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Banned WoW player offers $1,000 for reactivation
If you lost an MMO account through hacking, banning, or any other method, what would you pay to get it back? One California World of Warcraft player didn't hesitate to put a hefty price tag on that possibility. "I got my WoW account banned yesterday during the archaeology bot ban wave. I wasn't a gold farmer or seller, never bought gold. I just botted archaeology because it's a boring profession. I'm looking for a WoW Account Admin [...] to unban my account for $1000USD. No questions asked - your anonymity will be preserved." The plea for reinstatement says it all. The anonymous player posted via Craigslist last week, offering any form of payment the recipient might ask for -- including "an envelope under a tree." While it's a safe bet that nobody on the WoW team will open this particular can of worms, it's an interesting look at how far some players will go to preserve the time invested (or not invested, in this case) in gameplay.
Pricey iPad 2s showing up in online auctions
The "amazing" demand for the iPad 2 is creating a booming resellers market for those looking to flip their iPad 2. While iPad 2 units are impossible to find in stores, the internet is teeming with iPad 2s for those willing to pay any price. The 64 GB Wi-Fi + 3G model is the top of the line iPad 2 model and retails for US$829 online and in stores. A quick search of eBay uncovers auctions selling this model with a price tag as high as $4,000. While $4K may be on the high end of the scale, many units have sold for as much as $2000. This same model is also selling for between $1000 to $1500 on Craigslist in major metropolitan areas such as New York City. Even the low-end 16 GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 model is available at over-inflated prices with some sellers asking $2000 for the $499 tablet device on eBay and up to $1000 on Craigslist. If you did not score an iPad 2 on day one and still want one, what are you doing to secure your tablet device? Would you pay $1000 plus for the iPad 2, or do you prefer to stalk your local Apple store waiting for that elusive shipment of new iPad 2 inventory?
PAX nerd orgy no longer accepting single male participants
If you're a single male hoping to have some casual sex with a large group of PAX attendees you have, tragically, waited too long. Couples, on the other hand, are still encouraged to break out the Mana-brand personal lubricant, head over to Craigslist and start the revolution.
Exploring Eberron: Soupdance!
Although my wife doesn't know it yet, if we ever have another child, there's now a very real chance that we're going to call him or her Brawnpits, after my new favorite character in DDO. I think our entire group became enamoured with that name, but can you blame us? I don't think you can, especially after you meet Mr. or Ms. Pits (I have a theory it's a "she") in the first quest of the new Phiarlan Carnival chain that came in Update 5. On Wednesday night, our Massively DDO guild OnedAwesome set aside time to conquer this module, mostly because I was bouncing on the tips of my toes saying, "Can we? Please? Please? Pleeeeeeease?" until everyone capitulated just to shut me up. One of the things I love about DDO is that these newer quests are pretty innovative and varied, and I don't think you can get much different than a thespian giant, an illusionary pig, and toilets that double as rest shrines. Let's take a quick trip through the first two chapters of The Maleficent Cabal quest chain to see if it's worth your time -- and money. I say it is, if only to experience the majesty and jaw-dropping awe that is soupdance.
TUAW's tips for gifting an iPad for Mother's Day
Still searching for that perfect Mother's Day gift for your mom or wife? Why not get her an iPad? Buy Mom a computer? You're kidding me, right? The iPad's versatility lends itself to some computer-like comparisons. And a natural response to this would be: "Who would want a computer for a Mother's Day gift? That's tacky." This would be similar to Al Bundy buying Peggy a bowling ball, only because he wanted it for himself. Except that it isn't just a computer. As a consumption device, the iPad can also be seen as an appliance. No matter where you put it, it doesn't seem too out of place, and blends in with its surroundings well. This versatility, coupled with its ease-of-use, could make it an ideal gift for mom. Now getting an iPad alone would be tacky. There's little thought behind it. Why not go the extra mile and customize an iPad for her? This will take some legwork, however. But who cares. This is for Mom, right?
Craigsphone 2.0 brings maps, images, and more
Next Mobile Web sent us a heads up that they're set to release version 2.0 of Craigsphone, an app for the iPhone that allows you to browse popular online classifieds site Craigslist quickly and easily. We talked about the app when it first came out, but apparently version 2.0 brings a whole rewrite and a few new features as well. As you can see in the video above, you can now chart a map of your search results (only in the housing categories), see an image preview while browsing, and make more use of Craigslist's account features, including browsing their forums and the official blog. Craigsphone was already the best way to browse Craigslist on the iPhone, and these updates definitely cement that status. I am a little bummed to see that one of the coolest features of the app, called "Nearby Events," is still only available in San Francisco and Manhattan. That pulls up a map of things going on near you, obviously, and considering that you can map real estate from anywhere, it'd be nice to see that finally spread to more markets. But that's above and beyond Craigslist's own functionality, so if you just want a great way to check out the site on your iPhone, Craigsphone will do it for you for free. We're told the new app should be on the store today, and the iPad version is was released right after launch.
