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Verizon to begin offering double the data for your buck tomorrow as a limited time promo
The blazing-fast speeds you get from LTE are absolutely wonderful, but the joyride you're relishing can be over rather quickly when you have a capped data plan. Verizon's reportedly offering new and existing 4G-wielding (read: 3G excluded) customers a nice holiday bonus beginning tomorrow: for the same monthly cost, Big Red will give you twice as much data. In other words, $30 will get you hooked up with 4GB, $50 delivers 10GB and $80 can land you a whopping 20GB of total LTE goodness; for everyone else, a 300MB plan should be available for $20. From the sound of it, the deal isn't going to be around for very long, you have to specifically request it via customer service or your online Verizon account and there's been no confirmation as to whether or not customers will be grandfathered into these plans as soon as they're gone. We're still awaiting word from Verizon on additional details, but the extra cap will go quite nicely with your brand-spankin' new RAZR or Galaxy Nexus, we'd say. VZW LTE FTW. Update: We just stumbled upon a leaked screenshot (shown below the break), courtesy of VZBuzz. If this is the real deal, it confirms that customers will be grandfathered into the promotional plans until they choose to move to a different feature. Update 2: And we got the official nod straight from Verizon: "Beginning tomorrow, Verizon Wireless will introduce a limited time promotion that offers customers the opportunity to receive double the amount of data for the same monthly fee for all Verizon Wireless 4G smartphones. For example, a customer who purchases the 2 GB plan for $30 will receive 4 GB for $30. The plans is available for new and existing customers. Existing customers need to request the change via customer service or through their My Verizon accounts --- the free portal where customers can view and pay their bill, make changes to their account and purchase new devices." Update 3: We got additional clarification from Verizon regarding what the company means by "existing customers." In their words: "existing customers who have upgraded their service or purchased a 4G smartphone within the last 14 days will be eligible for the double data plans." So existing customers can only get it if they upgrade, which means anyone who isn't eligible for a new device will unfortunately be left out in the cold.
Trick-or-treaters visit the Jobs residence
The San Jose Mercury News has posted a photo gallery of trick or treaters who visited Steve Jobs' Palo Alto home on Halloween, including a very adorable pair of siblings dressed as an iPad and an iPod. The Mercury News said about 50 children and their parents ventured beyond the home's gates to receive cellophane bags with orange candy slices, Toblerones and sour drops. Some of the parents said keeping up the tradition was a wonderful testament to Jobs, who died Oct. 5. The newspaper notes that the Jobs' are well-known in the area for opening up their home to neighbors on Halloween night, and Apple Stores have gotten in on the fun as well in the past.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011
<div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/holidaygiftguide2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/2011-hgg-2011.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></div> Welcome to Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide hub! Sure, there's nothing more exciting than tearing off crisp winter-themed paper to reveal the packaging of a shiny new gadget, but from the 4AM department store Black Friday queues to the stress of last-minute shopping online, figuring out what to buy your loved ones (and how to pay for it) can take all the fun out of this beloved wintertime tradition. We've rounded up some of this year's hottest tech toys, from TVs to tablets, bringing you a curated collection to help simplify the purchasing process. You've stumbled upon our main hub page, and we're glad you're here. Each week in November we'll be adding three new product guides to our home page, and we'll collect them all below as well. In the meantime, you can click on over to our available category pages, and stay tuned for those to come -- identified by a faded graphic for now.<br /> <br /> <center> <table border="0" style="width:630px;height:281px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-accessories/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/p-x2anglepro-rgb.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/thule-backpack-2-200x200.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-desktops/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/apple-imac-hero-leftside.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-digital-cameras/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/nikon-j1-01.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-accessories/">Accessories</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/">Bags and Cases</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-desktops/">Desktops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-digital-cameras/">Cameras</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-docks/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/jbl-on-air-airplay-speaker-dock.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-e-readers/ "><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/272770-amazon-kindle-2011.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/motorola-motoactv.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-gaming/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/nindsimages.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-docks/">Docks</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-e-readers/ ">E-readers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/">Fun Stuff!