You might remember that Jackson had once planned a 50-foot mecha with a moving face that shot lasers, but it never got built.

From the eBay Listing:

The original 3D scan data of Michael Jackson. It also includes the color map from this scan in either CPV or UV maps. This data was collected using the same equipment that creates the data used to create video games and or CGI avatars to make him speak, laugh, sing or dance.

I must emphasize that the sale of this scan data is subject to the purchaser agreeing to clear the proper rights with the MJ Estate before it is publicly used in a promotional or commercial manner.

I bet you need to emphasize that. Even if the data isn't a hoax (and I'm skeptical), I can't see the Jackson Estate letting this fly without a lawsuit. We'll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, an MJ fan found the auction and created this animation using only the 2D shots shown above. It's all pretty creepy...just let the man rest in peace. [Huffington Post via Techie.com.ph]

The launch of Sony's long awaited Second-Life-alike has not been without its problems. Although it's been in closed beta for almost six months now, it's never had a true stress test. Tonight may prove to be that night as tons of G4 fans log into the newly opened virtual world all at once, all in the same place, while the G4 folks broadcast it live on TV. It all goes down at the "Mall" area—wear your finest unisex virtual t-shirt. [G4 Forums via Binge Gamer via MAXCONSOLE]

• There might not be any de-listing of content from the marketplace now. MIGHT. Microsoft says they haven't de-listed anything "yet," and the whole point of the new dash is to make things easier to find—the problem that de-listing games was going to solve.
• Playing from the hard drive still requires games to be in the drive while you play, which means you can't just load all your games onto your Xbox and swap games from your couch.
• Hard drive gaming is mostly for saving load times.

• The current blade-based dash design still exists inside the Guide, and they've ported a lot of the current dash features there so you can actually access much of it from inside games. No browsing marketplace though.
• The new dashboard is fast and fluid, getting rid of the delays that come up when you're switching blades (occasionally) and loading up the thumbnails of your XBLA games. There's also an Apple TV-like reflection under each icon representing games, and the whole thing looks vaguely Cover Flow-like.
• There's a new Quick Launch feature from the Guide (the thing that pops up when you click the Xbox button on your controller) that lets you switch to any game you currently have installed. XBLA games or retail (if the disc is in your drive).
• Avatars will be used in XBLA games, Xbox 360 retail games and Xbox Primetime games.
• Avatars will be available for everyone, even Xbox Live Silver members. If you don't like them, you can still use gamerpics instead.
• "Primetime" games are like gameshows and will be more of a streamed experience rather than a boxed game or an XBLA game. It's a third type of game on the Xbox.
• All of the marketplace content will be listed on xbox.com so you can browse and queue up downloads for them to your Xbox. If your console is on, it seems like stuff is downloaded as you add them to your queue.
• The 8-people party system lets you basically chat with all your friends no matter where you are in any game, and then be able to drag each one through games with you. People who don't have the game the party leader loaded will get a screen telling them to go buy it.

The Apple patent at its core relates to improving the online shopping experience. While the company lauds online shopping in its filing, it also criticizes the medium's inability to offer consumers a truly interactive experience, calling it "sterile and isolating." (Uh, isn't the solitary, crowd-bypassing characteristic of online shopping part of its appeal?)

The Apple filing goes on to say that isolated, unhappy customers are more apt to be non-paying customers. However, if you provide them with "sunny" shopping experiences and virtual interactivity with Apple avatars, they might be more likely to come away with a positive impression of online shopping. Customers would also receive their own avatars, a la Second Life, and would be branded with letters to show their level of familiarity with Apple products. N is for New Users, or "newbies," and E is for Experts, or the entire Apple-loving Gizmodo staff.

There are still a lot of unknowns regarding the filing. Add to that the fact that most Apple patents never see the light of day. As MacNN expertly points out, this could also be a reincarnated eWorld, Apple's ill-fated online service launched—and then un-launched—in 2004 1994.

If the Apple Store does go virtual, however, our question for Steve this afternoon is pretty straightforward: How will the Genius Bar respond to a bouncing penis-filled griefer attack? [MacNN]

Apparently Mobile Secretary can spell things—shame InterGrafx didn't let her loose on their website, as she might have put the e in scretary—as well as say good morning and good night to you each time you turn it on (GYAC, so can I) and you can train her up to be even more intelligent than she actually is. What she won't do is, apparently a little more complex. No rushing to hang up your coat, make your tea, or sympathize with you when you say your wife doesn't understand you anymore. And I don't think you'll get any under-desk blowjobs, either. [InterGrafx via Tech Digest via Boy Genius Report]

If you're so deep into this thing you feel the need to carry around a little talisman proving that your avatar exists, more power to you. It's your $199. To us, it's just playing with dolls. – Charlie White

Product Page [Fabjectory, via Boing Boing]