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Filed under: Laptops, Storage

We know, we’re getting tired of Apple Blu-ray rumors as well — they’re right up there with refreshed Cinema Displays in terms of rumor persistence — but until Steve and the gang actually shove a drive into a machine we’re stuck with them. The latest says that Apple is actively pressing Sony for slot-loading BD-R drives but quality control issues are gumming up the plan. Reportedly, this latest ho-hum MacBook Pro refresh was to feature BD-R drives, but all Sony could muster up were Blu-ray / DVD±RW drives, which Apple refused. That seems a little odd, frankly — now that the format war is over and the competition’s already shipping mid-range laptops with slot-load BD-R drives, you’d think Apple would want to cash in that Blu-ray Disc Association membership card with whoever can supply the drives. As always, we’ll see when we see — it’s gotta happen sometime, right?

[Image courtesy of dadako.com]

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Google has financially backed a project from a Harvard University scientist to unlock the secrets of common diseases by decoding the DNA of 100,000 people.
The project will be the largest human genome sequencing project in the world, and may lead to new cures for disease.
According to Bloomberg, the project will begin in the U.S., [...]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Quite frankly, the traditional Jawbone headset is pretty stylish as is. Nevertheless, Yves Behar has somehow managed to make it even sexier with the creation of the Love To Talk family. This trio, which will reportedly be made available “in a very limited quantity,” consists of a gold Sweet Talk version, black Dirty Talk edition and white Trash Talk model. No word on a price nor where to actually find one outside of the totally shady black market, but feel free to take a closer look at each in the read link below.

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Filed under: Features, Laptops

While everyone and their second cousin third removed had something to say about Apple’s ultra-sexy, ultra-hamstrung MacBook Air, we’ve a sneaking suspicion that folks previously eager about this week’s MacBook Pro updates will be equally vocal. For whatever reason, Cupertino faithful had February 26th pegged on their calender, and while the addition of a Penryn or two was nearly a given, the dreamers in the crowd had much higher hopes for that fateful Tuesday.

Nevertheless, the time came and went, and the re-opening of the online Apple store brought a whole heap of disappointment to many. Sure, folks still (somehow) enamored with the aging MBP design were thrilled to have access to a more potent, less scalding iteration of their favorite machine, but honestly, we’re still using the GeForce 8600M GT? Really, Apple? Needless to say, this refresh likely did little to satisfy your desire for a revamped MacBook Pro, but we’re interested in finding out exactly what it is you really wanted. An option for an SSD? What about a built-in Blu-ray drive? Would integrated HDMI make things more appealing? Or is a top-down case redesign the only thing stopping you from abusing your credit card in the name of Steve Jobs? Go on, we know you folks are chock full of good ideas, so let’s hear ‘em, shall we?

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Just when the members of the Blu-ray Disc Association were settling down to enjoy the fruits of victory, another challenger has entered the ring — oh wait, it’s just NME, makers of VMD, so it’s really more like “remained in the ring and basically ignored.” The company just issued a press release saying “All indications are that VMD can fill the void left by HD DVD,” and that “The way is now clear for VMD to be embraced by the industry.” We suppose that’s true — the Asian bootlegging industry really hasn’t weighed in with a format choice yet, has it? In any event, VMD players have apparently been shipping to the US for a month now, so all you HD DVD fans out there looking to back yet another losing horse can probably find one — start at the shadiest retailer you can think of, and then move downwards.

[Thanks, Chris]

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Through a variety of sources we’ve confirmed that Technorati is making plans for a major shift in it’s going forward strategy, and is also considering a number of corporate development transactions.
First, they’ve been pitching venture capitalists on another round of financing. That’s not surprising - their last round, $10.5 million, was in June 2006. The [...]

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After Google’s stock took a hit based on reports that Google ads are not being clicked on as much as they use to be, comScore is reporting today that the market may have got it wrong
the evidence suggests that the softness in Google’s paid click metrics is primarily a result of Google’s own quality initiatives [...]

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Looking for a job? We’re here to help.
Over 40 positions in technology have been posted to CrunchBoard since we wrote about it last week. Your dream job could be in there somewhere.
Here’s a sample of those posted:

Business Development ManagerMySpace, Beverly Hills CA
Software EngineerSugar Inc., San Francisco CA
Director of Business DevelopmentHowcast Media, New York [...]

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Filed under: Gaming

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/xbox/worst_parents_in_the_world_Xbox_prank’;When you were a kid did your parents ever do anything mean to you for their own amusement? Whatever it was, something tells us it wasn’t as evil as what Jonathan’s (above) family did on Christmas morning, having him unwrap an empty Xbox box with some shirts inside — while on video, mind you — and then everyone laughing at him when he got upset and cried over being hoodwinked. For the love of all that is holy in the gadget-loving world, that is so wrong. Despite the fact his family told Jonathan multiple times in the video, “C’mon, you know we can’t afford an Xbox!”, the kid’s shining example of an older brother (who uploaded the video) claims that they actually did get him the console, and that he’d eventually upload the video of the “real” unwrapping. He never did. Right.

Jonathan, you out there? Screw those people, they clearly don’t understand what it is to be a kid and to want an awesome gadget so badly you can taste it. We’ve been there our whole lives. Since, as a publication, we can’t just adopt you and raise you as our own, I will personally send you an Xbox 360 and some games — but only on the condition that you swear to you’ll never let your douchebag family play with it. Hit me up at engadget at gmail dotcom, make sure you can identify yourself so I know I’ve got the right person.

Continue reading Worst parents in the world punk kid into thinking he got an Xbox 360

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Ask is rumored to be considering switching to Google for search and subsequently downsizing its engineering team.
According to Silicon Alley Insider, Ask may abandon or selling its Teoma search engine in favor of using Google for its search results. Teoma has powered Ask since it was acquired in September 2001. The decision will result in [...]

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