Here's some good news for those Mac-users who also happens to own an Xbox Live Vision Camera. It seems that someone's been able to confirm that your Xbox Live Vision cam will work on OS 10.4.9.

According to the discussion thread, lOUDsCREAMEr decided to take a chance and bought a Live Vision Cam to see if he could get it to work on his computer without the need for a hack or a driver. Lo and behold, as the picture on the right shows it in action.

Zorkon points out that this is a new feature of the patched 10.4.9, which has support for USB video cameras using iChat. Whether this means that other game-related cameras will work with it is dependent on how much you know about cameras. But it stands to reason that anyone with a Live Vision Camera now has a free OS 10.4.9-compatible cam to use for taking pictures and amateur YouTube videos of the Tunak Tunak Tun dance.

Ouch. When Apple says that the iPhone is a closed environment, they meant it all the way up to the graphics user interface (GUI). The tzywen YouTube video of the iPhone GUI on a PocketPC has been [read the banner image above]. Try it out at the linked original article.

This certainly follows the trend of Apple, Inc. being quite protective not only of its proprietary technological advances, but of its proprietary image as well. After all, the word "podcast" probably can't be used as a trademarked term anymore. On the other hand, can we still call it the iPhone, or are Cisco and Apple still talking?

In truth, intellectual property rights are to be respected, although it ultimately depends on how angry an IPR owner can be when someone else uses their stuff and doesn't tell them about it. On the other hand, how would Microsoft react if an iPhone was able to run a Vista-like interface? (Unless it was like, Boot Camp or something...)

(Oh, and we tried visiting the tzywen site for more info, but came across a "509 Bandwidth Limit Exceeded")

A guy who goes by the YouTube username of tzywen has just coded a PocketPC program that mimics the iPhone's interface. It's not a firmware, just a program running in fullscreen. The program utilizes the Eten M600 PocketPC's touchscreen to make it work just like an iPhone. Almost everything's in there too: the sliding lock, SMS, calendar... like I said, almost everything.

It also has the iPod feature, but tzywen says that it's still under development. Pretty much all you can do with it is scroll up and down. It can't play any songs yet, but it does prove that you can imitate the iPhone using just a PocketPC. In tzywen's own words, "It just depends on how far you're willing to go." Check out the vid below.

Here's something that could catch the eye of the passing iTunes fan...and probably the videogame vets. We were looking over Youtube when we found an old video dating back to 1992. It was done on a Commodore Amiga, which at the time was a competitor for PC and Apple. This particular video on the left is titled "State of the Art" is by the Spaceballs demo group, and while we thought it looked cool, we got a strange sense of deja vu...

Yeah, we know - it bears a striking resemblance to the theme a lot of the recent iTunes commercials carry. To give you an idea of what we mean, check out the Apple ad on the right for comparison. Kind of interesting how the past comes back to us in other interesting ways....

The guys behind the Mac OS X application, Tubular, has announced that they have released Beta 3. Tubular? What in blazes is that? For the uninitiated, this little fella is basically a Mac OS X client application for the streaming, downloading, and converting of YouTube videos for your computer and iPod. Now isn't that nifty?!

More than a month ago, the Tubular team said that they would be releasing it by the end of 2006 if everything works according to plan. Well, for now, us frequent YouTube strollers would have to wait. So as we'll be really prepared when it comes out, Tubular requires Max OS X 10.4 or higher, 800 MHz G4 processor, and a high speed Internet connection (300 kbps or faster).

So back to Tubular Beta 3. To those lucky people who are testing it, all you have to do is start up Tubular and check for updates. Beta 3 fixes a couple of issues:

• Tubular does not save custom window size - FIXED
• Watching a video will cause the sidebar on the left to stop working - FIXED

Aside from the heads up about Beta 3, we'll also hook you up with a video demo of some of the app's features.

WiiSaber is a clever little Cocoa application for the Mac from isnoop. Earlier, isnoop had made an application called the MacSaber, and what it did was used the Mac's "sudden motion sensor" - every time the Mac was moved, it would make Jedi lightsaber noises and keyboard backlight effects (vigorous movement resulted in Jedi lightsaber clashing and striking noises).

The WiiSaber application lets you use your Wii remote to make lightsaber noises.

So go, lock yourself in your room and start swinging your Wiimote around.

This is WiiSaber v1.0 Beta 1. isnoop says, "I plan on adding more features including more visual response and multi-controller capabilities soon, so check back again later." We can't wait. Meanwhile, we're entertaining ourselves by making deep breathing noises and pretending to use Force lightning on each other.

And here's the YouTube vid uploaded by thescott18. He mentions the force feedback (the vibration or "rumble" feature - he's not talking about feedback from the Force).

Download: [WiiSaber v1.0 Beta 1]

You can't blame Kevin Rose for speculating like mad about the iPhone, like he did in his latest Diggnation podcast with Alex Albrecht (we'd blame what he's drinking). What makes his speculations interesting - besides that it's in YouTube-uploaded format, courtesy of momo411176 - is that this is the same guy whom MacWorld says accurately called the news from the MacWorld last January, as well as the iPod Nano. And that he claims he's got "inside information" to boot.

So, to all the bookies out there: what are the odds that his speculations today are what come out for the next MacWorld this coming January?