</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-gaming/">Gaming</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-headphones/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/headphone-3.s600x600.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-laptops/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/asus-zenbook-ux21e-dh71.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-printers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/epson-workforce-610-wifi-enabled-all-in-one-printer.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-smartphones/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/samsung-galaxy-note.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-headphones/">Headphones</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-laptops/">Laptops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-printers/">Printers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-smartphones/">Smartphones</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-tablets/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/ipad-1-landscape.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-hdtv-and-home-theater/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/samsung9000.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-tablets/">Tablets</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-hdtv-and-home-theater/">TVs / Displays</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>
Halloween costumes inspired by Apple, influenced by Steve Jobs (Updated with costumes)
Halloween celebrations are underway, and it's time to get those costumes out of the closet. We're hoping that some of you are moving beyond the ghost and the witch of your childhood and looking towards Apple for your inspiration. So if you're dressing up as an iPhone, an iPad or some other Apple-influenced costume, please post your pictures to twitter or Flickr with the hashtag #applecostume and we will compile them here for everyone to see. [Image: computerjoe/flickr] %Gallery-138293%
Mad Catz re-releasing Rock Band 3 with its peripherals
When our review called Rock Band 3 "the only rhythm game you'll ever need," we didn't know it'd be taken quite so literally. Mad Catz announced today that it would be releasing a follow-up to the Harmonix masterpiece ... in the form of Rock Band 3. Yes, the peripheral powerhouse has taken over publishing duties and will put the game back on shelves this holiday season. The re-release may seem like an unconventional deal (and it is) but it's easy to see the logic. For starters, the game's original publisher, MTV Games, doesn't exist any more. Plus, Mad Catz is getting more involved with the publishing world and is already the official manufacturer of Rock Band instruments. Mad Catz says it will bundle the game with its various instruments including the Fender Mustang guitar/controller hybrid, though not the drum kit as far as we can tell. We're also looking into platforms -- thus far, we know only that Mad Catz has a publisher license agreement for Xbox 360. We've reached out for comment and will let you know what we hear back. Update: For the moment, 360 is the only platform Mad Catz will confirm the rerelease for. Specific bundle details are still to come.
No Comment: iPad vs 300 Black Cats
iPad wrap manufacturers SlickWraps celebrated American Independence day in the most traditional manner. Blowing things up in order to sell their product. Cool pyrotechnics meeting capitalism, all in the pursuit of fun. Their video, which follows, shows the iPad (although not so much the Apple logo) walking away almost unscratched from a bag of splodey Black Cats. And to that, we say, "No Comment" -- although we do say "Again! Again! More boom!" Thanks to all the TUAW tipsters who passed this one on to us.
Breakfast Topic: Let's make up our own WoW holidays
One of the biggest issues that I have with holidays in World of Warcraft is that they mirror our own holidays in the real world and give them the ol' World of Warcraft spin. I am of the opinion that Blizzard should create a truly unique in-game holiday that does not have its roots in our traditional celebrations. Two holidays would need to be created -- one for the Horde and one for the Alliance. We already quasi-have this to a small degree with World of Warcraft's heroes. Some quests during the Harvest Festival over on the Horde side of things, for instance, have us visit Grom Hellscream's monument and pay tribute to his sacrifice in removing the orcish blood curse. I think we could have two faction-specific holidays that show off the Warcraft history without being spiritual dopplegangers to real life events. For the Alliance, a holiday could be created to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who charged through the Dark Portal and destroyed the other side, leaving them stranded on Draenor for what appeared to be forever. Nethergarde Keep could be the site of the holiday, as Alliance players go to pay their respects at the site of one of the bravest acts of heroism the Alliance exhibited in the war against the Legion-dominated Horde. For the Horde, players could partake in some sort of release from bondage day, since at some point all of the races that currently make up the Horde were enslaved either physically; through addiction, like the blood elves; or through conflict, like the tauren. Rather than be a holiday wishing for the destruction of slavers, this time would be of appreciating the relative freedom that the races of the Horde now enjoy. What do you think some in-game holiday, unique to the game world and lore, be? Would you like to see Blizzard make up actual in-game holidays instead of following by our own cultural moments?