Fixing a broken iPhone screen doesn't have to be a pain in the glass
That old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder: it couldn't be more true of the relationship that I have with my iPhone. It's become such an integral part of my life that I don't know how I ever managed to get by without it. Not since Fox cancelled "Arrested Development" have I missed something this much. Two nights ago, I cracked the screen on my iPhone. I was working out on the elliptical trainer and watching "Sanford and Son" clips on my iPhone, which was perched above the machine. As I reached over to it to choose the next related clip, the earphone cord snagged onto the arm pedal of the elliptical trainer. T-minus two seconds before glass off. 2.00 seconds: Elliptical trainer's arm pedal snags onto earphone cord. 1.50 seconds: Earphone jack doesn't disengage from iPhone, and pulls iPhone down with it. 1.00 seconds: iPhone wobbles in the air as it makes its descent. 0.75 seconds: My right leg, straddled onto the elliptical trainer's plastic foot pedal, is on its upward path. 0.50 seconds: iPhone's screen and the right plastic foot pedal of the elliptical trainer meet at the apex of the pedal's upward movement. 0.25 seconds: iPhone goes air born once again. 0.00: Glass off!
Confessions of a gold scammer and identity thief
digg_url = 'http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/'; "We have met the enemy and he is us." The player identified as "Patrick" is not the malevolent monstrosity we'd like to see. Nor is he a victim of circumstance, at that. He acts for all the world like a perfectly normal gamer, and if you didn't know he'd scammed between $10,000 and $20,000 in a year of reprehensible behavior, you certainly wouldn't be able to guess. That's what makes a video interview with him, mirrored and annotated at PlayNoEvil and originally recorded by Marcus Eikenberry, so odd on many levels. The full interview lasts thiry-eight minutes, which makes it a bit long for casual viewing. The article which mirrors the video notes some of the highlights, including when he almost breathlessly exhorts the moment he realized that there was nothing in PayPal's EULA that prevented him from not transferring his EVE Online account to a purchaser on Craigslist. His rationalizing of the actions include the loss of his job and financial instability, even as he begins the interview explaining how he would scam players in both EVE Online and World of Warcraft for fun. His words are unsettling, but what makes them all the more eerie is the fact that without the foreknowledge... there's no way to tell his voice from any of ours. When you have the time, the whole interview is well worth looking at if you're at all interested in account security and the culture of scammers.
Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset leaked on Craigslist?
We know the rule of thumb is to not trust everything on Craigslist, but when an unreleased refresh of the cool-looking Jawbone Bluetooth headset pops up for sale, it'd be wrong to ignore it. HTCPedia managed to get cozy with Mr. Blurrycam and got a few shots of the supposedly forthcoming Jawbone Icon, which appears to don the same skin pattern as the Jawbone Prime but in a form factor similar to the original Jawbone -- quite an odd decision so we remain skeptical, but it'd be a welcoming addition for the market nevertheless. A couple of close-up shots after the break. [Thanks, Brian!]
Mac 101: Getting your RSS feeds in your inbox in Mail.app
RSS reader support has been a built-in feature of Mail.app since version 3.0 (when Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released). Although I subscribe to a number of RSS feeds, I've yet to find the need for a dedicated RSS reader app -- such as Newsgator's NetNewsWire. I like having my email and news feeds in the same application. By default, RSS feeds that you subscribe to in Mail will appear in their own folder. If you'd like your RSS feeds to appear in your inbox, just click on the upward pointing arrow of an RSS feed(s) within the RSS section in Mail.app. On the downside, this view of RSS feeds may flood your inbox and be overwhelming, depending on the number and the activity of feeds you're subscribed to. As a result, you may want to be selective in choosing your feeds. However, I've found this view particularly handy with time-sensitive feeds, and have used it on numerous occasions to score in-demand concert tickets (at face value prices, too!) with search-based Craigslist feeds.
