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Items of Note:

We have a contest! Alex from RSS Player was generous enough to provide us with some codes for his awesome podcast receiver app for the iPhone / iPod Touch. We’ll run a trivia question each episode for three episodes. The fifth person to leave the correct answer on The Geekcast voicemail line (206-350-5000) along with a brief comment about the show, will win a code good for one free copy of RSS Player.

This weeks’ trivia question: What was the name of the early 90’s psa commercial that Aaron and Gozer sang in episode #133?

Rules: Only one entry per person. The fifth correct answer on the voicemail will win a code good for RSS Player. In the message, please also leave your e-mail address CLEARLY so we can send you the code.

GBFans is following me on Twitter. They are having a GB blu-ray viewing Weds June 3rd@midnight. The Fine arts theater 8556 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, 90211. Is there anything out there for NYC!?!? Launch Parties? GB Game or Blu Ray parties!?!? PLease!!!

This weeks’ trivia question: In The Geekcast #134 from I-Con, who guest-hosted with Gozer & Aaron?

Listener Feedback:

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Geek This Week:

Aaron:

Star Trek & Netflix

Gozer:

Playin a ton of punch out. Using wiimote and nunchuck controls. ( optional wii balance board or wii mote play) Still has the same feel as the old school one. Defense pattern game but still a helluva lotta fun. Beat it on normal, up to Soda Popinski on title defense mode. Multiplayer, went over to a friends house for a memorial day b-b-q. There was a couple of other guys there that didn’t know this was out and they got so excited just from a nostalgia perspective. Multiplayer is not an all out brawl. Still have to bob and weave and play defense. Turn into this hulk of a little mac and pummel your opponent.

Fringe Season Finale – throw back to Sliders big time. Thoughts on : The relationship between peter and walter. Is this the true peter? Olivia and her new found abilities, William Bell and the twin towers.

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Tech & Gaming :

Zune HD Unveiled, Set For Fall Release

Several readers have written to mention that Microsoft has confirmed and unveiled the Zune HD. It has a “3.3-inch, 480 x 272 OLED capacitive touchscreen display, built-in HD Radio receiver, HD output,” and it makes use of multi-touch input. More details will be forthcoming at E3, including how the device interacts with Xbox Live. Reader johnjaydk notes a PCWorld article that asks whether the Zune HD will be capable of competing with the iPod Touch. Quoting: “… the real competition between the Zune HD and the iPod Touch will come down to software. The new Zune will be based on a custom version of Windows CE, while the iPod Touch runs on the already popular iPhone platform, for which thousands of applications are available.”

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/27/1612244

Wal- Mart wants your used games

The buy-backs won’t be done the average way, there will be a Redbox-like machine that will take your used game from you. Pictures of the actual machine can be seenhere. You will be prompted by a display screen to scan the bar code on the box of the game you wish to trade in. Once you scan the bar code, the machine will search its database for the title and if successful, you will be prompted to insert the game disc first and then the box.

You’ll create an account that you log into every time you go to trade in a game to the machine and this account will presumably be accessible on any Wal-Mart used game kiosk. There is also a slot to slide your credit/debit card; it’s uncertain what role the card plays in you trading in games but my guess it’s for some sort of accountability (who traded in what game, etc). Once you’ve inserted the used game, the machine will print you a voucher for in-store credit. These kiosks, which accept PS2, PS3, Wii, and 360 games, are only in a few Walmart stores right now but seem to be working their way to more and more locations.

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Walmart-Wants-Your-Used-Games-17582.html

Digeo Moxi HD DVR
$800

Digeo’s Moxi HD DVR sports a slick, Emmy-winning (seriously) user interface and all the commercial-skipping accouterments of competitors like TiVo. It even ditches a monthly bill in favor of flat pricing. And due to a recent firmware update,the Moxi also grants access to online video and music.

HDMI, component, optical and composite connections. There’s also traditional cable co-ax input, CableCard connectivity and an eSATA port for cracking into locally stored music and movies. Between these core-connectivity options and an upgradeable 500-GB HD, the Moxi makes for a legit TiVo competitor.

Digeo outfitted the Moxi with a stunning full-HD user interface, full of slick transitions and responsive performance. Unfortunately, sleek visuals don’t conquer all. Basics like surfing through the program guide (or accessing a previously recorded show) took a lot of hunting and pecking through a menu tree. Finding pre-recorded shows and getting them to play took searching, highlighting, selecting Play, confirming that you selected Play, and then finally watching.

Moxi also brings online video from YouTube, Hulu and Netflix, as well as access to online music and photo services from Rhapsody and Flickr. Access to this content is a huge value boost for the Moxi, but it comes with a list of shortcomings. While the Moxi’s DVR functions are punchy and polished, the online video is actually a funky workaround from PlayOn. Digeo was savvy enough to cover the $40 licensing fee that usually comes with PlayOn’s software, but the presentation is a far cry from the buttery smoothness of a proprietary app. This awkward middle step kills the fun of mainstays like YouTube — especially when Moxi’s workaround nearly cripples must-haves like search functions.

http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_0519_moxi_HD

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Test a Geek:

1) What was Soda Popinski’s alternate name? A: Vodka Drunkenski

2) The first generation ZUNE took the disign of what media player? A: Gigabeat S

3) What was the first social network to take off in the United States: A: Friendster

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How To: Tips for Punch Out on Wii

Health boost for Little Mac, using the wiimote and nunchuck, shake vigorously when you knock down your opponent. Using just the wiimote, tap 1 and 2 buttons. Also in between rounds hit the minus button for a health boost, you’ll hear a ding sound and see your trainer eat a chocolate bar. You can only do this once.

When you are defeated 100 times you will automatically unlock a training helmet which will greatly reduce the damage you take. Very helpful for title defense mode, which is friggin crazy. You have the option to turn it on and off too.

Title defense mode can be very cheap at times so just play defensively and find their weakness. Much harder to find their weaknesses in this mode.

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Ask A Geek: This segment will return on a future episode of The Geekcast

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Hack: This segment will return on a future episode of The Geekcast

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The Geek’s View:

Terminator Salvation – Interesting, in the future after judgement day but kind of a prequel. John Connor’s father Kyle Reese ( he’s like 16 ) hasn’t traveled back in time yet to boink Sarah Connor. A new major character is Marcus Wright who plays a key role, you are actually following him throughout alot of the movie. Maybe even more so than John Connor. T – 800’s are the new version of terminators. * spoiler * Yes there is an Ahhnuld skinned Terminator towards the end of the movie. Satisfying ending, interesting and different. Really almost revolves around Marcus. Really awesome action sequences – gatherer terminator captures humans and sends off it’s legs these motorcycle terminators. Awesome chase scene. Terminator fans should def see this. Liked it better than T3 but not T2. Wider scope than T2.

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Related Episodes:

1. The Geekcast #111
2. The Geekcast #157 – Filezilla
3. The Geekcast #130 – Keep Your Mac Apps up to Date
4. The Geekcast #131 – SelectiveTwitter for Facebook