Apple’s just confirmed the morning’s news on them being the number one music retailer in the US. The stuff to take away: four billion songs sold, six million songs in the catalog, the most music sold in January and February out of any retailer. Hit the jump if you want to see Apple gloat for themselves.

CUPERTINO, California—April 3, 2008—Apple® today announced that the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com) surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US, based on the latest data from the NPD Group*. With over 50 million customers, iTunes has sold over four billion songs and features the world’s largest music catalog of over six million songs.

“We launched iTunes less than five years ago, and it has now become the number one music retailer in the world,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We are thrilled, and would like to thank all of our customers for helping us reach this astonishing milestone.”

*Based on data from market research firm the NPD Group’s MusicWatch survey that captures consumer reported past week unit buys and counts one CD representing 12 tracks, excluding wireless transactions. The iTunes Store became the largest music retailer in the US based on the amount of music sold during January and February 2008.

Apple ignited the PC revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. This day, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning personal, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes on the web store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Via [Gizmodo]

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Raiden? Cracked.com went out of business in 2010 for being too funny for its own good. But one time, in 2008, it came up with a list of safety-themed gadgets that no self-respecting someone would be caught dead without. You wouldn’t be dead because you had these gadgets to defend yourself, obviously. I’ll mention only one here, […]

Raiden?

Cracked.com went out of business in 2010 for being too funny for its own good. But one time, in 2008, it came up with a list of safety-themed gadgets that no self-respecting someone would be caught dead without. You wouldn’t be dead because you had these gadgets to defend yourself, obviously.

I’ll mention only one here, these Blast Knuckles, because the name alone actually, in some stupid way, made me halfway chuckle. And I learned a tiny bit of science when looking them up.

The Blast Knuckles deliver, I kid you not, 1.9 MILLION VOLTS. I asked renowned physicist Dr. Matt Hickey his opinion on them, and he stated, “that many volts would still overcome any resistance and FRY you.” Strong words from the physician.

Oh, and they’re only $120. Sounds like we’re in store for one heck of a weekend, much like the kind Dr. Hickey had with his Seattle friends with that shocking iPod gage.

Via [crunchgear]

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According to a current poll by research firm Interpret, 60% of the U.S. is “aware” of Blu-ray. So does this actually mean anything? We’re not so sure. While brand recognition is important, it doesn’t appear that Interpret asked those polled to interpret what the hell Blu-ray really meant. Our guess is that if you asked the public some basic questions (Can Blu-ray players play normal DVDs? Will Blu-ray play on a standard def Television? What new features does Blu-ray bring?) that the 60% statistic would drop abruptly. Why doesn’t Sony just run a easy commercial Q&A? We don’t need hip marketing. We just need a clear explanation. [cepro]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Reader Mike sends in this rant about his experience with PS3’s customer support. Long story short, his PS3 stopped working and he had to send in his old unit before Sony sent him a new unit — usually vendors send a new unit and you ship back the old unit, but not in this case. […]

Reader Mike sends in this rant about his experience with PS3’s customer support. Long story short, his PS3 stopped working and he had to send in his old unit before Sony sent him a new unit — usually vendors send a new unit and you ship back the old unit, but not in this case. Sony sent him a replacement unit but not the cables and, being a nice guy, he’d already shipped back all of the cables from his old unit. Much gnashing of teeth later we get this email:

So, my name is Mike, and on March 4th my (originally 40gb) PS3 stopped recognizing disks. I called customer support and after a couple of things they told me to try they shipped me a coffin to ship it back in. A.. Coffin came 3 day ground, B… return label was for next day air, C… console shipped back to me 3 day ground. Kinda crappy that they make me wait what seems like forever, but that’s not my complaint. On the 26th I receive my replacement unit.. Now when packing up my coffin I faithfully followed the directions and shipped back power cord, av cables, charge cable, and controller.. but lo and behold when I opened my replacement box.. none of these were there. So hey no biggie, I’ll call customer service and get them to send them, it was their fault, they’ll be swift about it… Nope. First I’m told I’ll have to talk to a tech before anything can be done.. why? But no techs are available then so one will have to call me… why? Finally this day
I get past all that and they’re pleased to tell me that they’ll send my stuff and to expect everything in 5 to 10 days….. It’s the 27th of march, I opened this service request on the 4th.. and now I’ve 5 to 10 more days to wait.. that’s completely rediculous. I’ve been a Sony fan since the 90’s got first playstation, ps2 and psp all on launch dates, have sony stereos in both automobiles, xplod amps and speakers, sony home stereo, and bravia tv.. and now I suppose a streched anus all from sony. Maybe I’m just an ass.. but I work in customer service, have all my working career, and maybe I just have a higher standard for how complaints should be handled. Well thnx for giving me someone to vent to besides the reps that aren’t doing anything to make me happy about this situation

I’d recommend trying to escalate this when you call back and we’ll get working on this end. Just pretend we’re Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting: “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.”