Guild Wars 2's Eric Flannum on promises, pets and purpose [Updated]
"Think of the personal story in Guild Wars 2 as you would the 'main' storyline of a great single player RPG," ArenaNet's Eric Flannum said in an interview with GamerZine. Instead of rote MMO quests, this storyline will be full of significant, one-time choices that will have a huge impact on your character. This is just one of the many promises that ArenaNet has made in regard to Guild Wars 2 as the studio strives to differentiate it from the rest of the fantasy pack. The interview covers the main features list of the game: the event system, the personal storyline, and the emphasis on exploration. When pressed about in-game events and holidays, Flannum said that many Guild Wars holidays will be returning: "We haven't planned out exactly what we're doing yet, but we certainly plan to support all of our usual holiday events in Guild Wars 2. Since our event system is very robust I imagine we'll be able to do a lot more things than we were able to do in the first game." He also said that the team is striving to "push the fun and collectability" of the mini-pets system over Guild Wars 2's predecessor. You can read the full interview at GamerZine. [Update: Tap Repeatedly also has a whopper of a GW2 interview up today, this one with Jon Peters and Jonathan Sharp!]
US Cellular announces 4G, plans to light up LTE by end of year
Just when we're finally basking in the warmth of spring and picking May flowers, US Cellular finds a reason for us to look forward to the cold and dark winter to come. The carrier announced plans to deploy its own LTE network, intent on blanketing two dozen markets (representing 25 percent of its customer base) with blazing-fast 4G service in time for the holiday season. And the party ain't stopping just because the mistletoe comes down and the decorations are put away; the holiday deployment will only be the first phase, with US Cellular continuing its 4G expansion efforts through 2012. Full PR after the break.
Breakfast Topic: Do you like the changes to classic holiday events?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. I distinctly remember the time of year that I started playing WoW because there were Halloween decorations all over the game world. It was October, and Hallow's End was in full swing. Perhaps because of this, I've always looked forward to holiday events in-game, though they've changed over the years. Naturally there was no Headless Horseman boss back then, nor any holiday boss. Noblegarden was a one-day egg hunt in which roleplayers and completionists scrambled to find an Elegant Dress. Stormwind Guards received Valentine's cards during Love is in the Air rather than becoming convenient targets for chemical spray, and the Lunar Festival elders were generous with XP, reputation, and gold when you paid your respects. Of course, there were no achievements, either. I think I liked some holidays better the old way. Sure, the RNG problem with many holiday achievements is gone, but it's been replaced by a tedious and time-consuming grind that makes the event feel like more of a chore. I felt the same way about Lunar Festival when finishing it up on my alts. Without the rewards, the only purpose to visiting all the Elders is to tick their names off on the achievement tracker. I happen to like the new Noblegarden format, but I know some people tear their hair out over the egg competition. Brewfest and Pilgrim's Bounty, the new holidays designed with achievements in mind, are more successful in my view. Do you like the revamped classic holidays? Do achievements make them more or less fun? Did you even do holidays before achievements? How could Blizzard improve its holiday events?
Breakfast Topic: What's your favorite WoW holiday?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. Everywhere my characters went at the beginning of the year, NPCs were shouting "Happy Lunar Festival!" Elders waited to hand out Coins of Ancestry. And yes, yes, I indeed slew Omen. It made me think about all the holidays that WoW includes. Whether you are risking your life trying to get to an Elder you know is hidden in a dungeon during the Lunar Festival, searching for bonfires during the Midsummer Fire Festival, or stuffing yourself silly on Noblegarden chocolate, everyone has a favorite in-game holiday. I started playing near Halloween about 5 years ago. The person who taught me to play didn't tell me that the citizens of Azeroth liked to celebrate holidays as well. So imagine my surprise when I logged on, went to Stormwind, and found giant pumpkins staring at me, people wearing costumes and silly masks, and innkeepers handing out treats! Halloween is my favorite holiday in the real world, so when I logged on and found out I got to celebrate in game for a week? Yes, please! It made me love the game that much more. Over the years, I have gotten to experience all the holidays that World of Warcraft has to offer. Each of them has a little something I love. Pets from Children's Week. Pretty dresses during Love is in the Air. And who hasn't taken on Coren Direbrew trying to get that Brewfest Ram? Hallow's Eve is still my favorite. Midsummer Fire Festival is a close second, because I love the excitement that comes from running full speed into the other faction's cities and stealing their flames. But no matter what holiday the citizens of Azeroth are decorating for, I am having fun just because it's a break from the norm for a week or two. Who doesn't love a break from the grind? What's your favorite in-game holiday?
