F-Default

We pretty much figured that Nintendo had another reason for releasing the DSi other than just wanting to give us a prettier system like, say, wanting to stop rampant global piracy on the DS. Now that the DSi is out in Japan, the public has tested all of the flash card piracy devices and found the results to be very, very bad. None of them work.

R4 - Failed
EZ Flash V - Failed
CycloDS - Failed
G6 DS Real - Failed
M3 DS Real - Failed
Supercard DS One - Failed
iTouch DS - Failed
FCard - Failed
NCard - Failed
M3 DS Simply - Failed
U2DS - Failed

It’s possible that there’s a card not currently on that list, but from our quick glance, all the big boys in DS piracy are covered. [GBA Temp via GoNintendo]

Source: Nintendo DSi Blocks Pirated Flash Cards [Nintendo DSi]

In the spirit of Halloween, I wanted to show you this absolutely amazing video of Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo training for an escaped rhino by dressing up two guys in a big rhino costume. Instead of candy, they’re dressing up for safety.

Watch! As the “rhino” walks slowly towards the security force! Listen! To the very dramatic music! Look incredulously! As the “rhino” is pushed aside by small poking sticks! Laugh! As two guys in a rhino costume are shot with tranquilizer darts from a van! I only wish all emergency preparedness drills were this hilarious. [Arbroath via Neatorama]

Source: Japan Prepares for a Rhino Attack with Two Dudes in a Rhino Suit [Costumes]

Filed under: Cellphones

The suits at the Department of Justice just green-lighted Verizon’s planned acquisition of regional rival Alltel, moving the two CDMA giants closer to a marriage that would easily eclipse AT&T to become the largest wireless carrier in North America. There’s a catch, though, and a rather hefty one at that — Verizon has to agree to divest itself of some 100 local markets in 22 states to keep the competitive landscape in action; given that they’ve already indicated a willingness to shed some markets to seal the deal, it probably won’t be an issue. The next hurdle for Vertel (or Allzon, depending on how you roll) will come on November 4, when the FCC votes on whether it’ll bless the deal. As for the rumors that Verizon is now eligible to get Alltel at a 50 percent discount with a $1 billion mail-in rebate if it agrees to a two-year contract, we’re not hearing any comment from either side.

Department of Justice approves Verizon’s Alltel acquisition, requires more concessions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:Department of Justice approves Verizon's Alltel acquisition, requires more concessions

Finally, the promise of the $200 Eee PC is, uh, promised again. Jerry Shen, apparently in a meeting with analysts, said that ASUS will launch an Eee PC priced at US$200 in 2009. He also said that 7- and 8.9-inch Eee PCs will be phased out of the market to be replaced by 10-inch models. Although that sounds like it opens the possibility for a 10-inch Eee PC for $200 we’re not counting on it. Shen also noted that 70% of all Eee PCs are now loaded with XP (a latecomer to netbooks) and hard disk drives compared to 30% with Linux and SSDs. Microsoft, you win again.

ASUS: $200 Eee PC in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:ASUS: $200 Eee PC in 2009

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

We heard some pretty far-fetched stuff back in June to the tune of a break-apart DualShock 3, and lo and behold, it seems that someone at Sony Computer Entertainment America is taking the idea quite seriously. A recent patent application was filed by the company, and it fairly clearly lays out the very kind of design we’d (not really) been expecting. In essence, the gamepad would consist of two pieces, each of which would utilize an “ultrasonic tracking system” for some type of game console / peripheral to recognize 3D inputs. Best of all, the approach here sounds significantly different enough from what’s used in the Wiimote that Sony could avoid months upon months of litigation — imagine that, right? It’s hard to say whether this stroke of genius will ever amount to anything, but at least there’s a chance, however minuscule.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Sony patent app details motion sensing break-apart controller originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:Sony patent app details motion sensing break-apart controller