Microsoft recently disclosed that they will no longer be limiting their xbox live service to just console (xbox, 360) subscribers.  They plan on extending the experience to early adopters of the new Microsoft Vista operating system for PC’s.  For the first time in history gamers of all (microsoft) platforms will be able to come together and tear it up (as long as they have an internet connection). 

Will this provide an answer to the ever popular PC versus Console question on who takes the lead? Who  knows… I have always believed it’s the user that makes it happen, not the device.   Nonetheless, for $49.99 a year Microsoft has definitely raised the bar on what defines a gaming experience.          

Hasbro on the other hand is slowly getting acquainted with casual pc gamers.  By offering a USB controller with built in access to their online gaming network, NetJet, this famous toy maker is looking to accommodate the type of audience seeking easy to use plug-and-play gaming accessories for their PC.   

http://www.hasbro.com/tiger/netjet/

Playing videogames has always been a big passion of mine.  I tend to play more strategy/first person shooter games, a fav being the ever popular Tom Clancy’s series but nonetheless when i’m browsing online I give into the urge to click on bright colored buttons screaming “coffee break” like the one featured in the above screen shot.   

There has been a huge wave of train-your-brain games out on the market, Nintendo BrainAge making the biggest boom.  What’s most interesting about this online crossword puzzle is its built in cheat sheet.  The split screen feature has a search bar on the bottom half of the webpage that pulls up the most relevant websites for you to dig around and find an answer when you’re stumped.  If you happen to be to lazy to do the homework than you might prefer the “give up” option which feeds you the answer in one click costing you a lower score.   

While I admit, crossword puzzles are not necessarily my thing I do enjoy this feature (and i’m sure they enjoy the additional time users spend searching on their site vs. going to google - yay ad revenue).  Besides, I always felt a little guilty opening up another window to search for the correct answer.     

http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_spotlight

If you are one of the first 5,000 Wired Magazine subscribers to go online this Friday (March 23rd) and enter your subscriber ID, Xerox will send you a customized copy of the July issue of Wired with your very own picture on it.  Currently the website just has a placeholder up but I’m hoping that the customization also allows you to add some headlines.

www.wired.com/promo/xerox

Back in 2004 the Grapple was introduced to a nationwide audience on America’s favorite TV quiz show, Jeopardy.  Not many were aware of this grape flavored apple.  Since then the innovative fruit has made eating them even easier by offering Grapple slices.  

Recently, the US Department of Agriculture approved a grant for $124,280 (hmm, I guess they forgot how to round up) that allowed fresh fruits and vegetables to be sampled to 25 North Carolina schools of various economic backgrounds.  Grapples and Pluots (plum apricots) are just two of the many non-traditional fruits that will soon be offered to students.  Others include Alabama Satsumas , kumquats, starfruits, and pomegranates.  

Apparently in order to be eligible for this grant at least 50% of the students needed to qualify for reduced-price meals.   Hmm, if ineligible for this grant maybe school officials should start thinking of other out of the box ways to give students exposure to such exotic fruits and vegetables in order to encourage healthy eating.  Something tells me that most parents would be more than willing to serve up an additional lunch allowance every now and then to give their child the opportunity to have a lunch n’ learn session during health/gym classes to taste test these fruits.  Maybe instead of sending a uniform letter home they should send a pop quiz for parents asking if they know the difference between a tangerine and a Alabama Satsuma or the appropriate way to eat a Kumquat. 

   Grapple Apple Website

Say goodbye to online registrations.  Simply hop over to this site and pop in the name of the website you are trying to gain access to and wha-la, a user name and passcode is served up to you faster than the time it took for Britney to cut her hair off. 

www.bugmenot.com

Audiobooks aren’t for everyone but if you get hooked here are two resources you might find handy.

Librivox provides free audiobooks from the public domain.  If you have recording software, a pleasant voice, and a computer you to can donate some recorded chapters to the collection.  Some of the newest additions include Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Miracles by Walt Whitman, The Odyssey, and Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.

http://librivox.org/ 

BMW and Random House partnered with authors James Flint, Karin Slaughter, Simon Kernick, and Don Winslow to bring you four (free) audiobooks [bmw not required].  I haven’t had a chance to hear them yet but the reviews seem pretty consistent with an average of 4 out of 5 stars.

http://www.bmw-audiobooks.com/

On March 22^nd, World Water Day, participating restaurants in NYC will invite patrons to donate $1 for the tap water they usually enjoy for free.  All the money raised for the Tap project will help UNICEF save lives by providing safe drinking water to children around the world. 

Although the people who go to these can probably afford donating more than a buck here are some of my favorite restaurants on the list:

1. Asia De Cuba
2. Boqueria
3. Bolo
4. Buddakan
5. Dos Caminos
6. Gramercy Tavern
7. Katz’s Delicatessen
8. Lucy’s Latin Kitchen

It looks like politicians are embracing technology in an effort to reach potential future voters.  Social networking ogre (umm when else can you use that word), MySpace has announced that they will be including a dedicated section featuring everything-politics with an emphasis on the ’08 election.  Web guests will eventually be able to click through the (current) 10 presidential candidates and self select who they want to be added on their friends list.  I guess we are coming closer and closer to the days where it won’t be so taboo to ask someone who they voted for?

Politicians that have confirmed a partnership with MySpace are listed below:

1. Barack Obama

2. Dennis J. Kucinich

3. Hillary Rodham Clinton

4. John Edwards

5. Joseph R. Biden

6. Mitt Romney

7. Rudolph W. Giuliani  

For more details visit:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/fashion/18myspace.html?ref=technology