iTunes Gift Code Hackers Turn Attention to iPhone App Developers [Software]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2oKKZz52Jwk/itunes-gift-code-hackers-turn-attention-to-iphone-app-developers

The all-too-easy-to-crack iTunes gift code has led to a flooded market, making the codes essentially unprofitable. So they've now turned their attention to the App Store to find new, underhanded ways to screw Apple.

Because iTunes' gift codes are so easy to crack, hackers can often only get 1% of the supposed value of their codes (so a $200 gift code could only sell for $2). In an effort to increase that percentage, some pirates have started contacting iPhone app developers, offering to "purchase" their app as many times as desired in exchange for a 50-50 cut of Apple's per-purchase pay.

This kind of tactic undermines what's so cool about the App Store— a nobody can make something hundreds of thousands of people will love, and make money doing it, just on the merits of the creation. That's rare in the software industry, where software is pirated almost on principle, and it'd be a shame to see the App Store corrupted. [AppleInsider and Ars Technica]

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Near Bezel-less KO M-400 PMP Has Nothing to Hide, Lacks Buttons [PMPs]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NE4aviKIus0/near-bezel+less-ko-m+400-pmp-has-nothing-to-hide-lacks-buttons

Most touchscreen devices (yes, even the iPhone, Lauren—dealbreaker!) have a noticeable bezel around their perimeter that bothers many a perfectionist something fierce. But the KO M400, admittedly more concept than anything, offers something different.

What the KO M400 offers is the full monty of touchscreens. Nearly 100% edge-to-edge 5-inch touchscreen goodness, all in HD. The minimalist controls would have even the new sans-buttons iPod shuffle all hot and bothered. Maybe.

I provide the caveat because what this player doesn't offer are specifics. Or even realistic concept images. Look at the thing. Those are either the world's biggest pair of jeans or this thing is the size of a Tic Tac.

Even that screen size is an assumption, provided by the translation wizards at PMP Today. So stop digging through that Easter basket, because this thing isn't in there. Those Peeps, however, those are the real deal. BOOM. [imp3 via PMP Today - Thanks, Brian]

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Exhaustive netbook battery comparison finds a clear winner, no victims

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/exhaustive-netbook-battery-comparison-finds-a-clear-winner-no-v/

It's hardly the first netbook battery comparison to appear in the Thunderdome that is the internet, but this latest thirteen-strong round-up from Australia's NetbookReview is one of the more comprehensive to emerge as of late, with it only slightly compromised by a few netbooks that aren't available in the site's home country. Not surprisingly, the netbooks equipped with six-cell batteries came out well ahead of their less well off counterparts, with the MSI Wind U115 Hybrid leading the way with an impressive time of 6:56. That was obviously aided in no small part by the netbook's dual SSD / hard drive setup, and by a less commonly used 5100mAh six-cell battery, as opposed to the 6600mAh version used in the second and third place Eee PCs (which each clocked in around the four-hour mark). Bringing up the rear were the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 and Dell Mini 12, neither of which were able to eek out even two hours of use. As you might expect, however, all of the tests involved a worst-case scenario, so you can expect to get a good deal more juice from all of 'em if you're not spending every waking hour watching WMV files.

Filed under: Laptops

Exhaustive netbook battery comparison finds a clear winner, no victims originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Samsung NX outfitted with massive lens, teased on rotating platform

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/video-samsung-nx-outfitted-with-massive-lens-teased-on-rotatin/

Eager to get a few more dirty details on the heretofore elusive Samsung NX Series camera? Sorry, bub. Now that we've destroyed your wildest dreams, ruined your Friday and infuriated you beyond description, we will point out that Sammy has a new teaser video of the camera for all to view, and it's looking mighty special. The curvaceous cam is seen behind glass on an endlessly rotating platform, complete with a fairly large lens, a fairly large rear LCD monitor and... not much else. There's no audio to speak of (or hear, for that matter), but it's still a mesmerizing watch. Peek after the break if you're sitting squarely in the "yes Jim, tell me more!" camp.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Continue reading Video: Samsung NX outfitted with massive lens, teased on rotating platform

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Video: Samsung NX outfitted with massive lens, teased on rotating platform originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Arrington drops science on CrunchPad, still won't sell us one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/

In case you missed it (we all have our off days, it's fine) we got our hands on a mess of leaked CrunchPad photos yesterday, and we have to say -- the device looks pretty damn good. Now that the cat's out of the bag, a certain Michael Arrington has shed a little light into what's going on over there at CrunchGear HQ. He says that the "significant step forward" for the device has been in regards to the software stack -- it's now entirely customized, including the (Linux) OS and browser. It also sports an Intel Atom chip; previously, the device has been running Ubuntu on a VIA chipset. "The total software footprint is around 100 MB," he writes, "which is a solid achievement." And last but not least, the industrial design and hardware for this bad boy is being done by an outfit in Singapore called Fusion Garage. It looks like the project is in good hands. But anything beyond that -- including, sadly, a timeframe -- is still anyone's guess.

Filed under: Handhelds

Michael Arrington drops science on CrunchPad, still won't sell us one originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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