Massively's Easter event roundup
Our ears invariably perk up when it comes to seasonal MMO events, and with a long Easter weekend in full swing, we figured it'd be a swell idea to collate the various holiday-related goings-on in our favorite virtual worlds. While many of you are no doubt gorging on chocolate-covered bunnies and/or hanging out with your families, just as many are taking advantage of the weekend festivities in your favorite MMOs. Whether it's anniversary celebrations in Lord of the Rings Online or Easter-themed shindigs in Vindictus and RuneScape, there's something for everyone. Hop past the cut for more details.
Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup
The favorite day of the year for anyone named April has [verb ending in ed] the internet, making some web surfers [emotion] and others [emotion]. In [adjective] Massively fashion, we felt it best to gather all this news [adverb]. After all, what would an event be without a [adjective] Massively roundup? World of Warcraft [past tense verb] not just one internet prank but four for the [plural noun] of BattleNet. Turbine invited its [plural noun] to be the broccoli for [adjective] race in Dungeons and Dragons Online. The [plural title] of Star Wars: The Old Republic did not want to leave the Wookiee [plural noun] from playing their [adjective] game, so they created a Shyriiwook interface for all those [adjective] people. However, the prank that takes the [food] has to be ArenaNet's new Guild Wars 2 class, the Commando; Anet created [adjective] videos complete with jiggle physics and placed helicopters into the current Guild Wars game. After the cut, we have [past tense verb] all the [adjective] pranks in this year's batch of favorite MMOs. Now you won't have to [verb] around the internet to find them yourself! But if you do [verb] something not on our list, let us know in the comments.
The Tattered Notebook: Brew Day
It's spring in Norrath, but if you're out adventuring in Velious, you might not realize it. Thankfully, Brell Serillis is helping us remember that sometimes we need a break from all the snow and ice, and what better way to celebrate than pouring a nice foamy mug of Tumpy Tonic or Minotaur Hero Brew! That's right, EverQuest II's festival of Brewday is back, and in this week's Tattered Notebook, we're going to search for the best brews, don our beer goggles, and even do a little cow tipping. Read on for a look at some of the quirky quests and boozy rewards that come with Brell's spring holiday.
Valentine's Day iPhone apps for the woman who bore your children
You love her. You admire her. You have given her the gift of children. (For the purposes of this post, they will be considered a gift. A loving gift. A blessing, even.) You share a home, a past and a future. It's Valentine's Day. Now what? So, first the obvious. No amount of chocolate or roses are going to make the kid's sniffles go away, the dog walk herself, or the laundry folded and put away magically. If you're thinking about making her day special, just buying an app isn't going to do it, especially apps that involve farts or beer. Get real, people. Large quantities of time to herself, along with her friends, at a day spa is thinking in the right direction. But if you're determined to go tech, here are a few ways to give your minivan-bound true love the gift of iPhone.
