Version 3.61 is available for download on the PS3 now, and the PSN and Qriocity services will be back up and running as early as tonight.  Sony tells  it’s customers to change their passwords for their accounts, and  offer their apologies, as well as detail the returning services

Returning services include:
The ability to sign into the PlayStation Network or Qriocity service
The ability to play online games on PS3 or PSP
The ability to playback videos rented from the PlayStation store if within rental period
The ability to listen to use Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity on PS3 or PC
The ability to use third party services like Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, and MLB.tv
The ability to access the “friends” category on the XMB menu
The ability to use PlayStation Home

If you’d like to monitor areas where services will be back up, Sony has provided a nice little map for their customers to use to continue watching progress.

UPDATE: Most of the world has said services returned, including the US, Europe, and Australia. Playstation Store will be returning by the end of the month with multiple updates to catch up from the down time.

Hello. ray hom here.

I’m an avid reader. When I’m not lost in a movie, drunk out of my mind with my fellow colleagues, or twiddling my thumbs on what to do with my mediocre human existence, I engage in reading a good book. My taste in books are eclectic. My range of reading habits include horror fiction, philosophy, autobiographies, erotica, personal essays, and graphic novel comic books, which allows me an experience of drinking from the vast water well of knowledge with various great minds. But, lugging around books in my arms or backpack can be a physical burden on my back.

Being thankful for living in the digital era, the solution to avoid getting scoliosis would be owning an eBook reader. The Amazon Kindle is currently the most popular eReader. But, I own the Barnes & Noble’s NookColor eBook Reader for the following reasons: It is the only color eReader (discounting tablets like the IPad); can import any epub, PDFs (great for comics), or Microsoft Office documents to view on the device; maintain an image gallery; can play videos and mp3s; includes Android apps like Pandora and basic games including Chess and Soduku; access to B&N’s online bookstore; and has wifi access to the Internet, and if connected to your local Barnes & Noble bookstore’s wifi, you can read any book (even the recently new releases) for FREE up to an hour per day.

And, there is more exciting news to come in about a week or so…

Although, there have already been ways to root into the NookColor’s Android OS to turn it into a tablet, it has been recently announced that some time in mid-April there will be an update to the firmware that will transform the NookColor from an eReader into an Android tablet. These are some of the rumors being touted on what this update to Android OS 2.2 will include:

• Adoble Flash video capbility (Hopefully, YouTube and Netflix are included)
• Access to email
• Increased magazine & newspaper subscription selections which includes “The Economist”, “ESPN: The Magazine”, and “PC Gamer”
• Access to the Nook Store (an Android app store, but Apple has copyrighted the word “app store”. It will only be referred to as the Nook Store.)
• Angry Birds will be one of the games available
• Deal with Nickelodeon which will include children’s content from “Spongebob Squarepants”, “Dora the Explorer” and “Diego”. Also, other favorite children’s characters including Barbie and Mickey Mouse will have new accessible content
• Exclusive: The King’s Speech Digital Book Only Available for NOOK Customers
• More In-Store Only content

Is this enticing? If so, grab your NookColor today! Happy digital reading! It is the future!

The Home Shopping Network recently began selling the NookColor showing off some of these updates. You can find more info here.

If you’re a developer who wants to program apps for the NookColor, you can read more info here.

Shop for the NookColor on Amazon.

Follow me on Twitter
Or add me on Facebook

YouTube has been the place to go for video content, garnering over 2 billion views a day.  Arguably the most popular video streaming site to watch and share originally created videos, the company has launched a new service: Live Streaming.  As a beta version, content is limited, but YouTube plans to slowly allow its partners to stream live content on the site.  That means not everyone will be able to stream live through YouTube, but the limiting factor will mean more refined live broadcasts than the ones offered in other live-streaming sites where you’ll often find people talking random giberish.

Journey through the site yourself at http://www.youtube.com/live.

You can find the official announcement at YouTube’s official blog right here: http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2011/04/youtube-is-going-live.html

In a world full of choices, people may or may not be so decisive.  What external hard drive should I get?  Which restaurant should I try?  What’s a video game I should check out?  During times like these, a recommendation would really help.  Thankfully, there’s Hunch.

Hunch.com is a recommendation site that eliminates the need of going around the web and putting in time-consuming research.  The site aims to personalize the internet by getting to know you and making smart and concrete recommendations about what you might like.  There are thousands of topics to get suggestions on from email service providers to bucket list ideas.

