Digital City podcast

Digital City Podcast 59: Black Friday shopping tips, and a PS3 MAG beta invite giveaway

Dan Ackerman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:16:00 PST

It's episode 59 of the Digital City, and if our cast looks a little different today, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Joey, Julie, and Scott all called in sick, so we recruited some of our CNET colleagues to step in and offer their holiday shopping advice.

David Katzmaier, John Falcone, and Matt Fitzgerald weigh in on Black Friday tips for big-screen TVs, home theater equipment, and digital cameras, and we go over some of the best and worst laptop deals around.

Also discussed was the high-concept Tony Hawk: Ride skateboard video game, the surprise popularity of Assassin's Creed 2, and Dan showed off his new Forza-3-branded Pumas.

Added bonus: we've got a handful of beta invites for MAG, the massive 256-person PS3 shooter to give away. Ping me on Twitter , or e-mail us at digitalcity@cnet.com, and we'll hook the first five people up.

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Digital City Podcast 58: Apple vs. Psystar; our fave laptop backpack; and New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Dan Ackerman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:11:00 PST

Episode 58 of the Digital City, where we wrangle with the legal arguments over Apple vs. Psystar; show off the latest super-fancy laptop to hit our desks, the $2,000 HP Envy 15; and find the world's best laptop backpack in the Booq Boa.

Both Modern Warfare 2 and New Super Mario Bros. Wii get some praise, while PSP Go sales seem to hit a wall; and we compare the original God of War games to the new polished-up versions in the God of War collection for PS3.

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Nintendo DS gets Modern Warfare: Handcramps

Scott Stein — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:05:00 PST

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 gets its handheld game on, but is it a shell of its big brother?

Originally posted at Crave

Digital City Podcast 57: Hands on with PS3 Netflix; luxury laptops; and Modern Warfare 2 drops early

Dan Ackerman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:50:00 PST

This week on the Digital City, Joey tests the new Netflix/PS3 BD Live disc, with mixed results; we talk about all the cool new luxury laptops you'll never buy, including Sony's Vaio X, Dell's Adamo XPS, and HP's Envy.

We also show off Nokia's new Booklet 3G Netbook, and debate the relative merits of games sequels, from Bioshock 2 to God of War 3. We also note how everyone in New York seems to have gotten their hands on a copy of Modern Warfare 2 early, giving the holiday season's biggest game an unusually sloppy launch.

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Is every gadget purchase tinged with potential regret?

Scott Stein — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:05:00 PST

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Originally posted at Crave

Digital City Podcast 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.

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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 Podcast 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!
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Listen now: Download today's podcast
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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.