This day was inevitable, even if unfortunate. Microsoft is finally pulling the plug on XBOX Live support for original XBOX games. Starting April 15th, you'll no longer be able to hop onto XBOX Live for some nostalgic bouts of Halo 2 multiplayer.

I won't drone on here why I believe Microsoft shouldn't cut game support for a paid service (particularly for games they were selling days ago in digital form), but there are two sides to that argument. According to most stats, few gamers out there are playing XBOX original titles on XBOX Live. And, according to Microsoft, continuing legacy support for original XBOX titles is getting in the way of improving the Live service overall.

What does this mean for you, if you want to still play some old favorites with friends?

Fortunately, it doesn't mean you can no longer get your multiplayer on. Since 2006, we've featured an article from TechLore member Yog-Sothoth,

I've mentioned several times in my blog that I'm not a fan of Apple's "controlling" business practices, even going as far as saying Apple treats their customers like "walking ATMs." Apple's clearly continuing this practice with the new oversized iPod Touch they're calling "iPad", which (like its pocket sized siblings) leaves out things like Flash, expandable memory, and all but basic Bluetooth support in order to keep users in Apple Prison.

Typically, I don't have an issue with it. I certainly don't give Apple any of my money, and I don't really care what other people choose to spend their hard earned cash on. That said, I do start to care once Apple is dishonest about their business practices with consumers... like Apple saying their iPhone/Touch/Pad devices lack Flash because it's buggy. That's complete B.S. 

It has nothing to do with being buggy, but it does severely limit the user's web experience. Without Flash, the iPad's browser can't display a wide variety of web content. Not just online video (which is huge IMO), but in other cases entire websites. It can't play flash games, nor can it utilize flash based apps that exist on various sites. In other words, it lacks Flash because Apple doesn't want a means for developers to circumvent their app store. As a result, none of these devices let you experience the web as it actually is today. To me, that means

Over the coming weeks, you'll no doubt hear more about the Apple iPad from industry pundits, bloggers, fanboys, and probably your next door neighbor than you'd ever want to hear. I'm not going to go into too much depth (others will handle that for me), but I'll give an overview and a semi-realistic viewpoint from someone who doesn't live and die by Apple's hardware.

The iPad is Apple's new tablet, which has been rumored for well over a year.  Today, they finally showed it off, and... well...  take a look:

Notice anything? Go ahead, take a long, hard look. Yep, it's an iPod Touch blown up to tablet size. Apple calls it "revolutionary." I call it "obvious." The iPhone and iPod Touch are one of the most profitable things Apple has done. Is it any surprise they'd capitalize on that?

So what do I think? Here's all the random thoughts that went through my head.

I noticed this morning that my Comcast DCT-3416 Dual Tuner HD-DVR wasn't displaying its clock, something I rely on when playing with my daughter in the living room before starting work. Upon further investigation I discovered that none of the advanced functions of the DVR were available - no guide, no DVR menu, not even the menu. I got a picture and could change channels, but that was about it.

I ultimately thought the internal hard drive failed (even though I could hear it spinning), which would explain some of the behavior I was seeing. I unplugged it a few times, let it reboot, and nothing. "Time to call Comcast," I thought... though that's certainly not something I ever look forward to. 

About 20 minutes later I was getting ready to pick up the phone, and then noticed the clock had returned. To my surprise, all of the features had re-appeared: the DVR, the Guide, and everything else, but with new features and enhancements.

Like others, I was highly interested in checking out the latest developments in 3D-TV at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, a topic I'll have much to say about over the coming months, but I also spent a good portion of time on the show floor seeking out new and interesting gadgets coming in 2010. One of the more unique devices I saw was called Zaggbox, a new product from Zagg that can only be described as a Swiss Army knife of digital goodness.

Yep, you heard that right - Zagg, the one and same that makes little plastic screen protectors for cell phones. As unlikely as it may seem, Zagg's first foray into consumer electronics is a big one, in both scope, and as it turns out, price.  

So what is Zaggbox?