Begin by signing in with your facebook or twitter account and answering 20 (or more, if you’re into that) questions about yourself.  Hunch then creates a taste profile that maps your unique preferences based on the collective knowledge of people similar to you.  The company’s mission, taken straight from their website, is to “build a taste graph connecting every person on the web with their affinity for every entitiy (camera, car, book, anything!) on the web.”

Of course Hunch doesn’t gaurantee the acuracy of the recomendations. And it seems doubtful that reliable suggestions can be generated for some of the topics through a few seemingly random questions.  It’s almost akin to those Facebook quizzes people love to use, but much more accurate.  If anything, its fun to see how wrong, or very right, Hunch is in their knowledge of you.  There’s also fun in comparing your recommendations with a friend.  Remember they’re only suggestions.  Don’t believe that these recommendations define you in anyway, but you should check it out for yourself to decide if these hunches are helpful enough.

Inception’s complicated, but enjoyable dream while dreaming in dream story was truly another incredible and smart Nolan masterpiece. The movie mesmerized from start to finish, with its superb ensemble cast and visual effects. Long after the credits roll, the audience will be left pondering the film’s many questions. Inception may very well be the best film of the summer, if not the year.

While watching Inception, I couldn’t help but think about Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Beyond the similar cast and amazing, haunting score, a few other similarities struck me. Early in the film, Ken Watanabe’s character is crushed to death by a collapsing ceiling, much the same way his character in Batman Begins comes to his demise. In another scene, Cillian Murphy’s character, in a suit, has a burlap sack placed over his head, eerily similar to his Scarecrow character in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. These slight references may be intentional or coincidental, but can not be ignored.

Also, these two posters speak for themselves…

Haven’t had enough rustlin’ in the old west in Red Dead Redemption yet? Rockstar just announced four new DLC packs for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, with the first one — dubbed “Legends and Killers” — due in August for $10. What can you expect? Oh how about some new characters, weapons and active map locations (for both free-roaming and competitive multiplayer modes) to be added to New Austin over the coming months. AND ZOMG WTH … ZOMBIE COWBOYZ!?~…

Mosey on down sit a spell and look at what they have a comin’ pardner.

Legends and Killers — August 2010 (800 MS Points / $9.99)

* Nine new multiplayer map locations
* Eight new multiplayer characters, including some from Red Dead Revolver
* New projectile weapon, The Tomahawk, with corresponding multiplayer and single-player challenges
* New Achievements and Trophies

Liars and Cheats — Launch date TBD (800 MS Points / $9.99)

* Attack and Defend multiplayer competitive mode and challenges
* New multiplayer horse races, with mounted combat
* Play as “the heroes and villains” of Red Dead Redemption, as well as eight new multiplayer characters
* Multiplayer versions of Liar’s Dice and Poker from the single-player game
* New weapon, The Explosive Rifle, with corresponding multiplayer and single-player challenges
* New Achievements and Trophies

Free Roam — Launch date TBD (Price TBD)

* Additional Free Roam challenges
* New action areas and defensive placements
* Posse scoring and leaderboards
* New anti-griefing measures in Free Roam

Undead Nightmare — Launch date TBD (800 MS Points / $9.99)

* New single-player adventure, challenges and quests
* Eight new multiplayer zombie characters
* Additional animals to hunt
* New dynamic events “and more”

Move over Movie Madness Monday readers.., *$aving$ $unday* comes early in at almost a week early again this week~!

For those that Havent purchased Red Dead Revolver yet,

Gamestop.com has their POWER HOUR sale today at noon for the game for $25

If you use the normal ‘SAVER’ code for the discount you’ll get free shipping too (if i remember right that might be 2 day shipping).

It’s a phenomenal deal if you dont have the game already, i would suggest being online at Noon because its gonna sell out instantaneously.

Cheers,

Quinn

Hi Tech-Heads!

The wait is finally over! The iPhone 4.0 OS has been released. My initial reaction to seeing a background picture on the springboard (the home screen with all the icons) had me JUICED!

Being an ex-3G user, the jump to the 3GS was large. Now, with OS 4.0, I’ve re-fallen in love with this device.

Listening to Pandora, chatting on AIM, checking facebook, searching google, all seamlessly is pretty amazing. There is no lag switching between apps. The browser seems faster too, but that might just be the product of being on a 3GS vs. the 3G I was previously on.

One thing I find dissapointing is that I can’t choose which applications to leave in the background. While Pandora stays open and streams in the BG, SHOUTcast, CastCatcher, and iheartradio all do not.

