Orbis

Friday Poll: Used games a no-go on PlayStation 4?

The opinion on used games varies depending on who you talk to. Gamers love to save money and pick up titles for less than full retail. Game developers feel like used game sales are choking the industry.

If a report about the upcoming PlayStation 4 holds true, then the new Sony console could be the first to put the kibosh on used games.

An anonymous source dropped some details to Kotaku. One is that the console is called "Orbis." Another is that it won't be backward-compatible with PlayStation 3 games. Finally, the big tip is that Orbis will have anti-used-game measures built in.… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1587: Buzz Out Loud is Dangerously Delicious (Podcast)

Comedian Aziz Ansari joins us to talk about putting his stand up show Dangerously Delicious online. The House shoots down legislation that would prevent employers from asking for our Facebook passwords, and you too can make $30,000 a day from Pinterest!

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RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)… Read more

Next PlayStation to lock out used games, report says

Buckle up, Sony enthusiasts. A tipster has told Kotaku that the PlayStation 4 is named "Orbis," and that it will feature an anti-used-game system, offer no backwards-compatibility with PlayStation 3 titles, and ship in holiday 2013.

As for the first part of the rumor, multiple sources told the blog that the Orbis will sport some sort of anti-used games measure. Full Orbis games will be available via Blu-ray disc or as a PlayStation Network download, and will be locked to a single PSN account. Players will not be able to circumvent the system by remaining offline, as the source said users will be forced to be connected to the PSN to boot up their games.

Read more of "Next PlayStation to lock out used games, report says" at Gamespot. … Read more

An eye-opening can opener

My 10-year-old is spending more time in the kitchen as an actual helper these days. Last week, she made brownies from a mix all by herself. It was a proud moment.

This week, she wanted to make baked beans, which, of course, entails (1) opening the can, (2) dumping the contents into a bowl, and (3) heating the bowl in the microwave. But we got stuck on Step 1, because I wasn't thrilled with the idea of my daughter's fingers being snagged by a sharp can lid.

The Orbi Safe Cut can opener claims to "revolutionize" … Read more

A keyboard without the keys

How's this for weirdness: A keyboard with no keys. No, it's not an invention from Yuri Geller or any other spoon-bending psychics. It's a real product called the "OrbiTouch" that has been around for a few years but is enjoying some renewed attention, perhaps because navigation by way of the cliched Minority Report touch screen has yet to become a reality.

Rather than typing with the usual keys, it works with two domes that can be maneuvered into quadrants of letters, numbers, and symbols, according to Dvice. The magic orbs then can supposedly be slid … Read more