INQ1 isn't just for Facebook!

3mobilebuzz approached me to trial their brand new INQ1 mobile phone. Dubbed, somewhat disingenuously, the 'Facebook phone' by the media, I grabbed the chance to see what all the fuss was about.

Facebook integration aside, I'm particularly drawn to its Skype functionality and can't wait to test this feature over the next month. If you're interested in helping me out, please add me to Skype: jrhood. Thank you.

The INQ1 arrived yesterday and I'll be writing a full review soon. I hope it plays nice with Twitter or else!

You should follow me on twitter here.

"Padme" wins the George Lucas Selects Award at Comic-Con

A reader sent me the following, which I wanted to share with fellow Star Wars fans!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The comedy short Padmé won the George Lucas Selects Award at the 2008 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge, held at the San Diego Comic-Con. Producers Jason Ginsburg, Robert Reeves, and Kevin Walsh accepted the top prize, beating thousands of other entries and over forty finalists.

Padmé has been a fan favorite since its debut on Atom.com (co-producer of the awards), garnering great reviews from Star Wars fans, bloggers, the science-fiction site io9, and the Times of London. The honors continued when George Lucas himself named Padmé his personal favorite.

A parody of Juno using Star Wars characters, Padmé pokes fun at the similar tales of two sets of teens who learn that teen pregnancy is no joke -- unless you mix in some hip teen dialog and the Dark Side of the Force. Ginsburg, Reeves, and Walsh even created Star Wars versions of Juno's famously quirky songs.

"We're truly honored that Lucas picked us," said co-producer and performer Jason Ginsburg after the ceremony. "We were up against films with much bigger budgets. The three of us shot Padmé at five locations in five days, played half the roles, and served as our own crew."

"The other winners are all top-quality entries spanning several genres," said writer Kevin Walsh. "After seeing them all again at the ceremony, we were surprised and humbled to take home the ultimate trophy."

The film's cast includes Lisa Vendette (star of the web series Hollywood Acting Class) in the title role, along with Gerald Webb, Robin Johnstone, and Riley Rose Critchlow. The three producers also appear in the film; Ginsburg alone portrays Yoda, C-3PO, Darth Vader, and the Emperor.

Celebrity guests at the awards ceremony included Kevin Spacey, Reneé O'Connor (Xena: Warrior Princess), Danny Kastner (The Apprentice), and Kyle Newman, director of the upcoming MGM film Fanboys.

The Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge is an annual short film contest sponsored by Lucasfilm and Atom.com, a comedy website owned by MTV Networks. Spike TV will air a special featuring all of the 2008 winners this fall.

Padmé can be found exclusively on the Atom site, at:

http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/sw_padme/

REEVESREEL is a production and visual effects company founded by Robert Reeves. Reeves directed and starred Cheap Seats, which won the Best Comedy award at the Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge in 2005. Reeves' movie Wheeled Migration (a mockumentary about shopping carts) played in festivals such as the 48-Hour Film Festival, the Comic-Con International Film Festival, and the Universal Studios Film Festival where it won for Best Documentary and Best in Show. ReevesReel can be found at www.myspace.com/reevesreel.

ReevesReel contact: reevesreel@earthlink.net, 818.822.9237

EVIL GENIUS ENTERTAINMENT is a production company founded by USC film graduates Jason Ginsburg and Kevin Walsh. Together, they have written several award-winning feature screenplays and created comedy content for the National Lampoon and mobile phones. Individually, Kevin Walsh is the co-creator of the comic book series Salem: Queen of Thorns (BOOM! Studios). Jason Ginsburg has received high praise for his satire of 24, Jack Bauer's Day Off. Evil Genius content can be found at www.evilgents.com.

Evil Genius Entertainment contact: evilgent@evilgents.com, 310.890.0323

Skype Me on PSP

PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) System Software Update Version 3.90 Announced

Skype™ communication features available

London, 30th January 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced the immediate availability of the latest system software update for PSP™(PlayStation®Portable). Version 3.90 will enable all owners of the new PSP Slim & Lite*(PSP 2000 series) to make and receive phone calls, adding a whole new raft of functionality, highlighting the true portability of PSP.

Skype™ is a simple to use piece of software that allows users to make free calls over the internet to other Skype users, anywhere in the world, whilst also having the ability to make paid for calls to traditional landline and mobile phones. With the addition of these functions, alongside the ability to send and receive voicemail to over 200 million Skype users worldwide, PSP can now claim to be a highly cost effective and accessible portable communications device, alongside its entertainment credentials.

