Kenwood's Hibachi is a strange creature: half-lighting system, half-wireless audio system, and designed to sit in your home and provide ambient lighting and to match your mood. Inside it's bowl-like form sits a three-speaker system, wireless receiver, lighting and battery: the lights also indicates the charge status of the battery, which should let the device run for a whole day. The wireless audio works 30m from the source, so presumably you could sit this baby in your garden on a sunny day as well as pop it somewhere inside. It's weird, but since it's a blend of sort-of traditional and vaguely-modern thinking, I like it. No word on whether it'll make it into a real product, but probablt not too hard to do a DIY. [KenwoodDesign via NewLaunches]

In case you're curious as to the progress of the PS3's upcoming PlayStation Home, the 3D Second Lifeish world in which you can interact with others, watch movie trailers, play games or just decorate a virtual apartment, one of our own readers was invited to participate in Sony's closed beta program and then kindly drafted up his experience for the world to read. His account confirms our skepticism while painting a pretty clear picture of exactly how Home works. And if you've got a second and a PS3, read on for his account.

Character Creation:

The first thing that I noticed when you go in is that the sliders for character customization move slow as shit. They move so slow that you can't really see the difference in the changes that you are making.

General Play

After you create your character, you jump right into your apartment. The controls are pretty intuitive and the integration of an in game psp is pretty cool (basically in game xmb with extra home options)...[you] really need a keyboard to communicate, but it is still functional with multiple emoticons and preprogrammed messages.

Zones

Each different zone you enter you need to download a new file they range from 18 to 33 MB (They should integrate this into the main download). From the main area you can visit the following places:

1. Movie Theater - A movie theater that you can walk around, sit enjoy...more lapdances, all while the trailer of the last guy is playing. Its kinda funny seeing the text bubbles pop up above peoples heads as they see the trailer. 'Game Sucks Ass'....'cool music'...'soundz like bad porn tunez'.

2. Shopping center - Visit store for more clothes, furniture, and 'stuff'. I bought everything I could within 2 mintues. Very limited suppy of 'free' items, currently nothing for 'sale' with actual dollars.

3. Music zone (no download required, part of the main area) - Listen to 1 of 3 tunes and dance appropriately for the style of music. Get made fun of by other dancers.

4. Game zone - Play crappy arcade, pool and bowling games (absolutely no motion integration, very crappy controls, meh all around)

Closing Thoughts

20 minutes and you get the full experience of Home. The only entertaining thing that keeps me logging back on is stalking other people and doing the twist dance maneuver while saying 'grind me hard'. I basically chase people around and shake my booty at them and they try to jog slowly away from me, its pretty amusing.

Home just needs content. It is currently a 3d chat room.

It should be noted that the PlayStation Home beta does not include areas with PlayStation 3 title game integration as we'll see with games like Warhawk and Resistance 2.

Thanks Randy!

For any med students who coveted the original Blackberry pager back in '98 almost as much as they can't wait for the Bold to drop on AT&T, CRN's evolution of the Blackberry will bring joy to your heart. Within which we realize that RIM actually hasn't evolved their drug-metaphor-laden email device all that much.

See, there's the legendary scroll wheel right there on the side of the Inter@ctive Pager 950, for instance, which is basically a shrunken version of the same piece we've been seeing for the last ten years. This could be a sign of getting things right the first time, or perhaps the Pearl trackball vs. clickable scroll wheel debate may still be raging harder than anyone realizes, somewhere in the bowels of BBerry fandom. With the release of the Bold imminent, it's a good time to remember the old days for a minute. Anybody here from the monochrome display, 'two-way pager' days? [CRN via Crackberry]

Whether the Dealzmodo of the Century, a 52-inch Sharp Aquos HDTV for the eye-popping price of $38.42, was a cockup or just a scammy scam, Amazon is now actively canceling orders placed with affiliate myOfficeSource, whose Amazon storefront appears to be totally cleared out. So even if you did get your order in before Amazon stopped taking them, don't expect a giant TV to show up at your door. =( But at least you're not getting charged. =) Here's the full email:

—-—-—-- Forwarded message —-—-—--
From: Amazon.com Payments Date: Mon, Sep 8, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Subject: Your Amazon.com order 104-3863627-8851454 has been canceled
To: '********' <********@gmail.com>
Cc: 'payments-mail@amazon.com'

Greetings from Amazon.com,

We're sorry, but the following order from myOfficeSource has been
canceled.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

==================================================
ORDER DETAILS
==================================================

1 of Sharp Aquos LC52D64U 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000UN914I)

Your credit card was not charged for the order. To view your transaction
status online, please visit:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/css/history/view.html

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com.