Massively's guide to Valentine's Day festivities
Ah spring! 'Tis the time when young men and women's thoughts turn to love -- or at least scoring some nifty holiday-themed loot! This year there's quite a bit going on. Some events are old familiar ones that have stood the test of time. Others offer new twists and things to do for those who have been there, done that. If you aren't feeling the love bug biting, there's even the odd anti-Valentine's-type event, perfect for those who would rather rain destruction down on the head of anyone foolish enough to approach him with anything heart-shaped or pink. Curious as to what's going on? Check out our listing below -- and feel free to chime in if you know of a fun event others should check out! Rip out your Fallen Earth character's heart for Valentine's Day (February 11th-13th) What's better than surviving a nuclear holocaust and wandering your way across a blasted brown landscape rife with societal collapse? Why, sharing said wanderings with someone you love, of course (or at least, someone you lust after in that we've-got-to-do-this-for-the-future-of-mankind sort of way). In a novel spin on the traditional mid-February holiday, Icarus Studios is presenting Fallen Earth's Valentine's Day Massacre event, and clones everywhere can literally offer their hearts as a sign of affection (and a +3 stamina buff). Vindictus spreads the love with new update and holiday (February 1st-15th) Quirky events have quickly become one of Vindictus' staples. Right now players can participate in V-Day events for special rewards. If fishing and chocolate hunting isn't your bag, you can simply purchase a Valentine's Package at the Supply Depot for "sexy Valentine's themed Inner Armor." Cute undies, in other words. Valentine's events will end after the 15th, so players are encouraged to partake sooner rather than regret it later. Time for love in Final Fantasy XI (February 1st-15th) Valentine's Day is almost here, that special time of year when you attempt to distill the essence of a romantic relationship into chocolate form. And if you were hoping to escape from the day within Vana'diel, your efforts are rather misdirected -- Valentione's Day coincides nicely with the holiday in the real world, with just as much saccharine summation of liaisons in Final Fantasy XI.
Firemint sells 3 million copies of Flight Control
Firemint has shared some sales figures about Flight Control over on its blog. The now classic line-drawing game was recently listed in the top paid apps of all time on the App Store, and so Firemint decided to reveal a little bit about how many copies it's sold and when. The grand total is exactly 3,881,634 copies as of their posting. The game currently sells for 99 cents, but that doesn't mean Firemint pulled in $3.8 million as Apple takes its 30 percent share as well. Firemint has also posted the chart above, showing when the most copies sold. Interesting to see that the Game Center patch gave them the biggest spike in sales, though don't forget that Flight Control was one of the first games on the service as it went live, something that certainly encouraged extra downloads. The new maps and the Retina Display support patches also gave big bumps. iOS developers, take note: big feature updates sell apps. Christmas boosts sales as well, as we've discussed here in the past. What's most interesting about those bumps, I think, is that they're basically the same size -- Christmas is turning into a pretty predictable spike in iOS sales for developers. We saw a lot of "planned" releases and discounts last holiday, and I bet we'll see even more as time goes on. Of course this is only one app on the store, but it's one of the biggest apps of all time, and probably a good representation of a lot of bestselling apps. Thanks to Firemint for sharing!
SEC forms show Apple execs donated $3 million in 2010
A few Securities and Exchange Commission forms filed this week show that Apple executives gave shares of Apple stock to various charities right around mid-December. The stocks added up to a value of about three million dollars across the four executives that gave. Unfortunately, none of the charities designated to receive the money were listed in the forms. Millard Drexler, the CEO of J. Crew and a member of Apple's board, gave away a total of 6,800 shares, as you can see above, and the other givers are also board members or executives. It's good to see the generosity flowing in Cupertino this year.
TUAW social club: What did you get for Christmas?
Were you nice and not naughty? Did Santa reward you with Apple-branded products for all your hard work and effort this year? If Santa left a few Apple goodies under your tree (and helpfully cleaned up your Safari browser cookies and milk), here's where you can share the joy of new ownership. So what did you score? A new iPad? An iPod? A Mac? Apple TV? An iTunes gift card? A patented iPhone SIM removal tool? Come share your excitement in the comments. We want to hear what you got and how you love it so far! It's time to brag about your new toys and maybe get a little peer-support for any technical issues you've encountered from our other readers. Because TUAW readers are the best. Bless you all. Each and every one of you! Happy holidays and a healthy New Year.
Exploring Eberron: Playtime over the holidays
It's Christmas Eve, and most everyone is on some sort of holiday break. The interesting thing about holiday "break" is that it's often not so much a break as it is a different kind of hustle and bustle than the usual one. Still, it's supposed to involve at least a little bit of downtime, and we MMO fans look forward to indulging with some extra time in our favorite games. While it's hard to find time to spend hours raiding, the design of Dungeons and Dragons Online allows players to take a half-hour here and there to relax and play. The downside of this is that there's a lot of content, and it's easy to wind up staring at the game thinking "I have no idea what I want to do." A few suggestions can usually get the ball rolllng, so follow along after the jump for some ideas on how to make the most of your DDO downtime!
