GameStop to Begin Trading iOS Devices

9to5Macis reporting that GameStop

GameStop will begin carrying the full line of Apple’s iOS devices in stores. They will also begin to accept iOS devices as trade-ins for in-store credit. I hear that they are already accepting trade-ins before they have actually obtained stock of new iOS devices to sell, (iPhone 5, iPad 3, whatever else comes up).

It makes sense for GS to begin carrying these devices as a large percentage of iOS users picked the platform because of gaming apps. Also, with everyone from children to grandmothers having a mobile device, the market is technically the biggest market of gamers in the US.

The rumor around the interwebs is that the iPhone 5 will drop next month, and will launch on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. No one is quite positive how GS will be activating these devices for service, but buyer beware, GS hates assisting competing services, (see here). Will they be removing access to the AppStore and GameCenter?

Apple’s Throne Transition

Today Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple. After bringing the company back to the forefront of the market, he states he is no longer able to meet his duties and expectations as Apple CEO.

As expected, Tim Cook will replace Mr. Jobs as CEO, moving up from COO.

Steve’s Resignation Letter:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple”s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple”s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

It truly is sad to see the king of the Pretty PC stand down. We at Idylum  may not be mac fans, but everyone’s got to admire a guy who’s accomplished what Steve has. Idylum wishes you well Mr. Jobs.

Source CNN, 9to5mac

From Dust Update: Or, Eff You Ubisoft

From Dust, a new Ubisoft game I posted about a few days/weeks ago, (I’m not sure, nor do I feel like checking. Just trust me…  or just scroll that little wheel between your legs fingers), was recently released on PC as a port from the 360. If you’re a gamer, you know about Ubisoft’s  horrendous reputation with PC Gamers. Well, it now looks like they’re attempting to incite a boycott of their products.

You see, back at the beginning of the month, Ubisoft made the following statement:

Surprise, surprise, upon release of the game, players found out:

It’s impossible to launch From Dust, even from Steam in offline mode, without being online. Launching the game fires up their new Ubisoft Game Launcher, which refuses to work unless it can find a connection,” 

Rock Paper Shotgun reports.

And Ubi’s reply?

Due to the recent confusion over the type of DRM used in From Dust, please find the following explanation of the type of DRM used.

From Dust requires an internet connection when you start the game.

Make sure you are connected to the internet when you attempt to start the game.

After you have signed in and the game is running, you no longer need the internet connection and can disconnect from it if you so wish.

Liars!

 Check with ArsTechnica for more of the story.

Facebook Screwing the Pooch Yet Again

Mark Zuckerburg does not care about your privacy. Not at all. Over and over, Facebook has chosen to change their privacy policies while you’re sleeping and don’t bother to tell you when you wake up. This irks me so much, I don’t even want to write about it.

Here’s what BGR ahs to say:

This may come as a shock considering how seriously Facebook takes your privacy, but if you’re a Facebook user with one of Facebook’s mobile applications installed on your iPhone or one of several other smartphones, you’ve been robbed. Each and every contact stored on your phone is probably now also stored on Facebook’s servers, as was re-re-rediscovered by Facebook users this past week. Whether or not people in your contact list even have Facebook accounts, their names and phone numbers are likely now in Facebook’s possession. 

Hit the link below to find out how to remove the damage.

Source: BGR, Facebook – Link

Apple suspends Pre-Orders for iPhone 4

Earlier this month, Steve Jobs announced the release date of the iPhone 4 as June 24th of this year and the internet went into a frenzy. Two days ago, AT&T began the rollout of pre-orders for the devise and ended up with packed stores, long lines, exposure of credit card information and a lot of unsatisfied customers. Well after that fiasco, AT&T has pulled the plug on pre-orders for the iPhone 4 and the 8 GB iPhone3GS according to a memo obtained by Boy Genius Report:

Pre-orders for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS 8GB are Temporarily Suspended

Effective close of business on June 15, 2010, the ability to place pre-orders (new activations, upgrades and exchanges) has been temporarily suspended.  There is a special team that will be manually working all pre-orders from June 15th that were held in a pending status.  Under no circumstances should new pre-orders be attempted in the system.

This suspension impacts Phoenix, Premier, OPUS (COR), and System X (DMDR).

Please stay tuned to future bulletin communications for any updates.

So for all you fan-boys and girls who want to be the first to have the newest iPhone in your circle of friends but didn’t make it to the store on the 15th, it will not be happening. It’s smarter to wait for the first gen bugs to pop up and be fixed before purchasing a $300+ device anyway.

McDonalds is Poisoning Your Kids

Last night the Associated Press reported that McDonalds is being forced to recall 12 million commemorative glasses the chain sold to promote the most recent Shrek flem, Shrek 4: Forever After.

AP:

“The fast food chain said early Friday that it wants customers to stop using the 16-ounce glasses, which have been sold for about $2 each and were available in four designs depicting the main characters from the animated movie.

Cadmium is a known carcinogen that research shows also can cause bone softening and severe kidney problems.

In the case of the Shrek glasses, the concern would be long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium, which could leach from the paint onto a child’s hand, then enter the body if the child puts that unwashed hand to his or her mouth.”

Lets be honest here, Dreamworks should have stopped at two. At this point they’re just attempting to force sludge down your throats. Oh, wait, that was McDonalds, using children’s unquenchable desire for promotional trash to force feed cancerous sludge down their throats. Ah well, sorry MickyDees, looks like you’ll have to poison children the classic way, with your food.