Amazon.com

— Thanks tipster army!

If you spent the weekend polishing your application and resume to a pithy, perfectly pitched gloss of why you're the best person on the planet to work for Giz for abysmal pay—but you'll get learned real good, honest—just a reminder that the deadline is midnight tonight, Eastern time. No exceptions, unless you're like the spawn of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, then we might be able to squeeze you in. Everyone else, here are the requirements. Tips@gizmodo.com, subject NYC INTERN. And for the love of all that is holy, NO ATTACHMENTS (like srsly, we'll toss your application). Good luck!

An iPod case that doubles as a secure bicycle-lock-style chain for your iPod... I can't work out if this is marketing madness or shrewd targeting of a small customer sector by Masterlock. I mean, you'd have to work in a very crappy office environment indeed if you felt the need to chain your iPod to your desk while you skipped off for a coffee. Maybe it'll appeal to kids into baggy pants adorned with multiple chains. Hmmm. It's not uber-secure, consisting of a metal shell for the 'Pod and a three-digit numeric-combination lock and security cord, but it may deter the casual thief. Available for iPod classics and first and second gen nanos from later this month, prices starting at $15. [RegHardware]

It looks like some of those price drops we alluded to last month are finally taking effect, but even more drastically than predicted. The Insignia Blu-ray player has been reduced to $230 sans rebates and includes a $100 Best Buy coupon book if you buy it from there (anyone know if the coupons are actually worth anything?). We haven't breached $200 yet, but Blu-ray is getting mighty close. [Best Buy via EngadgetHD]

It looks like some of those price drops we eluded to last month are finally taking effect, but even more drastically than predicted. The Insignia Blu-ray player has been reduced to $230 sans rebates and includes a $100 Best Buy coupon book if you buy it from there (anyone know if the coupons are actually worth anything?). We haven't breeched $200 yet, but Blu-ray is getting mighty close. [Best Buy via EngadgetHD]

At least one person says he was able to download a release candidate of iTunes 8 last night, after a mysterious, out-of-place 'Download Now' button appeared in the middle of the iTunes webpage last night. It's not totally inconceivable—iPhone 2.0 was leaked before it officially launched. We've got support docs that reference iTunes 8 showing up in Asia too. Update: There's a reason we use that bright orange 'unconfirmed' sign above posts—the whole thing is a bullshit hoax, move along. We'll see iTunes 8 tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the dude who's reporting this says he had been using iTunes 6.0 (so why click on the bizarro download button now?) so he's not sure what's new, only that it's a 'HUGE upgrade' from 6.0. His fear of Apple's swift and terrible fury is conveniently preventing him from offering up a download.

iTunes 8 is expected to be packed with new features: a Pandora-like 'Genius' smart playlist, HD TV downloads, a trippy visualizer, and maybe one other surprise feature. Right now we're kinda skeptical, so if you managed to grab it, please let us know. [UFailPix via AppleInsider - Thanks Erick!]

At least one person says he was able to download a release candidate of iTunes 8 last night, after a mysterious, out-of-place 'Download Now' button appeared in the middle of the iTunes webpage last night. It's not totally inconceivable—iPhone 2.0 was leaked before it officially launched.

Unfortunately, the dude who's reporting this says he had been using iTunes 6.0 (so why click on the bizarro download button now?) so he's not sure what's new, only that it's a 'HUGE upgrade' from 6.0. iTunes 8 is expected to be packed with new features: a Pandora-like 'Genius' smart playlist, HD TV downloads, a trippy visualizer, and maybe one other surprise feature. Right now we're kinda skeptical, so if you managed to grab it, please let us know. [UFailPix via AppleInsider]

Actually, it's more like set to 'ouch': a UK government report has revealed the police are testing out non-lethal weapons. These include low-powered lasers which hit a miscreant's skin and burn off the outer layer, 'leaving them in agony, but with no permanent damage,' which sounds lovely doesn't it? At least it won't mess with your brain, like the microwave weapon we mentioned before. The police are also testing out a number of other gizmos straight from superhero or sci-fi armories, including immobilizer glue-guns, sticky electro-shock nets and vomit-inducing stink bombs. All much 'nicer' than getting shot, undoubtedly. But, considering the potential training complications and different side-effects of these systems, added to the risk of over-zealous use, it's bound to raise a few public concerns. I say wait 'til phasers exist, chaps: they'll be safer. [Daily Mail via BBG]

Survey-masters JD Power and Associates have completed their most recent review of US mobile providers, dividing the US into six regions and crowning a king of call quality for each. And for most areas, Verizon is still tops. But not everywhere.