Activision catches both pirates and thieves in Modern Warfare 2 investigation
While it might be tempting to go straight to Craigslist with those Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundles you stole, it turns out that Activision notices exciting, high-profile offers just like your potential customers might. VentureBeat reports that when Activision noticed a listing for one of the bundles last Thursday, the company hired a private investigation firm, IPCyberCrime.com, to track down the seller. When IPCyberCrime found the person behind the sale, the investigator discovered that he was an employee at a retailer, who, with friends, had stolen the bundles to sell on Craigslist. The sellers were turned over to the store's loss prevention department. That bust led to one of the prospective buyers, named Christian Del Amo, who was raising money on a forum to buy the bundle (allegedly) for the purpose of copying the game and selling the copies, along with other pirated games, on hard drives. IPCyberCrime turned that case over to the Miami-Dade Police Department, who arrested Del Amo. Obviously, this demonstrates one reason (aside from the whole morality thing) why you shouldn't try to make a business of selling pirated games. Activision has enough money to hire a private investigator, and is not afraid to use it.
Craigslist Lotharios looking for PlayStation Home rendezvous
There, shining like a beacon of justice atop Mt. Craigslist, we saw it. Two men from the Washington D.C. area had poured their hearts out on a digital classified ad, looking for women tailored specifically to their carnal needs. Their demands were innocent enough, until the inclusion of the immediate disqualification of "Obese Girls (try drinking water for a change)." This shallow (and confusing) item required immediate karmic retribution. As we pondered our involvement in this matter, we saw it: "Looking for potentially LTR (long-term relationship) with college educated women around our same age, to meet initially via Playstation Home." Our minds raced with the retaliatory possibilities -- shapeshifting would most certainly be involved, that much is given. But to what extent could this vulnerability be exploited? An hour of feminine manipulation, and then ... the switch? A day of personal exchanges before ... the exchange? A week? A month? A year? With solemn determination, we gathered our courage -- and became unspoken executors of the Longest Con. [Via Superannuation]
AT&T's Samsung A797 pawned on Craigslist, definitely under the table
If you're looking for a Palm Pre that's made by Samsung, not running webOS, and AT&T branded... well, bless your heart, because today's your lucky day. Craigslist (of all places) has unveiled the first shots of what's said to be the Sammy a797, a full-touch feature phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard -- a form factor arguably popularized by Palm's baby. We don't know a blasted thing about this phone other than what you see here, but we do know that the lucky individual that currently has it is pawning it for a bargain-basement price of $115... which is probably a good deal less than AT&T will sell it for, whenever it launches. Totally legit, right? [Via Unwired View]
Three bald, naked guys needed in LA immediately
Do you like your video games with an extra helping of naked, bald dude? It appears as though a game studio in LA will be fulfilling your desires come August 1. Superannuation caught the incredible Craigslist ad that we couldn't help but share with the world, calling for bald men who are willing to "shave all body hair."Specifically, the casting calls for "Caucasian male model/actors for [a] video game shoot," and, in typical video game fashion, needs them in a group of three. Things just get steamier as the description continues, detailing the wardrobe, a "nude-colored thong," and a heads-up that applicants must be comfortable being "posed close to other men." You throw a disco ball and some roller skates into that mix, and you got yourself a party! And no, there is no word on whether or not Mark Wahlberg is involved. Yet.[Via Superannuation]
What to do with that old iPhone?
At first I was going to wait until December when I could upgrade my 3G iPhone to a 3G S for the best price, but the thought of that better camera resolution and video was slowly gnawing away at my resolve. I wanted a new iPhone (damn you Apple!), but I had to do something about my current model. Putting it in the drawer that has become my 'Museum of Obsolete Technology' didn't seem like a great (or cost-effective) solution. Selling it to friends is tough because most already have iPhones and are in the same boat I'm in. We've even offered some good tips in the past here at TUAW.Then I remembered that when I upgraded to the iPhone 3G I sold my iPhone online. eBay wasn't offering much back then, so after some research I settled on NextWorth. They are one of a number of companies that will give you real cash for gadgets, and they had a good reputation. Prices depend on demand and change daily. With my old first generation iPhone, I sent it in with all my accessories and received a check back in 2-3 weeks. It was all pretty painless.I checked them again this time, and they were offering US$280.00 for my 16GB iPhone. I've gathered all my accessories and will send it in when I get the new iPhone. That 280 clams makes the whole trade up quite a bit less painful. I also like this method rather than selling to a friend because of the "something is sure to go wrong with the phone the day after I sell it" factor.Our readers will have their own stories and suggestions. Let's hear them -- and one tip. Before you engage with any company try a site like ReSeller Ratings or do some targeted Google searches to see how other people did with them. I might have gotten more money for the phone using another method, but the route I went has no risk and offered a reasonable trade in value. Other online companies that buy iPhones include Gazelle, BuyMyTronics and CashforiPhones. That's not an exhaustive list, and be sure to check reputations. Searching on "sell your iPhone" at Google is a good place to start. There's also Craigslist, but you have to be careful. There have been a lot of rip-offs. One final tip. When you sell the little darling, be sure to do a secure erase first. It takes a while, but protects you from selling your data along with your phone.I'm looking forward to the new iPhone but hate the thought of buying the next model and the next. What's a geek to do?
