Oct. 25, 2010

Heineken U.K. is bringing Kronenbourg 1664 back to the small screens with the first TV support for the premium lager brand since 2006 with the launch of "Slow the Pace", a new integrated advertising campaign which broke last week. The first execution in the new campaign shows iconic rock band MOTÖRHEAD performing a slowed down version of their classic track "Ace of Spades" (available for free download at this location; free e-mail sign-up required). 30 years to the month since it was first written, the track has been specially re-written by the band for a Kronenbourg 1664 campaign that will encompass TV, press and digital advertising, a short-film documentary and a social media activity. "Slow the Pace" is rooted in the idea that Kronenbourg 1664 is a beer with a lingering complexity that deserves to be savoured slowly. The concept will be brought to life over the next year in a series of executions based on unique musical collaborations with leading artists commissioned to re-write and record a slowed down, chilled out version of one of their most famous fast tracks.

Read more here–>blabbermouth.net
Get free song here –>k1664.co.uk

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Doug Creutz of Cowen & Company thinks the rhythm genre's two biggest competitors would be better off as a team.
By Dustin Quillen, 10/25/2010

In light of sharply declining sales in the rhythm genre, Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz has an intriguing solution in mind for the companies behind the rival Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises: Join forces.While Creutz hasn't yet shared his thoughts on the upcoming Rock Band 3 launch, the analyst predicted an uncharacteristically poor holiday season for DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. "We expect the two Hero titles to struggle to sell 1 million units combined in the U.S. during Q4 2010," he revealed in a research note this morning (via Gamasutra). "Activision's best option at this point," Creutz suggested, "would be to approach Viacom with [the] idea of (re)merging the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises through a sale or joint venture agreement." 

Read more here –>1up.com

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PlayStation 3 and iPad versions to follow shortly after.
By Steve Watts, 10/25/2010

Telltale Games announced its platform and launch release plans for the first Back to the Future game today. The initial launch will include PC and Mac versions in December. PlayStation 3 and iPad versions will come after, but no release window was specified for those launches. The PC and Mac versions can be pre-ordered at the game's official site for $24.95, and includes a copy of Puzzle Agent for download, and access to a pre-release forum to chat with the development team. For those of you looking for more altruistic reasons, $1 from every pre-order will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The plot of the game picks up after the third Back to the Future film, though how exactly it does that with a smashed up DeLorean is a mystery. The series is striving to stay true to its roots, however, even bringing on Christopher Lloyd to voice the iconic Doc Brown. 

Read more here –>1up.com

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By Tony Bradley October 25, 2010

News leaked that Windows 8 is projected for some time in 2012, but the majority of the headlines out there have it backwards. It is being framed as some sort of unexpected revelation that the next OS will arrive so soon, but the fact is that the OS should be released in late 2011 and that this is a delay–albeit a very, very welcome delay. The standard development lifecycle for Microsoft these days is two years, which would place the release of the next Windows operating system around the end of 2011. A post in January of this year from a Microsoft employee leaked an even more ambitious goal–projecting a July 2011 release. While it's easy to roll our eyes and huff about yet another product release delay from Microsoft, and whine about how it never seems to produce or release anything on time, in this case we should all send Microsoft a "thank you" card. Driving a next-generation OS so quickly on the heels of Windows 7 would benefit nobody. A new Windows OS in 2011 would be an utter disaster. Even 2012 might be a bit soon. Windows 7 is an exceptional accomplishment for Microsoft, and it is the fastest-selling operating system in history, but it still has a long way to go to eclipse the decade old Windows XP. It might be late 2011 or early 2012 before that happens, so it is a bit over zealous to expect the market to switch to yet. 

Read more here –>pcworld.com

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By Lance Ulanoff 10.19.2010 Repost here 10/25/2010

Apple CEO Steve Jobs' unexpected earnings report rant highlights Apple's strength in the newest computing form factors: smartphones and tablets. No doubt, the iPad and iPhone are important devices, but the majority of the world still gets the bulk of their work done on desktop and laptop computers. Apple's system sales actually shot up in the last quarter (thank you, halo effect) and may gather more steam with Apple's Back to the Mac unveiling, but the company still trails behind other system giants and the most recent guesstimates still put Apple just about 10 percent of the computer market. This number always surprises me. Apple's fans are so vocal online, especially in social networks, that you assume everyone is using Macs at home and in the workplace. They're not. I use both platforms, but I'm on a Windows 7 PC far, far more often. Sometimes I complain about the platform. If I do this on Twitter, people are only too happy to chime in with "Better get a Mac, Lance" or "Buy a Mac, you'll be so much happier." Maybe, but I couldn't help but wonder, if all these users are so happy with their Macs, why doesn't Apple own 90 percent of the computing market. Here, I collect and dissect some of the best responses. 