The survey of 22,000 wireless customers from around the country did not touch on data quality, surprisingly, which is obviously a very important metric to factor in to a network's overall quality. Here are the complete results—with nary an AT&T or T-Mobile to be seen anywhere near the top.

Northeast Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest, with fewer customer-reported problems in dropped calls, initial connections and static/interference compared with the regional average.

Mid-Atlantic Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest for an eighth consecutive time, with fewer customer-reported problems regarding initial connections compared with the regional average.

Southeast Region: Alltel ranks highest in the region, with customers reporting fewer problems than the regional average in dropped calls and voice distortion.

North Central Region: U.S. Cellular and Alltel rank highest in a tie. U.S. Cellular customers report fewer problems in dropped calls, static/interference, echoes, voice distortion and late voice message notifications. Alltel customers experience fewer problems with dropped calls, initial connections, static/interference and voice distortion compared with the regional average.

Southwest Region: Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless tie to rank highest in the region. Sprint Nextel customers report fewer problems regarding initial connections. Verizon Wireless customers experience fewer problems with dropped calls, static/interference, voice distortion and failed voice message notifications compared with the regional average.

West Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest in the region, with customers reporting fewer problems in dropped calls, initial connections, static/interference, echoes and voice distortion than the regional average.

[JD Power via BGR]

Survey-masters JD Power and Associates have completed their most recent review of US mobile providers, dividing the US into six regions and crowning a king of call quality for each. And for most areas, Verizon is still tops. But not everywhere.

The survey of 22,000 wireless customers from around the country did not touch on data quality, surprisingly, which is obviously a very important metric to factor in to a network's overall quality. Here are the complete results—with nary an AT&T or T-Mobile to be seen anywhere near the top.

Northeast Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest, with fewer customer-reported problems in dropped calls, initial connections and static/interference compared with the regional average.

Mid-Atlantic Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest for an eighth consecutive time, with fewer customer-reported problems regarding initial connections compared with the regional average.

Southeast Region: Alltel ranks highest in the region, with customers reporting fewer problems than the regional average in dropped calls and voice distortion.

North Central Region: U.S. Cellular and Alltel rank highest in a tie. U.S. Cellular customers report fewer problems in dropped calls, static/interference, echoes, voice distortion and late voice message notifications. Alltel customers experience fewer problems with dropped calls, initial connections, static/interference and voice distortion compared with the regional average.

Southwest Region: Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless tie to rank highest in the region. Sprint Nextel customers report fewer problems regarding initial connections. Verizon Wireless customers experience fewer problems with dropped calls, static/interference, voice distortion and failed voice message notifications compared with the regional average.

West Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest in the region, with customers reporting fewer problems in dropped calls, initial connections, static/interference, echoes and voice distortion than the regional average.

[JD Power via BGR]

Unlike other DVD backup software that has succumbed to movie industry pressures, RealNetworks' RealDVD gives you a new way to copy DVDs to your computer caked with so much DRM that you'll question why you went through the trouble in the first place. (But maybe that's the point.) Fully approved by the DVD CCA, RealDVD rips DVDs to your hard drive complete with CSS encryption...before they're layered with an extra topping for RealNetworks' DRM.

For $50, or $30 for a limited time, RealDVD allows you to rip standard DVDs in perfect quality to your hard drive (no Blu-ray), complete with bonus features, menus and such. The process takes anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes and requires 4-8GB of space. The catch is that these video files can only play in Real's player and cannot be converted for use by your other devices, like iPods or phones.

RealNetworks' solution is that you can buy four additional licenses for $20 apiece to view your content on other PCs. And it's not a very good one.

Then again, it's important to note that this is the DVD copying solution that the industry has allowed. And even with the strict limitations in place, it's surprising that you don't need to have the actual DVD in the drive to play the ripped files. [RealDVD]

We're sure Nintendo has some market analysis that justifies this device, because the company has just announced their Wi-Fi Network Adapter for the Wii and DS. I know what you're thinking: The DS and Wii already have Wi-Fi. This unit is actually a Wi-Fi router/bridge for those who don't already have wireless networks in the first place. Available in Japan on September 18th for $53, it looks a horrible Wii knockoff that you'd buy from a shady store in Akihabara. Kudos to Nintendo for making the process easier for Nentendo Wiii producers everywhere. [Famitsu via Kotaku]