Zagg bills it as a "Media Aggregator and Personal Media Server," though If I had to describe it, I'd say it's a

Roku's little boxes have been the hardware staple for those looking for a specific device to stream movies and TV from Netflix, Amazon, and MLB.tv and display it on a TV. With so many other devices integrating the real draw functionality (Netflix) these days winding up in homes everywhere, it looks like Roku is finally opening up their little box to content providers with their new "Roku Channel Store." 

New channels now available for customers to add today to their Roku experience via the Roku Channel Store include: Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe. A complete list of free and premium channels can be found here.

The new free channels already are a good addition, but how much more attractive this makes the Roku boxes over a variety of other web to TV streamers really depends on how many content partners they are able to attract and the quality of that content they offer. That said, since all exisiting Roku players are being updated to use the Channel Store (and there's more than a few of them out there), odds are attracting some quality providers shouldn't be all that difficult.

Since the day my child was born, I knew I'd inevitably have to take measures to protect my home theater gear once she was mobile enough to press buttons and turn knobs. My taste in style has always been what I would call "understated contemporary," meaning plain, simple, and functional. I'll also admit I have little desire to spend a fortune on something that holds my A/V components. I'd rather buy new gear. 

My prior solution was the pinnacle of cheap, yet functional. Many of my components are stacked on top of my big 55" CRT rear-pro HDTV, while the others are stacked neatly under my left and right speakers using a stackable desktop wire shelf/organizer system I picked up at an office supply store. It doesn't support the bulk of my larger components, like my 65 pound receiver, but it does handle my light weight devices like my cable box, DVR, DVD player, component width surge protector, and my VCR. On the right side, I've used the same shelving to house several game consoles.

Earlier this evening, word spread that the Federal Communications Commission is investigating Apple and AT&T regarding the recent rejection of Google's Voice application for the iPhone. At the heart of this investigation is the very nature of the exclusivity agreement between AT&T and Apple, and whether or not that agreement is hurting consumers, limiting choice, and hindering innovation.

According to reports, the FCC sent a letter to each of the three involved companies, in which contain all of the tough questions Slingbox owers have been asking since the SlingPlayer app for iPhone was apparently stripped of any ability to use AT&T's 3G network in order to be approved.

Here are just a few of the tough questions being asked:

• Does AT&T play a hand in which apps ultimately get approved?
• Does Apple and AT&T have standing contracts or agreements in regards to what apps can use the AT

A few days ago, Microsoft took the entire Xbox LIVE Service down for around 24 hours to complete scheduled maintenance and perform upgrades. Sounds innocent enough, but for a paid service like LIVE, I'm finding it more and more difficult to accept these scheduled downtimes. Xbox LIVE is no longer a niche service for hardcore gamers to frag each other in HALO 2. Today it's the backbone to an entertainment experience that families, moms, dads, and kids rely on.

Now, I'm a reasonable guy. I understand that systems like LIVE, which are always being pushed to their limit, need maintenance, patches, and expansions. However, Microsoft's approach needs to change; they need to ensure a basic level of service for all their paid customers.

What do they need to do exactly?

1. Tell Users Xbox LIVE is Down for Maintenance on Their Console

I'm not even sure why I have to suggest this. On Tuesday I attempted to connect to the LIVE service, and of course, it failed. My Xbox told me I have a problem with my Internet connection, apparently my router or the gateway has an incorrect MTU setting. I know that's not true, but I did waste 10-15 minutes resetting network extension kits, rebooting my router, rebooting the 360, and various other troubleshooting steps. When nothing worked I finally went to

Spam. It's the e-mail you don't want, but is sent to you anyway. In fact, Spam has been around since before the Internet and e-mail became mainstream. They even celebrated the 30th birthday of the first known Spam message last year.

I've been able to watch the evolution of Spam fighting techniques over the years, and while I understand the need for inbox protection from nefarious spammers, I'm fed up with the laziness of e-mail users. 

More and more I find myself being challenged to send someone an e-mail. I fire off an e-mail, and you send be back something automated that makes click through to a website and pass a Captcha (the box with a picture of letters, words or numbers that look scrambled where you have to recognize it and enter it into a box), fill out a form, or reply to some automated e-mail by sending you another e-mail.