Read more here –>pcmag.com

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The only fruity products allowed in the Gates household come from trees
By Jason Mick October 25, 2010

In addition to founding arguably the world's most powerful tech company, Bill Gates also has been among the most generous figures of the modern era, giving away billions to charitable causes. His long-time wife, Melinda Gates, with whom he has had three children, has been critical in steering those charitable donations to worthy causes. In an interview entitled The Donor, published in The New York Times Mrs. Gates sheds intriguing light on a variety of topics, including her charitable efforts. Among her observations is that past charity drives to support sub-Saharan Africa have been biased towards men, leaving women behind. The Gates Foundation's efforts have focused on women, especially, in these regions. She also discusses how she believes in birth control for the third world, despite her religion — Catholicism — opposing it. Perhaps the most humorous part of the interview, though, comes when Mrs. Gates details how Apple products are forbidden in their household. Though she admitted in the past, "Every now and then I look at my friends and say 'Ooh, I wouldn't mind having that iPhone,'" she didn't mention any such desires for Apple electronics this time around. When asked if she owned an Ipod, she appropriately responds, "No, I have a Zune." When asked if her children clamored for one, she states, "I have gotten that argument — "You may have a Zune." She was even more vocal when asked if she had an iPad, responding, "Of course not." 

Read more here –>dailytech.com

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by: Spencer Matulaitis October 21, 2010

Vocalist Mark Osegueda of Bay Area thrash legends, Death Angel, will be one of many contributing artists at this years Winter Metal Symphony (formerly the Christmas Metal Symphony), taking place on January 22, 2011 in Tilburg, Netherlands. Confirmed artist so far include Nils K. Rue (Pagan Mind), Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Anna Phoebe (TSO). Tickets are on sale now and cost € 28,00 (presale) or € 32,50 (show day). Tickets ordered before November 15. 2010 will receive a free gift the night of the show. Death Angel recently announced their first North American headlining tour in support of their new album 'Relentless Retribution' in early 2011. Meet and greet VIP packages for the tour, which includes Lazarus A.D., Early Man, Bonded By Blood, and Hexen, are now available on Ticketmaster.com and Slotix.com. 

The ticket packages include the following: – General Admission ticket – Early entry to venue (where available) – Meet & Greet with select members of the band – Individual photo with select members of the band – Autograph opportunity with select band members – Commemorative Meet & Greet laminate – Collectible Death Angel guitar pick – Limited edition poster – Death Angel patch

Read more here –>puregrainaudio.com

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By Michael Bitton on October 21, 2010

What is that story, you ask? Guild Wars 2 takes place 250 years after the events of Guild Wars: Eye of the North, and those 250 years have not been kind to the Human race, which is in rapid decline. Humanity’s many nations have succumbed to the corruption and destruction caused by the five elder dragons that have arisen, leaving only Kryta as the sole remaining Human nation, and the great city of Divinity’s Reach serves as the home of the Human player. As a commoner, the cinematic describes the player as having never sought glory or riches, leading a relatively simple life, well, at least until that one fateful day he decided to set foot outside the walls of Divinity’s Reach and explore the world. Upon arriving in the nearby village of Shaemoor, the player discovers that the town is under siege by centaurs. Ready to make a stand, I was committed to saving the town of Shaemoor, and this is where our story begins. 

Read more here –>mmorpg.com

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by Loyd Case 10/22/10

AMD shipped its first DirectX 11 GPU, the Radeon HD 5870, in late 2009. Despite supporting Microsoft’s latest 3D API, the new GPU was built on an architectural foundation based on the earlier Radeon HD 4000 series. AMD is now launching its second-generation DX11 product, code-named Northern Islands, but these new processors are based on an architecture that’s a from-the-ground-up new design. The company also approaching this launch a little differently: Instead of pushing out a new, high-end product, AMD is launching two GPUs—collectively code-named Barts—that will be aimed squarely at the midrange market, where cards sell for less than $250. AMD will ship a new high-end product later this year, but the bread-and-butter of the gaming market is in cheaper cards. We expect there will be some initial confusion amongst consumers, since AMD’s branding makes the cards look like replacements for the Radeon HD 5850 and Radeon HD 5870. But with an estimated retail price of $180, the Radeon HD 6850 is actually replacing the Radeon HD 5830, while the $240 Radeon HD 6870 will supplant the Radeon HD 5850. 

Read more here –>maximumpc.com

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