Oh joy! Its that time of year again, when everyone starts to break out those famed holiday sweaters and vests. You know the ones with all the glitter and elves. Every year I dread it. Maybe I am a scrooge, or maybe I just need to get away. The last time I had holiday cheer was when I was 9 and I still thought some fat dude came rolling down my chimney to rob me of my cookies. I don’t know what it is, really I don’t understand why I get so bitter about this time of the year. It makes no sense to me anymore. Everything is about presents, the black Friday deals, the discounts, who has the larger tree. It also bugs me that people cannot say Christmas anymore, its no PC. I understand we are a diverse culture, but damn that is what has made me so bitter. Corporations, marketing groups, have ruined the holidays. Everyone is now pre-programmed to get out and start shopping the day after Thanksgiving, oh and don’t forget to get your Christmas Tree the 1st day of December, what the hell is that bullshit. The thing will be such a fire hazard by the 25th, I just don’t want to think about it. Oh and then comes the office Christmas parties, what a travesty to humanity those are.

So what is the solution to all this humbugging?

Hell if I know, but I do know something that will help me ease my temporary pain!!!!

GADGETS!!!

So here is my freakin Christmas list, or Hanukkah list, or Holiday list. Whatever, I’m pulling that sweater out, and first thing I am doing to it is add some more rhinestones and maybe another patch of Rudolph. Then I am going to get the biggest Christmas tree I can possibly find, so big that we cant even put the star on the top. I might not make it all the way through December with my false cheer, but that’s why I have a bottle of Lagavulin 16 sitting on reserve.

The Korg Kaossilator:::Link

Logitech Harmony 1000 Touch screen remote:: Link

Robosapien V2:: Umm yeah I still play with robots! Link:

IronKey:: It self destructs your data after 10 bad password attempts. Link:

Xbox 360 EarForce X2 Wireless Headset Headphones:So I can play the 360 without annoying anyone Link

USB Memory watch::Dont ask::Link

Roll up Keyboard:: Link

That’s not it for my list, I will be adding to it as my day progresses. So family, if you care for my Holiday well being then you know what to do.

You have seen the other Palm Centro leaks, well a lot of people understand how we already feel about this device and the way that Palm is just headed. The Treo has become a staple in the the business world. Its the old mans smartphone. To us the brand is boring but reliable. Today an “official” shot of the device has been leaked.

It much nicer to look at and really looks likes something the TMobile Sidekick guys would come up with. But still has the same old man keyboard. These are suppose to be aimed at the youth market. The phone obviously expected to EVDO, and has Sprint exclusivity for 90 days, and $99 price tag. We see the price as it’s only saving grace.

Just like many people out there we think this a step backwards for Palm, we hate to say it but the creative aspect of this brand is dying, and we are pretty sure their Foleo will not save them.

Just checking in again. Still feel a bit silly, I kind of want to crawl under a rock and hide. I just cant believe they came out with this on the eve of my iPhone rant. If it was a week a later I would not be even be writing any of this, but they just had to rub it in my eyes. At least I own up to it, not like some others that should remain nameless.

On that note lets push forward, this is a great milestone for the iPhone and all of the people that want to obtain that mythical creature they call the “JesusPhone”. Now we are still in this things infancy, so we are still not sure that this software from iPhoneSimFree.com will revert with a simple update from Apple, but the site guarantees it will stay put with whatever sim card of your choosing.

So really what is their to talk about other then when can we all get this software. Obviously iPhoneSimFree.com is trying to make a buck, but nipping on their heels is another group of developers working on making this free. Now I would not mind paying a little dough for this software from iPhoneSimFree.com just on principal alone knowing that they have been working on this since the release date of the iPhone.

So get ready for a flood of duplicate posts from other sites going on and on about this topic. Which in its right is a great piece of industry news. but we will try to keep it fresh with new stories and new findings here at The Geekery.

In the yet-another-Google-phone-rumor department, Rediff.com is reporting that Google is just “a fortnight away” from launching its Google Phone.

According to Rediff Google is in talks with service providers in India for an exclusive launch. The Gphone will launch simultaneously in the U.S. and Europe.

Ummm. That’s was fast. I have my doubts on this one. Google must have the most tight lipped employees in the world of no one else saw this coming. Just seems odd to me. I’m putting my money on it that this does not happen anytime soon. But I have known to be wrong many a times. I guess I’m not the only one that is thinking that this is a bit of a farce.

Maybe it’s the fact there’s a Google Phone rumor every other week or so. Perhaps it’s the unnamed sources.