Forget namby-pamby flickering e-ink displays: if Plastic Logic's upcoming electronic paper tech is any good it might actually be the way of the future for newspapers. Due to be unveiled today, Plastic Logic's unnamed device is the size of a sheet of copier paper, about two and half times the screen real-estate of Amazon's Kindle, and is actually aimed at a business environment. But 'newspapers is what everyone asks for' says Plastic Logic's CEO: and this makes great sense since the size of the screen would give it a more 'authentic' newspapery feel. The plastic-screened gizmo weighs two ounces more than the Kindle, and yet is one third its thickness (as you can see from the image—it's on the left.) We'll have to see how capable the device is with it's revealed... and, more importantly, find out how much it costs. [NYTimes]

We have joked about it in the past, but as our mailboxes get filled with clueless people and psychopaths' mails we will have to say it again: there's no chance that the Earth will cease to exist as CERN scientist activate the Large Hadron Collider this Wednesday. So, to all the morons, please stop writing and watch the LHC start up on September 10th using the real-time CERN video broadcast.

And by the way, there's still a chance that one day an asteroid like the one in the video hits Earth, as it has happened six times before. So our advice still applies: don't do your homework, have sex, and love everyone. Except these bozos:

The clueless type

hello here,
the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the worlds largest particle accelerator complex. which will replicate the beginning of a galaxy. in other words something like the big bang theory, the first attempt to use it is scheduled for september, 10, 2008 or this wednesday. i dont know much about it but if it works it will be the single greatest discovery of man kind. answering such questions like 'how did we get here?' or 'how did it all start?' also time travel and alternate dimensions come into question. But if it fails it could become a black hole and we'll all die. i just heard this from a friend today and was wondering if you guys knew anything about it. i did some research of my own but im still confused was hoping for a dumbed up version. also i'm a new gizmodo member and would like to be allowed to comment. thanx

Man, you are already banned and you haven't even been approved.

The psychopath type

con-artist fascist net-nazi bbc.co.uk and con-artist mccain/obama/bush do absolutely nothing to defend the u.s. constitution,ergo; if the LHC is allowed to go online, you have failed at defending the constitution or world safety ya clown porn con-artists (if the shoe fits)...the bbc fails to list all the hidden/missing variables in regards to LHC operations..thier 'world service' is a 'world dis-serice' via dis-informing the public of potential dangers and frauds involved...I will from this date forward add the BBC as complicit in the cern-lhc and affilates decades worth of frauds as I have done with obama/mccain, scott morely, frank wilczek and robert jaffe (to name a few) of clown porn fktard con-artist artist MIT as well as marjorie con-artist shapiro of berkeley, ken bloom of UNL, arkani ahmed of harvard and conan obrien for featuring con artist robert fisher of MIT who works at the atlas detector, ergo; unsolicited comunication of LHC safety...

I hope the FBI is tracking this dude, because I looks like the kind of guy that can kill people at random. [CERN LHC Livecast, video via Dark Roasted Blend]

Esquire's E-Ink cover may either seem like a poor idea to you, or a taster of the way things may go in the future: whichever camp you sit in, you can check it out now as it's hit the newsstands. Over at TheDastardlyReport they've got hold of one, and show its subtle-contrasted goodness in this video. Check out that blinking! It's awesome vaguely disappointing... or am I the only one to think so? Now, if it were a proper dot-matrix affair then I'd be tempted to buy the mag, assuming I could find one of the limited-edition copies. But that's just me, and YMMV. Over to you in the comments. [The Dastardly Report]

Jason and I have been wanting a hero action figure version of ourselves for a long time. Plus a couple of Leia in her metal bikini too, so we can play with them like Dark Helmet. And perhaps two more of potential vicepresident Sarah Palin as well. Unfortunately they are too expensive, which is probably for the better, since the idea is kind of disturbing when you see Palin's legs going out her miniskirt.

This is the Superhero version, with a 45 caliber arm tied to her leg.

And this is the executive version. Hummm... maybe this is not that sick. I don't know. After all, to quote Tom Waits in Nighthawks at the Diner, at least I don't tie up myself first. If you are into Sarah action figures, you can get her naked for $27.95—the executive—and $29.95—the Super Hero. The visits to the shrink are not included. [Hero Builders]

Star Trek fans will be tickled to know that the good ol' starship Enterprise first took flight on network TV on September 8th 1966, and split infinitives became OK. Actually, aspects of the show have become such cultural items that even non-sci-fi fans know the thrilling soundtrack, the iconic hull of NCC-1701 zipping into warp, Kirk, Spock, Scotty, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov, polystyrene alien worlds, and the inevitable death of red-sweatered crewmen. Who hasn't switched on their cellphone (or flipped it open... old Motorola StarTacs were the best) and muttered 'beam me up, Scotty'? All that began 42 years ago, a number that'll please a different set of sci-fi fans. Fingers crossed for the upcoming reboot movie. [Wired]