News:

 

Smartphone users snapped up Apple’s latest iteration of the iPhone in record numbers, the tech giant announced Monday, saying sales topped 10 million in three days.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sales eclipsed the launch figures of the 5S and 5C models, which moved 9 million units in their first three days last year, the Cupertino, California-based company said. Thousands of consumers had camped out at Apple retail stores around the world in advance of the launch, some for weeks.

CEO Tim Cook said despite technical glitches in the preorder process, “we couldn’t be happier.” Apple “could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible.”

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102020922#

Microsoft Buys Minecraft

Microsoft announced this week that it’s buying hugely popular game franchise Minecraft for $2.5 billion. For that money, Microsoft gets rights to the game and ownership of its Stockholm, Sweden-based development studio, Mojang. It doesn’t retain the company’s founders or Minecraft‘s infamously outspoken creator, Markus “Notch” Persson.

Does that sound like a lot, $2.5 billion? Well, it is in human dollars, but not so much when you’re Microsoft and you’ve got $85 billion in “cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.” Regardless of the fact that this week’s deal only cost Microsoft around 3 percent of that, here’s the real kicker (in the form of a statement from Microsoft): “Microsoft expects the acquisition to be break-even in FY15 on a GAAP basis.” Woof, that’s a doozy of a sentence right there.

Here’s the translation: Microsoft expects the purchase of Minecraft/Mojang to make it a lot of money. And that is why Microsoft bought Minecraft.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/19/microsoft-buying-minecraft-explanation/

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining a video game company’s fight against disgraced Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who is suing Activision over his inclusion in the hit game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II.â€

Giuliani says he does not want to see the imprisoned Noriega profit from his crimes, which include convictions for murder, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Activision Blizzard Inc. announced Monday that Giuliani and his firm will ask a Los Angeles judge to dismiss Noriega’s lawsuit, which claims his likeness was used without permission in the 2012 game, part of its popular “Call of Duty†video game franchise.

Noriega sued Activision in July, claiming the company depicted him as a “kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state.â€

“What’s astonishing is that Manuel Noriega, a notorious dictator who is in prison for the heinous crimes he committed, is upset about being portrayed as a criminal and enemy of the state in the game Call of Duty,†Giuliani wrote in a statement. “Quite simply, it’s absurd.â€

Activision contends that if Noriega’s lawsuit goes forward, it could impact how historical figures are depicted in video games, as well as television and movies. The company’s games have featured historical figures such as President John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro, the company noted in a news release.

The lawsuit contends Noriega’s inclusion in the game increased the profits Activision earned from “Black Ops II.†The game earned more than $1 billion in sales within 15 days after it was released in 2012.

In addition to leading New York City’s government for two terms — including during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — Giuliani is a former U.S. attorney and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

Activision said in a release announcing Giuliani’s involvement in the case that the company plans to argue the game’s depiction of Noriega is covered by free speech provisions.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/former-mayor-rudy-giuliani-defends-call-duty-publisher-manuel-noriega-lawsuit/

 

A Florida woman reportedly spent $20,000 to get a third boob surgically implanted on her chest in a twisted attempt to look less attractive to men.

“I don’t want to date anymore,” Jasmine Tridevil, 21, said in a recent radio broadcastwhen asked why she added the extra mammary complete with an artificial nipple and tattoo to resemble an areola.

But she’s still proud of the apparent triple nipple.

On her Facebook page, she thanks followers for sharing YouTube videos featuring her swiveling her hips in a tri-cup bikini. She also hired a camera crew to follow her around so she can pitch a reality show to MTV.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/22/woman-gets-third-boob-jasmine-tridevil_n_5862184.html

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Geek This Week:  

Aaron: Trying to understand iOS 8 and some changes

Gozer: Destiny, Gamefly Oct games Alien: Isolation & Evil within

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