PC | Xbox 360 USB memory support coming April 6

PC | Xbox 360 USB memory support coming April 6: "

Microsoft dates, details upcoming system update allowing the use of third-party storage devices.

Last week, rumors surfaced that Microsoft was planning to introduce USB memory device support for the Xbox 360 through a firmware update this year. Not only has that rumor proven true, but gamers won't have to wait long to check out the new functionality. Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb announced today through his official blog that a system update allowing the use of third-party USB storage devices with the Xbox 360 is scheduled to arrive on April 6.

Xbox Live just picked up a few more menus.

With the update, users will be able to store up to 16GB of Xbox 360-related content on a third-party storage device. Any remaining space on the USB drive, which must have a minimum capacity of 1GB, can be allocated for use with a PC or Mac. Two 16GB storage units can be used concurrently, allowing for up to 32GB of external memory.

Hryb went on to note that while USB hard disk drives are compatible with the update, flash drives should perform better and are thus recommended. Users will be able to use their devices to store profiles, game saves, demos, and other information. The update will also tweak memory management functions to allow better control of what the user wants to copy or move between devices.

Until now, users wishing to increase the memory capacity of their Xbox 360s were limited to Microsoft's own memory cards and hard drives. Attempts to circumvent this have led to system updates locking out unauthorised storage devices. Late last year, Datel, a manufacturer of storage devices, responded by taking legal action against Microsoft and accused the software giant of antitrust violations.

Hryb also revealed a partnership with SanDisk to release an Xbox 360-branded flash drive preconfigured for use with the console in May. Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that its 250GB hard drives for the Xbox 360 are now available separately for $129.99 in North America.

PDFmyURL.com - Convert and save pdf from any webpage for free

PDFmyURL.com - Convert and save pdf from any webpage for free

Google Dashboard Provides a Top-Down Look at Your Google Use [Google]

Google Dashboard Provides a Top-Down Look at Your Google Use [Google]:

Ever wanted to take a step back and look at all the Google apps and data you're hooked into? Google's offering that top-down view with Google Dashboard, a central clearinghouse for app settings, privacy information, and use statistics.

The main value to the average user at the Dashboard, reachable at google.com/dashboard when signed into a Google account, is a peek at all the services you use, the data Google's acquired from you, and quick links to each app's settings. You also get direct links to your Google calendars, your most recent Gmail messages and Google Docs documents, and secondary settings, like changing your personal information in apps that use that data. Those with privacy concerns also get quick links to the policies of every app they're using.

Facebook addicts spend more than a week per year on the site

Facebook addicts spend more than a week per year on the site: "The average person who used Facebook in each of the last 12 months has spent 70 hours 26 minutes on the site during that period, according to a spokesman from Nielsen Online, the company which conducted the research. They also calculated that the most addicted users have spent over 125 hours on the site during the last year.

Will your device get an upgrade to OS 5.0?

Will your device get an upgrade to OS 5.0?: "

The launch of OS 5.0 appears to be nearing, so you might be wondering if your device is eligible for an upgrade. RIM won’t release the OS for every device, but it will offer upgrades for all of its latest generation handsets, plus one older model — and for that one I’m grateful. After the jump, a list of the eligible devices, plus a hint of when we can expect OS 5.0 to become officially available.

The list:

• BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8200 series


• BlackBerry Curve 8330 (yay!)


• BlackBerry Curve 8350i


• BlackBerry Curve 8900


• BlackBerry Bold 9000


• BlackBerry Storm 9500 series


• BlackBerry Tour 9630

The cut-off, it appears, is for devices with more than 64MB of internal memory. That would exclude the original generation Curve devices, plus the Pearl 8100 series and the 88xx series.

Good news: the Verizon Storm 9530 update is live now. So does this mean that other OS 5.0 releases will be coming shortly? We’ll keep this updated, and also make sure to check out the Twitter feed for the latest on OS 5.0.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

FROM GOOGLE VOICE BLOG: Google Voice Offers Voicemail Without a New Number [Google Voice]

Google Voice Offers Voicemail Without a New Number [Google Voice]: "
Want in on Google Voice's web-based, transcribed, custom-greeted voicemail, but you're not quite ready to adopt a new number? Starting tonight, Voice users can choose to keep their number and still get Google's upgraded voicemail features.
You'll still need a Google Voice invitation to get started, which you can request for yourself or beg a friend for. Once you're in, you can choose to either pick up a new number for the full Voice service—voicemail, SMS, selective call forwarding, and more—or keep your number and walk through Google's forwarding setup for your cellphone, in what the search giant is branding as "Google Voicemail."
Your voicemail will be routed to Google's servers, transcribed and sent to you by SMS or email, if you'd like, and accessible from your Voice web page (or playable in Gmail). It's a similar offering to what services like YouMail have been offering for some time for phones of all kinds, but with seemingly unlimited transcription and storage space. You'll also be able to set up custom greetings for each caller to your voicemail.

Google Voice with your existing number [Google Voice Blog]

The Stock Market Is Rebounding Big Time – Should I Care?

A good article from a great website (www.thesimpledollar.com)

The Stock Market Is Rebounding Big Time – Should I Care?: "

Since mid-March, the S&P 500 is up almost 58% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up almost as much. If you opened your retirement savings at the end of the first quarter this year and looked at the numbers with a cringe, it’s likely that if you looked at the numbers right now, you’d feel significantly better.

Continue to the full story here

Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Controversial to say the least. I think the committee may be trying to influence policy decisions in Afghanistan...

Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize: "US President Barack Obama is announced as the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

"

The Uneducated American

The Uneducated American: "Education in America, suffering for years, is about to get much worse thanks to cuts caused by the financial crisis."

Why Life Without Cable or Satellite May Be Easier than You Think [Television]

Why Life Without Cable or Satellite May Be Easier than You Think [Television]: "

If you're interested in dropping your overpriced monthly cable bill but aren't sure how you'd survive without your TV favorites, the gadget gurus at Gizmodo turn an eye toward their pocketbooks and discover life without cable isn't as hard as you'd think.

Back in January Kevin detailed how he cut the cable for good with Boxee and Apple TV. Gizmodo's Sean Fallon takes a similar approach, but opts for a small Windows box over Apple TV so he's got more options to easily try out different media center software as it comes out. After ditching his cable package for a month for media he could stream for free with services like Hulu or Netflix, how did he feel?

When all was said and done, I found my experience without standard cable television to be more liberating than anything else. Sure, streaming video isn't always HD quality, not all of my favorite shows are readily available, and I have to search around a bit more for the things I want to watch—but I didn't suffer and I didn't feel like I was missing out. The added expense [of cable] was not justifiable—especially when I was paying for a bunch of things I never watched. The best part is that I was able to get pretty much everything I needed with a basic set of tools that anyone with a computer can take advantage of right away.

It's worth noting that Fallon didn't even 'cheat' and use BitTorrent, so all the content he was accessing was freely and legitimately available on the internet.

Have we got any ex-cable or -satellite subscribers who've made the transition away from their bloated subscription packages? Let's hear more about your experience in the comments.

Life Without Cable or Satellite TV Is Easier Than You Think [Gizmodo]