5x digital zoom in the camera is a pretty neat feature, as is the ability to lock the screen in portrait mode. That means you can lay down in bed and use your iPhone without having the screen annoyingly change orientation on you. This also really helps if you’re laying down enjoying a book from the newly supported iBook store.

I approve! Did you know that this article was typed on my iPhone? SICK!

Written By Quinn Aguirre for ‘the Flow’ www.theflowshow.tv

As I sit here and write this article to try and convey to you what the show ‘EXPERIENCE’ IMAGINED BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL that was done for the premiere for the unveiling of “Project Natal” for Xbox 360 was like, words fail to form upon my lips and nothing but a feeling remains and does so with a sharp sense of nostalgia.

First off I guess that I’ll back up and tell you of a few things that transpired.., I hope in interest of this article that youve already visited my prior article of the show. If you haven’t CLICK HERE.., and then come back.

Back Already? OK, GOOD!~ Let’s proceed forward shall we?

We had missed Larry (xbox lives MAJOR NELSON) by a few mins due to traffic.., and so we figured we were hungry and wouldnt be able to catch up to him in time for the show. We stopped at an old favorite that the attendees of E3 know lovingly as the ‘Pantry’ and had some great fresh homemade ’slaw, and I went with the Philly with fresh ‘mash. God I’m getting hungry again just thinking of it. We were all toward the end of our meal when I get a text from Larry saying get to the front entrance and tell them I sent you and BAM youre in.

THANK YOU KIND SIR~!

So we get there everyone is excited and caught up in the crazy events going on (see prior article if you didnt hit the link earlier) and getting some swag like this crazy XBOX 360 branded USB bracelet

complete with rare NATAL/KINECT AVATAR gift and picture from the show of you and friends on xbox backdrop and promo photos. Then there is what I like to call the Psycho Crusher Cape which is really an interactive poncho for the show.

So we get inside and the people in the seating area are being asses and it takes me a while to get to the floor. YES thats right you could walk down INTO THE PERFORMANCE AREA, or sit down.

IM SO THERE. I dodge through the haters that dont want me down on the floor and meet the others that are already there and then shortly thereafter the show starts.

Im honestly to god getting goosebumps thinking of how awesome that show was.

It’s like trying to explain to you what a CIRQUE show is like and if thats not hard enough on its own, try to be standing RIGHT NEXT to the performers hearing the drums being beat feeling the vibrations from them people dancing around you and encouraging you to dance along and then having a three hundred and sixty degree experience assaulting your senses. Man this is the stuff you just cant explain. CIRQUE brought it and came correct~!

I think for now I’ll leave you with that feeling that I have right now .., can you feel it? Sit back and let it wash over you and enjoy the pics and video and hopefully you’ll get at least a small percentage of the good vibes that I myself and the crew of www.theflowshow.com along with CIRQUE DU SOLEIL are sending your way. ENJOY THE LOVE.

Written By Quinn Aguirre for ‘the Flow’ www.theflowshow.tv

That’s right, right now going on at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.., The premiere of the Cirque Du Soleil Imagining show of the Project Natal A.K.A. ‘Kinect’ is just hours away and we here at The Flow are bringing you live information as is happens.

www.cheapassgamer.com ’s very own Cheapy D is going around hyping up stand byers as Felicia Day Plays ‘Kinect’ (formerly Project Natal) with Billy Crystal
( & kicking his @$$ I might add, first driving and now the dance game XD ) in the VIP lounge as everyone eagerly waits to see what Cirque Du Soleil has in store for everyone.

If youre not making it tonight have no fear there is another live show tomorrow and then MTV will have it broadcast on the Tues 15th @ 3:30pm ET and Nick at Nite will show it the same day at 9pm ET. That way everyone wins~!

So there you have it E3 week.., ‘IT HAS BEGUN~!’ AND we here at ‘the flow’ bringin to you ;)

**UPDATE CLIFFY B of EPIC / GEARS OF WAR FAME SNUCK ONTO THE RED CARPET WITH DON M.., and Microsoft is handing out ‘Interactive Ponchos’ To go with the event. CLIFFY COMPLAINS ABOUT PONCHO, confuses Michael Cera about ‘against the world’

***Everyones inside now > the show is starting > CHEAPYD sitting next to Kojima San (that would be Ralph Kojima lolz Dont ask) wearing the ‘Interactive Poncho’

George A. Romero, King of the Zombies

George A. Romero is one of the reasons I love movies. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD, DAY OF THE DEAD, these films are some of my favorites, they made me forever question if a dead person will get back up, so when I hear anything Romero related you better believe that I rise from my grave.