According to Rediff.com Google only needs FCC approval and it’s ready for lift-off. That’s a pretty big hurdle for a launch that’s supposed to happen real soon. And then there’s the whole partnering with wireless carriers thing Google has to work out for the Gphone.

I think this would be a neat new gadget for the market, but honestly does anyone really believe this?

Well maybe not. I know everyone is sick of hearing about the Jesus phone, I know I most certainly am. But I wanted to touch on a topic that is driving me insane. I see new articles about it everyday. Its driving me crazy. Now all of you are saying, “What is driving you crazy?”, all the articles about people finally UNLOCKING THE iPhone! I have read hundreds of claims that people have unlocked the iPhone. But the thing is that is all we ever hear are claims. I know some people have actually done it, but to what extent are you prepared to go to unlock that ironclad device. In the end you might find yourself spending more on unlocking it then actually ponying up the cash for AT&T.

I understand the people that don’t want to give into the system, and that’s neat and all. But really why waste your time, energy, and hard earned money on simply unlocking a phone that might or might not work with your carrier. Plus what happens when your phone dies, or has a malfunction. Do you take it back to Apple? I don’t think that will really work. Granted most of the people that are trying to unlock these things are pretty savy with the gadgets, so I assume they would probably be able to fix most issues on their own, and that’s the rub, not everyone is savy with the gadgets. Its a glass half full type of situation.

Now some people are claiming they unlocked the phone monkeying around with the internal hardware, and some claim the TurboSim card unlocks the phone via blocking it from getting any AT&T info, and a recent one I heard today about people doing it via a firmware hack. Once again I reiterate that this is not a bad thing. This is how people discover things about technology and how innovations are created in the marketplace, simply by taking a device apart and seeing how it works. That’s how technology evolves, which is a great thing. But as these shenanigans keep on progressing I really do not see one true process to unlock these devious devices. So I say this once and once only, that the Apple iPhone is the most secure smart-phone to date. If the Apple iPhone was a building it would be Fort Knox, but I think it would be even more secure then Fort Knox. You see Fort Knox is not open to the public, which the iPhone is, and if Fort Knox was open to the public for 2 months people would have already found a way into the safes. But their are many claims of partially unlocked iPhones as well (Thats like partially stealing the gold then getting shot on the way out by the tower guards).

When I say secure, I don’t mean secure software, or secure from software exploits, I mean it is locked down to the mother-ship and the tractor beam is strong. Their are thousands of some of the best PDA/Smart-phone crackers in the world working on this, and no one has came out with a true unlock method for the masses. The funny thing is that whenever if ever their is one Golden Key to unlock the palace, Apple and AT&T will sit and watch as people start unlocking the phones. Now this is the painful part, they will watch, but they wont be upset. They will be sitting over a tech’s pc telling him to deploy the new firmware that will brick every single one. ONE KEYSTROKE. Then the process begins all over again.

My point to all of this is that the masses will not go along. Once they have touched that glassy interface they will not be able to go back to any other smart-phone. So they will eventually cough up the cash for the AT&T service, and it will come with another rush of profits for the two companies.

Like I wrote about last week, these companies thrive off control. They want to control the influx of information, they want to control your hardware and software. Frustrating at best, but what can we do? Except not buy there hardware and software. This is why I have taken a stand. I would love to have that gorgeous phone, but it does not work with my carrier. So I am waiting for the revised version of the HTC Touch.  To me its as close to an iPhone as any other device.

I guess I have not been struck with the Jesus phone syndrome yet?

Here are some examples of the claims I have been talking about:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I think ten example are enough, I could link to different stories all day.

Wow, I am really really excited about this one. I have lusted after this phone for so long, I just never had the quevos to purchase one, via overseas.

Im not really excited that is coming to sprint’s service per say, Im excited with what HTC is bringing to the table for Sprint. The Sprint Touch has several big advantages over the GSM version, though. The processor speed is doubled: 400 Mhz as opposed to 200 Mhz. The modem is fast EVDO (software upgradeable to EVDO Rev A) . When the Rev A upgrade comes, it will activate the built-in GPS, and you’ll be able to use Telenav for GPS navigation. And this version of the device lets you pop up virtual 12-key and 20-key keyboards with buttons big enough for you to use your fingers, as opposed to the standard Windows Mobile onscreen keyboard with its tiny buttons (which is also an option.) Sprint didn’t give a price for this gadget, but said it’s probably coming in November. Its no iphone but its the closest windows device that comes close. But The Geeks Henchmen disagree.

