Digital City podcast

Digital City No. 56: Mixed news for Nintendo, plus the social utility of the iPhone

Dan Ackerman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:58:00 PST

Episode 56 of the Digital City, where we discuss Apple's plans for a monthly iTunes TV subscription service; Joey wonders why everyone puts up with poor iPhone service (hint: it's the social utility of shared experiences); and Scott finds out how much laptop $350 can buy.

It's also a mixed bag for Nintendo, with Wii sales down 50-percent over last year, and a lukewarm reception to the larger screen on the DSi XL handheld -- but at the same time, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and targeted games such as Style Savvy may bring in holiday shoppers. Finally, check out a hands-on look at DJ Hero, and see Scott rock a trucker hat straight out of 2003.

>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
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Listen now: Download today's podcast
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Bonus -- Hands-on video with DJ Hero:

Games not just for girls: Style Savvy hands-on

Scott Stein — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:48:00 PST

A male editor at CNET braves Nintendo's girl-oriented fashion game for the Nintendo DS and finds it deeper than expected.

Originally posted at Crave

Dragon Age: Origins released, RPG fans rejoice

Dan Ackerman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:24:00 PST

This year's entry in the epic RPG/adventure game category is Dragon Age: Origins, releasing Tuesday, November 3. Having now played a preview build of the game for the past six weeks, we can safely say it's one of the year's best.

Originally posted at Crave

Digital City No. 55: PS3's Netflix play; Sony's Vaio X; and Halloween horrors

Dan Ackerman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:38:00 PDT

This week on the Digital City, we consider the PlayStation 3's awkward Netflix implementation; marvel over the super-thin Sony Vaio X laptop; debate the fate of FireWire in new MacBooks; and review some gamer-friendly Halloween costume ideas.

We also plug the first round of Windows 7 laptop and desktop reviews; mourn the death of Geocities; and find out why Julie and Dan have swapped seats for a week.

Plus -- take an early sneak peek at Dan's Halloween costume -- but it only makes sense if you're over, say, 30 and kind of a geek.

>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

Getting Blu-ray on a new 27-inch iMac

Joseph Kaminski — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:10:00 PDT

Apple's new iMac all-in-one desktops impressed us, especially the massive 27-inch model we reviewed this week. But we're left wondering what happened to the rumored Blu-ray drive option.

Get an early taste of Dragon Age (for free)

Dan Ackerman — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:00 PDT

One of the holiday season games we're most bullish on is Dragon Age: Origins. We saw two early tastes of the game this morning (one very literally). The first is a browser-based flash game spinoff, called Dragon Age Journeys.

Dante's Inferno makes nannies everywhere furious

Scott Stein — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:29:00 PDT

EA's 2010 video game adaptation of the epic poem is full of eye-popping acts and achievements, and we're starting to hear the first pings of Rockstar-esque controversy.

Originally posted at Crave

Digital City No. 54: Taxi cellphone ban; Nintendo's holiday gamble; and the Ballad of Balloon Boy

Dan Ackerman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:24:00 PDT

Episode 54 of the Digital City, where we discuss NYC's plan to stop taxi drivers from using cell phones and Washington's suddenly high-tech subway system.

Scott talks about his meeting with Shigeru Miyamoto, and Nintendo's big holiday gamble on New Super Mario Bros., while special guest Jeff Bakalar expresses his frustration with Jack Black's Brutal Legend.

And, in a nod to the hottest story of last week, we show off the very best Balloon Boy Web games (ok, the only Balloon Boy Web games we could find), and host the world podcast premiere of the parody song "The Ballad of Balloon Boy."

Show notes:
>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter; and Scott

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

Digital City No. 53: Netbook gaming, Dell's new Adamo, and the Steve Jobs jack-o-lantern

Dan Ackerman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:29:00 PDT

Episode 53 of the Digital City, where we explore Netbook gaming, thanks to the Nivida Ion and HP's Mini 311; the thin-is-in designs of the new Dell Adamo and Sony X-series; T-Mobile and Microsoft's Sidekick problems; and Scott's Forza 3 obsession.

Plus, a quick sneak-peek of Rock Band for iPhone and -- just in time for Halloween -- tech celebrity jack-lantern carvings.

>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

Forza 3 hands-on: Never underestimate the power of a British accent

Scott Stein — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:26:00 PDT

The 360's frontline racing franchise gets its sequel, but is it good enough to get the non-diehard racing fans to care?

Originally posted at Crave