Romero has three ideas/stories that will branch off from DIARY OF THE DEAD, one of which is SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, his latest zombie flick which is out on Xbox Live right now. His idea is to take characters from Diary and give them their own film, then in some way reconnect them all in one last film.

Survival focuses on the character Sarge (Alan Van Sprang) and his soldiers, but who’s next? The group of scavengers that horded every last resource in their city? Or the blond chick that escapes? (I don’t want to go into details, watch DIARY OF THE DEAD)

But in order for these ideas to become reality SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD will have to make some dough. Because after all money talks in Hollywood. If Survival flops, those ideas will die, then get back up and feast on brains.

I applaud Mr. Romero and encourage him to continue making films until he dies, but his last couple of “OF THE DEAD’S” have not been cult classics. With that said I will leave the decision of Romero’s career in your hands. I already did my part and watched both DIARY and SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… foos was rockin’ some sick-ass kicks.

adidas has taken a fresh new approach to selling shoes. In a viral ad campaign for their “adidas Originals” collection, adidas has remixed one of the most popular film franchises of all time to include celebrity ranging from David Beckham and Daft Punk to our funky new Skywalker, Snoop Dogg.

Check the description for their latest video, Star Wars Cantina™ 2010:

“adidas Originals invites you to join David Beckham, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Ciara, Jay Baruchel, DJ Neil Armstrong and some of your dear, old friends for an intergalactic 2010 FIFA World Cup™ viewing party that you’ll never forget.”

Okay, sounds pretty insane. Let’s watch it:

Not bad, not bad. Sure, the story’s a little sketchy, and most of the “celebrities” are nigh-unrecognizable… But hey, it’s still LOADS better than Lucas’s remix of Jabba’s palace!

Apparently, the joining of forces between these two major brands has become an international phenomenon. Check out these very creepy posters released in Hong Kong, back in January:

Is it just me, or do those characters look like baby Hitlers?

Rumor on adidas’s official site is that they may launch a James Bond campaign next. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to seeing Odd Job throw a shoe.

Until then, may the force of the Yoda wallabees be with you…

Written By Quinn Aguirre for ‘the Flow’ www.theflowshow.tv

Thunder, THUNDER, THUNDERCATS… HOOOOOOO~!!!!!!

Lion-O and the warriors from Thundera are back!~ WARNER must asked the Sword of Omens to give them ‘SIGHT BEYOND SIGHT’ because I know millions wont be able to wait for it to hit Cartoon Network in 2011.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the new “Thundercats” series will be the studio’s first project to use anime-style animation, and promises to be a “21st century reimagining” of the classic ’80s cartoon series.

Along with the first promotional image from the series, WBA also sent over a brand new, ridiculously cool poster announcing the series’ 2011 debut.

Here’s the first image from the series:

And here’s the poster:

According to the studio, the new series will appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers to the universe of Lion-O and his Thunderan brethren.

Calling it “a sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes,” the studio offered some hints about what the new “Thundercats” series will involve, including “the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost.”

For the project, WARNER will be collaborating with noted Japanese animation Studio4°C (“The Animatrix,” “BATMAN: Gotham Knight”), who is updating/revamping the characters’ look for the series.

“Thundercats” will be executive produced by Sam Register (“Teen Titans,” “Ben 10,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”), with Michael Jelenic (“Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “Wonder Woman”) and Ethan Spaulding (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) as producers.

Written By Quinn Aguirre for ‘the Flow’ www.theflowshow.tv

As soon as you turn your back, AT&T = The King Villain.

The biggest money maker for AT&T since launch has now been handicapped by the company, as AT&T announces that Unlimited Data plans are no longer valid for Apple’s iPhone sku. Now people can expect to pay a premium to use the iPhone’s full functionality.

YES. YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. You can now expect to pay an extra $20~$55 dollars for the data you already currently use. There are lesser costing Data plans but you are essentially paying more for less data. What did AT&T say to the face and the hand that feeds them? SLAP~! COLD BLOODED~!

@feliciaday the singer/creator/actor of the well-known web series ‘The Guild’ just posted minutes ago on her twitter saying, “Wow AT&T, just wow: http://bit.ly/ceAyR8 Looks like I’ll be sampling other phones/carriers this summer.”

Way to stick it to them Codex~! Expect thousands more to follow suit.

So what’s Apple’s next course of movement? Was this planned for the AT&T exclusivity to be expanded to other carriers as well? Only time will tell as there is currently no official response from Apple.