Casting call looking for 'Punch-Out!!' lookalikes
Craigslist provides another bit of strange, gaming-related news, this time with EDP Casting sending out a casting call for Punch-Out!! lookalikes. The post is looking for New York natives to fill the boxing gloves of Piston Honda, King Hippo, Great Tiger and, of course, Little Mac. The listing doesn't specify what the casting call is for but we'd like to dream the entire classic NES title would be put to music and run on Broadway -- with the help of Andrew Lloyd Webber, of course. If you think you've got the chops to jump into Mac's pink sweatsuit, make sure to take note that EDP is looking for someone with "real fire" in their eyes. So, you really have to want the part ... or at least undergo some experimental surgery. [Via GoNintendo]
AT&T's Samsung a877 in the wild -- and on sale
From render to Craiglist in a few minutes flat -- not bad for a phone that won't officially be on sale for a few weeks yet, as far as we can tell. A Samsung a877 for AT&T has popped up with an asking price of $400, complete with pictures to prove that the phone is the real deal; interestingly, it's identified as the Eternity, which we're assuming is a misunderstanding on the seller's part since the Samsung Eternity has already been at retail for a few months now. Of course, that leads us to suspect the remainder of the specs listed here, including MediaFLO-based AT&T Mobile TV, which -- call us skeptical -- we suspect the a877 doesn't support. All told, $400 doesn't seem bad to get your hands on technology that AT&T doesn't intend for you to have yet -- just don't, you know, expect any support from reps when you can't get your email.[Thanks, Speedmaster]
Craigslist tool defers to App Store decency standards
The developers of the iPhone Craigslist app craigsphone [App Store link] seem to have found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Sure, most of Craigslist's content is perfectly appropriate for all audiences -- nothing too risque about buying a used bike or looking for an apartment -- but there are some more adult areas of the service, including the ever-popular Missed Connections, that might just run afoul of the App Store's ever-shifting sands of appropriateness. What to do?Apparently, the answer is "throw up your hands and turn the URL over to Mobile Safari," as you can see in the screenshot here. I'm not sure this is a particularly well-thought out workaround; there are plenty of other apps that can pull down adult-themed content, starting with Apple's own YouTube tool and including ebook readers, RSS feed handlers, etc. Should a developer providing a custom portal to an external website really be responsible for all the content hosted there, or would it be simpler to put up the same 18-and-up warning that Craigslist uses? It may be up to Apple to implement, or allow a third-party to build, more granular parental controls for iPhone apps, but simply handing off the same mature content to Safari for display seems like a pretty big cop-out.Update: In response to some of the commenters, we don't know whether this restriction was put in out of an overabundance of caution, or because of a specific requirement of the App Store -- so blaming Apple for prior restraint may be premature. We'll try to get the straight story.Update 2: It has been confirmed that the change to the craigsphone behavior was, in fact, prompted by a concern from Apple's app store team that the app might be violating terms of service by displaying the mature content. If other apps have been given similar red flags, please let us know.Thanks xnifex & Nilay
Craigsphone brings Craigslist to the iPhone
Craigslist is one of my absolute favorite sites on the 'net -- it's been around for years, but kept the same simple look and feel, perfectly fulfilling the service of classifieds without ever once going off that course. Sure, there are issues with spam, but Craig and his minions have worked overtime to make the thing work, and it works well (in fact, if you see any weightlifing dumbells for sale in Chicago, let me know, I need some).There are quite a few iPhone apps featuring Craig and his list out there (including a few with prices on them), but one that caught our eye as a useful free app is Craigsphone, made by Next Mobile Web (they make the very useful Dial Zero app as well). As you can see from the video above, it's all the features of Craigslist made mobile, and then some -- you can see your history, post and call directly from the phone, and even use the iPhone's location to see craigslist entries nearby (though unfortunately, the Nearby features only work in San Fransisco and Manhattan -- no Chicago?). NMW claims they're still working on the app, too -- they want to "take the best local site in the world and make it truly local." Who knows what that means, but it sounds good, right?If you spend lot of time on Craiglist, or just want to while you're out and about, Craigsphone seems like a good way to do it. We're interested to see what else they've got planned, too.
The DS Life: Missed Connections
Aug 27 - Girl At Keisei Takasago Station - m4w - 37 - (Katsushika) pic Reply to: pers-8160291452720@craigslist.org [?] Date: 2008-08-27, 11:59PM JT