To use Skype on PSP, users simply need to upgrade to system software 3.90, register and talk, using a headset and remote control.

Also added through system software update 3.90, is the Go!Messenger icon, highlighting the commitment shown towards communications on PSP**. Go!Messenger, with the ability for video and voice chat, as well as numerous other features will be available at the end of February, and the presence of the icon not only emphasises its impending arrival but also allows users to obtain more information about the feature from a dedicated website, accessed via clicking on the icon. More information about the release of Go!Messenger will be announced soon.

*The Skype functionality is only available for the PSP Slim & Lite (PSP 2000 series) and not older versions of PSP (PSP 1000 series)

** Go! Messenger functionality will be available with all models of PSP (PSP 2000 and PSP 1000 series)

"Come on City!"

Despite being unable to find a QuickTime codec to view .3gp digital video clips (recorded using my LG Chocolate mobile phone), I've successfully uploaded footage, taken from the Conference "play-off" final held at the new Wembley Stadium, to YouTube!



This clip captures the moment that Lee Phillips scored Exeter City FC's first, and only, goal during their epic clash with Morecombe.

Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) is aptly released this week!

RSS video for PSP

Video podcast support is coming to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) thanks to a new firmware update Sony Computer Entertainment has published today.

The update takes the PSP firmware to version 2.8. It allows the PSP to receive video clips through RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds from blogs and other websites. Sony first added RSS and podcast support in November 2005 and expanded it in April this year.

Additionally the firmware update adds compatibility for the ".3gp" audio format used by some mobile phones, and greater access to content stored on Memory Stick memory cards.

This update also includes a demo for World Tour Soccer 2.

At least one more update is expected before the end of this year. The update will add VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) telephony and the ability to boot games from Memory Sticks, according to plans outlined by Sony in March this year.

Users can download the new firmware through the PSP's "network update" feature or here.

Nickelodeon

In this era of digital content distribution, the notion of going to the cinema maybe considered antiquated (not that I'm an advocate). Sky movies offers 9 screens of 'near demand' movie magic. This is what I've been watching:

*Elf
*Underworld
*Freaky Friday (2003)
*HellBoy
*The Bourne Supremacy
*The Last Samurai
*The Matrix Revolutions
*The Cat in the Hat
*Pieces of April
*Two Weeks Notice
*The Stepford Wives (2004)
*Open Water
*Dawn of the Dead (2004)
*Resident Evil: Apocalypse

TiVo has announced that its portable media software will support transfer to iPod and PSP. It'll be interesting to see whether or not a future sky+ update will include such a feature too - otherwise the USB 2.0 port is nothing more than a glorified iPod/mobile phone battery recharger!

You can now shop for holiday gifts at my T-Shirt Shop.

Hidden Hawaii

What a most splendid haunted house theme park ride Lost is! The signature scene, something screaming in the jungle, was on a emotional par with the T-Rex attack from JP - nerve shattering... The 'live' jet engine on the beach... The derelict cockpit - where were the Raptors and Dilophosaurus? And isn't there an aura of Spielberg meets Chris Carter about it all?

After reading that Channel 4 has cut the UK episodes (intense scenes et al) and the cynical R2 two-part box set release (£27.99 each) due to a lucrative deal with Disney's Buena Vista. I've already ordered the R1 complete box set from CD-WOW @ £31.99 (no import duties). Hopefully to be savored post real life trauma or in the very midst of next month! If you're interested here are the delicious details:

*7 Discs
*Never-before-seen, extended uncut version of the original pilot
*Exclusive, in-depth behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the show
*Backstage with Drive Shaft all-access pass behind the music
*The art of Matthew Fox featurette
*'Before They Were Lost' original casting tapes
*Blooper reel
*Rare deleted scenes
*Multiple filmmaker audio commentaries

David LaChapelle's Lost promos have met with mixed critical reaction. The conventional US trailers pander to the needs of the lowest common denominator. As an artist (myself) accessibility has its place, but sometimes it's desirable to challenge the viewer too! Wouldn't you agree?



Sony Online Entertainment now offers Mac gamers a 'free' (credit card details required) trial of EverQuest. Having played both EverQuest and Blizzard's World of WarCraft, there's no prize for guessing which one I prefer!

Although the key pads are an acquired taste, I adore Sony Ericsson mobile phones. My trusty T-310 still elicits coos of delight from avid admirers! The new W800i Walkman™ model could be a suitable future successor.