So Mike just e-mailed us with an update on his PS3 woes. Doesn’t look like it’s getting any better. Sorry, Mike. Maybe you should get an Xbox 360.

Contacted customer service this day, April 1, officially 5 days since they told
me it’d be 5 to 10 for me to receive my cables and controller. I called to
ask if there was a tracking number or anything so that I could find out when
I needed to be home, since they require someone 21 or older to sign for
packages (Sony, not UPS). I was told that “the situation was still being
investigated”. To which I responded, “then contact UPS, they weigh packages
before shipping them, and they should easily see the difference in the
weight thus proving that less was sent to me than I sent to them”. No dice..
They told me to give them a call back on Friday, officially one month since
my first call, and maybe they’d be able to update me on my shipment. I’m
getting so frustrated.

Finally, sweet closure:

So I just got confirmation from Sony that my long awaited package was sent
out yesterday afternoon.. woohoo. It took a while but as long as I’m back up
and running and can finally get back to Assassains creed. Thanks a lot for
giving me a place to vent my frustrations so I didn’t have to go on a puppy
kicking rampage.

Via [crunchgear]

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With some cool music :)!

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CrossLink Media announced yesterday at CTIA Wireless 2008 that the company was awarded an exclusive contract with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to provide text-based mobile coupons across military installations throughout the United Says. AAFES is a multi-channel retailer offering merchandise and services via retail stores, catalogs and online to active duty, guard and reserve members, military retirees and their families at low prices.

MessageLink, a proprietary software platform from Crosslink Media, will grant AAFES to communicate with military members anytime anywhere through their mobile phones. Members now have access to mobile coupons that provide special discounts and shopping incentive throughout the various military installations.

“The AAFES award is much more than a customer to CrossLink Media,” said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “AAFES’ slogan is ‘Serving the Best Customers in the World’ and we take that to heart. It is an honor to receive this award and to help serve our military and their families,” stated Beasley.

“In today’s world, virtually everyone uses their mobile phone for more than just talking”, stated Chris Peterson, Senior Restaurant Business Manager for AAFES. “CrossLink Media’s mobile coupon program should provide a convenient way to distribute timely and relevant offers to our members and their families. We are looking forward to working with

Via Mobilecrunch

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If you are an entertainer or just someone who wants to get your message out to the world, you may be interested in Pinger’s beta release of Pingercast. In the past, Pingercast messaging was only available to major media companies but now even the small time operator can build awareness with fans who use mobile phones. Pingercast allows any entertainment promoter to connect with the audience just like the massive sharks do. This messaging service enables independent bands, bloggers, comedians and entertainers to connect directly with their audience by sending audio broadcasts to their fans’ mobile phones.

Pingercast has been used to create buzz for films like, Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, Good Luck Chuck and Saw IV. Entertainers that use the service include British musician Edward Rogers, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, Internet personality “Bad Ass” Frank and the Mavericks Surf Contest.

“Many bands, artists and bloggers have massive fan followings and these fans want to extend their relationships to the mobile phone,” stated Greg Woock, CEO of Pinger. “Now everyone can use Pingercast messages as a personal broadcasting tool.”

To try, go to Pingercast.

Via Mobilecrunch

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More 3G iPhone fun coming from CTIA, where the lads at Giz overheard a conversation between AT&T Mobility’s CEO Ralph de la Vega and PC Magazine’s Sascha Segan. See, de la Vega mentioned that all of AT&T’s smart integrated devices would be 3G within a couple months. Segan asked if that included the iPhone, and […]

More 3G iPhone fun coming from CTIA, where the lads at Giz overheard a conversation between AT&T Mobility’s CEO Ralph de la Vega and Computer Magazine’s Sascha Segan. See, de la Vega mentioned that all of AT&T’s smart integrated devices would be 3G within a couple months. Segan asked if that included the iPhone, and de la Vega just repeated what stated before, adding, “That should be clear enough.”

Loud and clear, boss. That May-June timeframe has just been unofficially confirmed by the CEO of AT&T. Thanks for playing everyone!

Via [crunchgear]

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Are you one of those people who has to bang on the Rock Band drums as hard as humanly possible, leaving yourself open to a possible eviction notice? Here’s a $40 purchaseable custom-made Rock Band drum kit crochet cosy set, made just for softening your blows and keeping you on your lease. All four are color-matched to the real drums, and come at only $7 shipping. At $47, it’s cheap enough for most people without crocheting grandmas to take into account. [Etsy via Technabob]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Apparently I can’t state it enough, but if you’re a TV technician working in the Television studio that broadcasts Television to the public, you should probably be really careful when you put your porno tape in the VCR because you might be broadcasting your dirty video to each TV in the area. This is part of […]

Apparently I can’t state it enough, but if you’re a Television technician working in the Television studio that broadcasts Television to the public, you should probably be really careful when you put your porno tape in the VCR because you might be broadcasting your dirty video to every Television in the area.

This is part of why I can’t wait for the switch to Digital Television next year, it’ll come through much clearer. Next time, stick to Google Image Search and a broadband connection, genius.

Via [crunchgear]

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