Ummm…. I really want this phone. Actually I am almost starting to need it, the PPC6700 just cant cut it anymore. If anyone has a special friend that could hook us up with a sprint test model for a review that would be wonderful…. 

mmmmm… wasabi

I don’t want to get into the Console war thing (XBOX360 owns on content) but they are still over priced. $599 for 80GB, granted they have the 20 GB model for $450 which is not bad. I would buy the 60gb model though for $499, seems like the best deal to me. But the question I have still is what kind of content can you download to fill that large Hard drive. Its not like you can download movies now from the Playstation Store. They have trailers for games and movies, and they have music. But the real lump of stuff is Movies. That is why the 360 is still better to me. Not because of the graphics, not because of the controllers, or really even games. Its all about the online content. The 360 would be useless to me if I was not able to use it online. Granted the one great thing about the PS3 is that you can browse the net, which you cannot do with the 360. But whenever MS decides to release IPTV for the box is the day that the 360 will solidify itself in console greatness.

But this is me. Not anyone else, I love gaming but I do have to say I am not that hardcore as some. I am only good at sports games, I love all games but those are the only ones I care to play. Sometimes I do need a little “boom head shot” action but other then that I love the sports games. So what do the PS3 owners think, its a beautiful device I think when it comes to performance it wins by a hair, but the lack of online content must bother a lot of you. I know this topic has been touched on by so many people. But after the release of this model and pricing it just makes me ill.

Now I am not trying to bash the ps3, but I want to know what you PS3 owners think.

Since I am always hunting for the best price for you guys, and probably some of you didn’t get in on the $149.99 deal from best buy, so I figured I would serve this one up while it still lasted.

Over at NewEgg they are selling the HD-DVD player for $162.99. granted you

don’t get the instant gratification, and you have to pay shipping of $7.52. It is  3 day shipping though.

After going through that whole process I would still go buy it from Best Buy, but if are one of those ebayer types that never pays attention to shipping then hell your getting an HD-DVD player for $162.99, AWESOME!!!

Link to sale.

A new device could add hope to those who live in semi-consciousness from brain injury. Like a pacemaker, this device manufactured by Medtronic Inc. is embedded under the skin near the chest. But its two electrodes journey to the brain instead of the heart. Buried into the area controlling consciousness, the electrodes can jump-start patients to a more awake state, lending support to the damaged nerves in the area. One subject went from following voices with his eyes to speaking 16 words and drinking on his own. Eleven more patients will be tested in the pilot study, getting implanted with gadgets that, while sporting a decent battery life, have no MP3 or MP4 support.

Edit: Some more new on this via engadget 

“A 38-year-old man who had been in a near-coma for six years was recently awakened via the use of a pacemaker and two electrodes which were deeply implanted in his brain. The electrical device, manufactured by a company called Medtronic, was used to send impulses to the area of the brain regulating consciousness, and researchers believe that the stimulation may be enhancing brain circuits that are still capable of functioning. The man, the first of 12 to undergo the procedure, has gone from a vegetative state to being able to play cards, speak with family members, and take trips outside. While this isn’t exactly a new technology — as doctors have been experimenting with deep-brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and brain injuries for some time — it is a clear sign that there’s hope for patients whom the medical community has been, heretofore, unable to treat.”

I do have to say that sometimes technology really is the bee’s knee’s. I hope this product succeeds, it is quite amazing. But shouldn’t the device be called a “Brain-Waker” not a “Brain Pacemaker”, eh who cares its still pretty cool. Now only if they could make one that injects caffeine straight to the brain for dull drum Thursdays.

So I read this morning over on engadget that Best Buy was offering the XBOX360 HD DVD players for $149.99. Then Brandon my counterpart wrote about it here at The Geekery. Then a saw a counter post by engadget saying that they were wrong. So I hop on over to Best Buy’s site and I see them for $179.99. I was all like WTF govna! So I called my good pals at the local Best Buy and probed them with a good amount of questions. So in the end I am picking up an XBOX360 HD DVD player tonight for $149.99. He said he read $149.99 on the internal site. So I don’t think it was a mistake, I just don’t think they are ready to sell them in the wild yet for $149.99. But the nice gent stamped my name on the thing and took it to the front counter. Plus get this, Toshiba is upping the ante with the HD DVD give-away, the nice chap at Best Buy told me today that whenever you buy a HD DVD player from Best Buy you will receive a form, you fill out this form with your choice of 5 HD DVD movies you would like and Toshiba sends you those movies for free. WOW!

Now I am not sure if this is just the XBOX HD player and if it is just with Best Buy that you receive this offer from Toshiba, I didn’t want to barrage him with anymore questions. Hopefully he was not feeding me lines just to get into the store.

“So tonight we dine in hell!!”, because I am watching 300 in HD tonight!!!