New iPod competitor so crazy it just might work [Zen Mozaic]

New iPod competitor so crazy it just might work [Zen Mozaic]: ”

Creative’s Zen Mozaic won’t shorten the lines at the Apple Store, but its puzzle-like keyboard would be perfect in the Joker’s greasy hands. It’s the first non-iPhone I’ve seen with real head-turning potential.

(Via Valleywag.)

Looks like the venerable tradition of Japanese … [Videogames]

Looks like the venerable tradition of Japanese … [Videogames]: “Looks like the venerable tradition of Japanese tentacle porn isn’t just confined to dirty manga or the occasional video clip anymore—you can now enjoy all that hot slithery action on your Nintendo DS screen too! We’re still holding out for someone to create a Wii version using motion sensors and a balance board for that extra added touch of realism, however. Just think of all the calories you’d burn off trying to escape from your virtual octopod paramour’s evil clutches … (kotaku.com)

(Via Fleshbot.)

Love Is Out There… Even For Zombies

Love Is Out There… Even For Zombies: ”

They say there’s someone out there for everyone — and if Zombie Harmony has its way, ‘everyone’ will also include the undead. Hey, just because you’re a rotting reanimated corpse, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a little somethin’ somethin’. (Wasn’t that the whole plot of ‘The Re-Penetrator‘?)

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(Via BOINKOLOGY.)

Steve Ballmer talks Microsoft phones, sparks Zunephone rumor

Steve Ballmer talks Microsoft phones, sparks Zunephone rumor: “

This quote from a recent Steve Ballmer memo is being flung around gadget blogdom as potentially hinting at the reality of the long-rumored Zune Phone:

We’re changing the way we work with hardware vendors to ensure that we can provide complete experiences with absolutely no compromises. We’ll do the same with phones—providing choice as we work to create great end-to-end experiences.

I’m not really buying it. The theme of Ballmer’s email is the difference between Microsoft (choice) and Apple (end-to-end). Microsoft certainly does do things end-to-end with the Zune and 360, but this email was ostensibly about choice, and the preceding sentence makes clear that he’s talking about how they work with hardware vendors. This seems to be nothing more than a vague promise about continued improvement to Windows Mobile on many different hardware platforms, but has been bizarrely catapulted to Zunish zeitgeist by yesterday’s blog meme of mszunefan lasering off his corporate branding tattoos.

Or one, at least, hopes so… Microsoft must, at least, have the sense not to infect a possible iPhone competitor with the disastrous Zune branding.

Update: unwired has another Zunephone rumor, filled with unremarkable predictions like ‘It will run on Windows Mobile 7.’

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s Full Memo to the Troops about New Reorg [All Things D]

Image: Zunescene

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(Via Boing Boing Gadgets.)