kbps, Sound: Max 384kbps
• Subtitles – smi File
• Built in Flash Light 8.0 Support

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So it’s been a while since E3 and what have we found buried in between our couches?  Receipt for Crystal Pepsi Six Pack, a left pinky toenail and a little rumor that has your favorite 1982 classic title, Choplifter, making it’s way back onto the gaming scene.  For those too young to remember, Choplifter was a game that featured..you guessed it… a chopper lifting poor civilians from the ground and transporting them to a safe zone marked with an “H” symbol and a building with an American flag.

Fun Factor for Choplifter… Were you saving these people from the Cold War?  Could it be the Korean Conflict?  No, it had to be from the poor graphics that made people scream “Wow” from the Commodore 64.  This title could very well hit the PSN, Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare or even the iPhone.  So as long as it’s a rumor, let the comments fly.

Developer InXile Entertainment filed a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the title “Choplifter.” The filing locked down use of the title for “downloadable electronic games via the Internet and wireless devices,” raising the possibility of a digitally distributed version of the game for consoles, handhelds, or possibly the iPhone.

source

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These bow ties are too tight

We love free stuff.  I’m sure you love free stuff.  We’d like to give you free stuff, with our Legendary “Caption Contest”.  We are working with EA on this promotion for Star Trek mobile, and with a (funny) caption in this contest you’ll win some free Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 merchandise from us.  What’s the relation you ask?  Simple. Sci-fi.  That’s it!

Rules are simple

1. Submit a funny caption in the comments below

2. Make us laugh and you win

What we’re giving away:

- Autographed picture of Ric Flair as Commander Hill.

- 5 Limited Edition EA Command and Conquer T-shirts.

Star Trek The Mobile Game: YOU are the captain of the USS Enterprise in this action-packed shoot-em up based on the blockbuster movie. Soar through galaxies as you race to complete your campaigns. Pick up new weapons and fight valiantly alongside and against famous ships and races from the Star Trek Universe. Collect power-ups to increase the abilities of your ship – including speed, energy and firepower. Explore the depth of the score system and get higher ratings on the high-score ladder. Get beamed up!

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If you are one of the many iPhone users that I cannot stand, this will probably tickle your pickle! If you are a Street Fighter4 fan even more so. The iPhone now has a free App for SF4, filled with a move list and unlockable items . This app is for the console version of SF4 (PS3 and XBox360). So, I guess get them while they are hot, yet another bragging iPhone App item! Damn you iPhone users and your luxurious apps!

source

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Just because in this day and age we are not lazy and obese as it is, how about we take it one step further! No need to turn the off switch on your iPod when you are in your College Classroom when then teacher asks you a questions! All you have to do is simply stick our your tongue and your iPod music will be no mores but the teacher may question why you are sticking your tongue out at him or her. This is all thanks to brilliant mind,  Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University and this is what he has to say!

The Ear Switch looks like a normal set of headphones, according to an Agence France Press report, but includes a set of sensors that allows its on-board computer to measure tiny ear-canal movements.

The result, Taniguchi claimed, is that “an iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his or her tongue out”.

He added that the user can also skip to the next track by widely opening their eyes or skip back by winking. Other facial expressions could also be programmed to control other features.

That is right need to change track , just wink our of nowhere ! That will look normal on the subway when a creepy guy is checking you out!  In all honesty though, this is a pretty coo gizmo and changing tracks is sometimes a pain when you are on the run or have your hands “occupied”. Just do not be surprised if you look like a weirdo while using it and  you have to make sure you scraped your tongue  that morning and  your dental hygiene is in check!

source

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Seriously though if you want a “Real” workout and want to lose some actual weight instead of a virtual scale from Wii Fit, buy Dance Dance Revolution  Universe 3 or any DDR version for that matter. The old and  unpopular songs are actual the most hardcore if you really want to sweat and shed some pounds. Now if you just want another iPhone game or app to show to your friends and brag, sure get this game! By the way Konami announced this game recently but has been out for a while!  The price goes for a  mere $6.99 if you want to add this to your iPhone.

source

Click for J-List

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Space Invaders

It was 1978, the year Space Invaders was born.  There’s something so simple about defending the world from lines of aliens.  Sure, they’re just a bunch of pixels, but if they get too close to the ground… let me not even think of the horror that very well could.  Using an innovative motion sensor, players will use the touch screen to fight of the lil’ jellyfish freaks.  The “Nagoya Attack” technique and other tricks present in the original game remain here intact, and further value is added by the presence of bonus content including a rare look into the original game’s development.

SPACE INVADERS
Publisher: TAITO Corporation
Platform: iPhone 3G / iPod Touch
Genre: Game (Action / Arcade), Entertainment
Release Date: Now Available*
Price: US$4.99 / EUR3.99

Cooking Mama

For those women out there who like to keep up with their cooking skills, and hate to put down their gaming needs, Cooking Mama is for you.  Players will be able to enjoy the experience of food preparation through a variety of activities simulating chopping ingredients, frying, boiling, etc.  Best of all, you can make your husband/boyfriend happy and keep doing what you love to do.  I wish there was a “Shut up and make me some silver dollar pancakes”!

COOKING MAMA
Publisher: TAITO Corporation
Platform: iPhone 3G / iPod Touch
Genre: Game (Action / Simulation), Entertainment
Release Date: Now Available
Price: US$6.99 / EUR5.49

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Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS will soon be joined by a 3rd “real” competitor, SEGA’s “Vision”.  Currently, the “Vision” is a draft model that does not play retail games…yet.  It’s more of a portable media player (PMP).  Here are some specs/features and the latest info:

MP3’s, MP4’s, AVI, images, 1.3 megapixel camera function (still images only), eBooks/text, voice recorder, radio, television and 2gb onboard memory.  Will only play flash games.

SEGA Vision is currently NOT on sale.  But estimates have the device at £70 – £90 retail price.

source

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