They broadcast a 30 second video (what format isn't clear; I hope the aliens have VLC!) into space which was voted on by the British to best represent life on Earth, or at least the moments of life on Earth that involve trying to sell unhealthy corn chips. Peter Charles, Head of the "Doritos Broadcast Project" can apparently still sleep at night after saying "We also shouldn't be too surprised if the first aliens start arriving on planet Earth immediately demanding a bag of Doritos." If so, the universe is more doomed than I thought. [Physorg]

"Starting March 22, Sony will offer Fresh Start free of charge. We want VAIO users to have the best experience possible with our PCs, and we believe Fresh Start will help ensure that happens right out-of-the-box."

The notebook absorbs dust particles in the air to prevent inhaling into human body, eliminating all possible contact to disease. The PR620 also eliminate toxic gases in the air, destroying the "Silent Assisin[sic]".

First off, the Bloomberg article that was cited that supposedly had Bach stating the Zune was going to be number two after Christmas doesn't explicitly have him saying that.

``When we're done with the holiday, people will look and say, `There's Apple and there's Microsoft,''' he said. ``The reality of the numerics are that Apple will still be No. 1.''

You could interpret that as a declaration that the Zune will be number two. But you could also interpret that as a consumer mindshare statement, with Microsoft joining Apple as the (only) two competitors for the average person's money.

Secondly, Robbie Bach would have to accept the challenge by October 31, which also involves him shaving his head if Microsoft doesn't become #2. That's a tough bet for an offhand statement you made.

However, even if the bet is accepted, Microsoft will have a hard time unseating SanDisk because of the way the market works. Over 70% of SanDisk's players are less than $100, and most of their product line costs less than Microsoft's cheapest player, which starts at $149. If this is the case, Microsoft's trying to grab land from Apple, not SanDisk, which is definitely harder—even with a big marketing push come November.

To win, Microsoft will have to spend lots and lots on ads and really hope Apple messes up somehow, which seems unlikely now that the latter's products for this Christmas are already on the table.

Our point? It seems unlikely that Microsoft can pull out the stops this season to blast away on TV ad time, online ad space, and print ad pages to get the consumers informed and interested in the Zune, even with the new and improved features. At this point it's not a problem of building a better product, it's a matter of getting it in front of people's faces. And that wonderful strategy of giving first-gen Zunes the new features may come back to bite them as most those 1.2 million customers probably won't be buying new players.

Here's our bet. If it somehow happens that Microsoft is ends up in the #2 spot by January 1, I'm going to shave my head—not because I don't think Microsoft can do it, but because my hair is getting a little long. [ZDNet via Zunerama]

A friend of mine at one electronics manufacturer says he has trouble because his counterparts in Asia always announce products without letting him know, so the Asian editions get blown all over the web, stealing his thunder. One major cellphone maker is constantly vexed by a European carrier that likes to blab about phones that are supposed to be secret. On a regular basis, Amazon.com posts products that ought to still be under wraps.

Recently, we had a situation where PR agency people handed us ready-to-print information and images, which they then discovered had been under embargo from their client. They asked us to pull it down, but it was just too late, it was all over the web. And besides, it wasn't a breach of any agreement.

Journalists and bloggers are not the untrustworthy ones—in fact, we're probably the only ones who still have some respect for the secrecy. As it stands now, anything that appears in public or via honest-to-goodness leak is fair game, embargo or not. But I encourage the industry to take it one step further: if the product appears in any form, we should be at liberty to share what you have given us directly, in informative briefings and press events. Why run half-assed product announcements when we know the full story? That doesn't hurt us, it only hurts you, the companies.

The point of an NDA is to keep competitors, retailers and consumers from knowing what's next, for reasons of competitve advantage or product sell-through. But when you can't keep the secret, why should the news suffer?

That said, it is not my plan to ever break an NDA or even a verbally agreed-to embargo. But I strongly encourage you to recognize that when the cat gets out of the bag, you should release us from our embargoes. Otherwise, all you'll keep getting from us are secondhand-sourced stories that only tell half of the news, with a tiny follow-up when the product is officially acknowledged.

I mean, who in gadget journalism even wants to keep this stuff past a few weeks anyhow? Ugh, old gadgets. Anyhow, think about it. It could save us lots and lots of time over the coming years. What do guys and gals think? Would be pretty nifty, huh?

Thank you,

Brian

(PS, I am totally appreciative of everyone who sends out review units, just thinking how we can be more efficient. Every minute counts when +12 hour days are the norm. )

I know all about the junkets because I've been invited to many, and in 2004, I actually went on one. It was totally amazing, one of the best ways to see Japan for the first time. But it had a negative effect on my work—rather than boost the company's presence in my stories, it diminished it. I didn't want anyone to think I favored them. It was frustrating, and I vowed never to go on another paid-for trip.

On the flipside, the companies and many who go on the trips argue that it's the best way to experience new technologies, and understand how they are developed and made. They are correct. Many writers for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other papers of record have never seen what a lot of trade journalists have, for this reason. And even if you have a sizeable travel budget, organizing your own transportation and meals can be a giant pain.

Lately, Brian and I have been talking about an alternative. If a junket is planned, say, to a research facility in Korea, why not assign a package price for reporters? It could be a very publicly disclosed number, so that our readers know the score. Already, some great publications like CNet arrange to tag along on junkets, all the while paying their way. We think this should become a standard feature of the junket. We cover our airfare and hotels, while you cover the invaluable experience. Sound good?

Because aside from the finger food and the occasional alcoholic beverage, I look forward to meeting in person with companies that I usually deal with via impersonal email. Face time is critical for this business. A good opportunity to meet, yes, even if it was a little too close for comfort. The show's layout was tight: Reporters (and people who claim to be reporters even though they are not) were herded like water buffalo into a tight rectangular track where all of the money-paying exhibitors had set up shop. If you stopped to talk to someone at any of the tables, you risked being trampled. Fix that, Ziff, and we're solid.

So there you have it. Mystery solved. And, as a bonus, you now know what my kitchen looks like. Thanks for being there.

Clearly, the message on the label is the important thing: there's a Sony VAIO event in New York City next week that I should attend. But the label says nothing about the contents of the bottle. Nothing. Is it alcoholic or non? Is it real or is it a prop? What would the VAIO division of Sony Electronics be putting in a bottle? And, finally, should I drink it or pour it down the drain?

Next Monday is Apple's WWDC keynote. We never miss it, and nearly no tech journalists in town miss it. And judging by reader feedback, you generally care about something like an Apple Keynote more than the entirety of CES. (And our server logs back that up.)

That makes me kind of sad, because I really would have liked to meet with a lot of those companies, who would undoubtedly be showing off cool things. It gets my pasty blogger ass out of the house, too. And allows me to practice those interpersonal skills that are fading oh so fast as I work at Gizmodo. So I have a plea: Next time you come to town, maybe it's best not to hold the press meetings the same time as one of the two or three biggest days of the year for SF tech writers. – Brian Lam

Velocity Micro MCE [AVS Forum]

ANNA NICOLE SMITH WOULD BE SIX FEET UNDER IF SHE HAD [redacted].COM

Online Safe Deposit Boxes Help Families Avoid Ugly Legal Hassles

– Jason Chen

Mac Pro Arrived! Pics Included [MacRumors]