As the video goes on, you may just hit some familiar stories like touch-sensitivity or OS X pop up. You may also expect the Muscle-Bound Henchmen of Jobs to pop up and cut the podcast feed... among other unmentionables - we kid. Anyway, one month away from MacWorld, we'll soon find out if Kevin Rose calls it right again for the iPhone. Or Apple Phone. Or whatever Cupertino pans to call it - but we're betting iPhone. Those guys must have patented the "i-" by now...

The 100,000th viewer of the video wins an iPod Nano. The 1,000,000th (that's one-millionth) viewer gets a Wii. The 3,000,000th (three-millionth) viewer gets a PS3.

You must have a YouTube account. You must have a valid email address (don't make one up).

Who's running the promo? RedButler is a global concierge company claiming to be the "fastest growing concierge and lifestyle service company." This company (it looks like it's based out of Beverly Hills) is basically a butler shop - you rent a butler from them. So this is either legit or a very elaborate hoax.

Although some guy will hire 50 homeless people to watch the video at the same time when the number gets up to 2,999,950 or so, thereby increasing his chances of taking home the PS3. We kid! We joke!

Apple recently unveiled their newest ad for their newest baby, the second generation of their iPod shuffle. Well, unlike the "Get a Mac" ads which focused on how better it is for you to get a Mac over a PC, this one we're talking about doesn't have guys exchanging wisecracks or people dancing like it's the last night of the world.

In fact, all you'll see are torsos putting on different articles of clothing and attaching the nifty iPod shuffle to them. Basically, the ad is trying to convey that their newest innovation will suit you regardless of race, gender, musical preference and other stuff. All of this while The Prototypes's Who's Gonna Sing is playing on the background. Simple concept, nice music. It isn't a surprise if it is able to convey it's message. So maybe you oughta put some music on? Here's the vid we found while rummaging through YouTube.

Those of you who frequent PSP Updates have known about MyQJ for a while, and many of you have made use of it to contribute your own stories and thoughts about the PSP to the mecha-global blogosphere. But with all the PS3 and Wii madness this weekend, it's a perfect time to announce that MyQJ is now open to all the topics that we cover here at QJ.NET. Got a horror story about standing in line for days waiting for a PS3? Find out some neat trick to do with the Wii? Positive that the Xbox 360 is still the way to go and want to tell everyone why? MyQJ is the place to go!

But what is MyQJ? Pretty much what it sounds like! We've devoted a whole new section of the network to you, our incredible online community, to speak your mind about anything regarding gaming or technology that you can think of. From news, to reviews, to opinions, to releasing your first homebrew program, MyQJ is how you can share your thoughts with the rest of the QJ Community!

So, what's the big deal? MyQJ is a new type of hybrid when it comes to user generated content on the web and giving control to our readers. For one, it is an open blog pertaining to a specific subject - in this case, gaming! Add to that our Jump it Up feature and now you've got a way for readers to rate what they're reading. And then, any popular articles on MyQJ will be copied over to the appropriate QJ news site! Everyone loves to blog, and I'm sure many of you have your own blogs and sites, but it's not always easy to get your word out to the masses. With MyQJ you have the chance to get your thoughts posted on one of the most popular and most visited gaming news sites in the world. Our audience is now your audience!

But what about the other blogs? Those will come in time, but right now MyQJ is in it's beta stage and we need to put it to the test! Will there be bugs? You bet! Will there be things you don't like? We're counting on it! But since it is MyQJ, we want it to be what YOU want, so our maddening methods will change over the weeks as we get more input and find out exactly how you guys think MyQJ should work.

So how does it work, you ask? Pretty simple, really. First, sign up and register to blog on MyQJ (for free, of course). After you've confirmed your registration email, you can head on over to the Publisher Area and start writing! After you've submitted your article, a QJ Content Manager will quickly scan your post to ensure that it displays properly and conforms to the posting guidelines, and before you know it your post will be up on MyQJ!  If it gets enough Jumps, it'll then appear on a QJ front page!

Speaking of guidelines, here are the rules you should try to follow to ensure that your article gets posted quickly:

1. No profanity, racism, pornography, vulgar, or other incendiary content
   
2. No illegal links, subject matter, downloads, or plagiarized material
   
3. Body text must be 75 words or more
   
4. Article must be readable (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization)
   
5. Article Content must be accurate to the best of your knowledge
   
6. Source link must be accurate to the best of your knowledge
   
7. Article Content must be applicable for the Blog(s) you submitted it to
   
8. If the article has a related download that is to be obtained through the source link, the download must be readily available without the need to register at another site, or perform any other actions to gain access to the download.
9. Don't spam! Please make worthwhile submissions! :)
10. Please check for duplicate stories before posting

Undoubtedly, you have questions! Not only on how things work on MyQJ, but how to use the Publisher interface and make the best articles possible! Given that we're still in beta form and things will change quickly over the coming weeks, there isn't any documentation available yet, but we do have a MyQJ Help Forum to answer any questions you might have! And our faithful QJ blogger Pranav T. has already created a short primer to help get you started! And look forward to regular tutorials on how to do things like insert hyperlinks, place images, or drop a YouTube video in. Until then, tinker to your heart's content!

It goes without saying, but even though QJ Staff will be manually scanning what goes on MyQJ, it is all about user submitted content, so who knows what will end up there. Just because something is posted on MyQJ does not mean that QJ.NET endorses the content - so user beware! This also goes for any linked downloads - if it doesn't come from DL.QJ.NET, use at your own risk!

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start blogging! And remember, MyQJ is your QJ! It is what you make it, so make it the best it can be!