Here's a treat for all you Halo fans out there in QJ-land! We recently found out about this cool Halo 3 video on Digg, and it's a special fan-made video that uses the Forge to create a "maze" of sorts for this giant ball to follow.

Find the video and an explanation after the jump!

Apple has launched a web apps directory for the iPhone and iPod Touch which compiles various websites designed specifically for the 3.5 inch touch screen of both units.

These include access to Digg, ESPN, Facebook, and other various websites. Web application developers should take note that they can also submit their original work to Apple.

If they like it and passes their standards, then they'll place it up on the site for other users to enjoy. As of this article's writing there are 215 applications available on the directory, so you will probably find something there that you'll want.

This was a great idea from Apple, and will undoubtedly make life much easier for many people who regularly surf the web with their iPhone or iTouch. If we may add, this also seems the company's answer to the unprecedented number of underground programs springing up left and right.

If you want to know more about the service, click on the Read link below.

What if you want to get your hands on a game the whole world is raving about and you find yourself unable to get it at the local Wal-Mart? What would you feel? Frustrated? Annoyed? Short-changed? Well, all of these emotions come pretty close to what people from the South Pacific area are feeling right now.

"Knock it off, Nintendo!" These are the strong words relayed by Aaron Rex Davies and many gamers from New Zealand, Australia, and other countries in the South Pacific region. What's their beef with Ninty? Apparently, they have been extremely frustrated with the delayed release dates to many of Nintendo's in-demand Wii titles reaching their local shores.

In a formal letter addressed to Nintendo, Davies wrote a comprehensive nine-page report detailing various studies on the matter. In the report, it shows the massive difference between the release dates of similar Wii titles within the US and Australia (with the worst taking as long as seven months). Also, issues such as the age-old NTSC versus PAL compatibility, the release of games made by other third-party distributors, as well as the game availability alternative presented by modchips were discussed in minute detail.

All of these were addressed and circulated by Davies through various sources such as Digg and Aussie-Nintendo. His efforts have been met with a very receptive welcome by many gamers with the same sentiments.

This may give Nintendo the much needed eye-opener they need to focus their attention on their South Pacific market this time around. However, no response has been given by the gaming company so far. We'll make sure to keep everyone updated with any further news on the matter, however. A downloadable copy of Aaron Davies' report is available on his site.

JackQodo over at QJ.NET's PSP Flash Player Discussions & Releases Forums announced the release of the F9 Social portal. This homebrew net portal's Beta release features five categories, although not all of them are fully operational:

• MSN Messenger (official, but not yet working :P)
• digg.com">digg news
• Engadget
• Games (under construction)
• Search (under construction too)

JackQodo commented that this was released specifically for feedback and suggestions on what can be added or deleted in the upcoming updates. If you fancy giving feedback on this portal-under-development for your PSP, check out the download link below, and make sure to drop by JackQodo's thread at the QJ.NET Forums to give your opinion.

Download: F9 Social portal BETA
Visit: QJ's  PSP Flash Player Discussions & Releases Forum

Making its rounds on Digg is a website showing off the additional details of the security exploit on flash players. Earlier, it was speculated that such a vulnerability could very well be used to enable homebrew on the Nintendo Wii, but for the most part, it's simply being used as a tool to bug out your flash players (and consequently, your Wii).

As explained by Liam OMurchu over at Symantec, a specially crafted flash video is all that's required to freeze your console. Because it takes a flash video to freeze your Nintendo Wii (as well your PCs and Macs), it seems that anyone malicious enough to want to annoy people can simply upload the bug-inducing vid on a video upload site to cause havoc.

It's already got a fix for computers, but the Wii has yet to get its own. Needless to say, be careful where you surf if you're using your console to do so.

In any case, you can check out the video below to see its effects on the Wii (at the 1:32 mark). Don't worry though: it's a Symantec-made video that only shows the effects, but isn't actually the bugged vid itself. For more information, feel free to click on the read link below.

Want the functionality of an iPhone or iPod but don't want to pony up the cash? Well, your PSP can do whatever these other gadgets can do with ChrisTek and Epixx's iPSP v1.10. ChrisTek called our attention (thanks for the email!) to this program and we're glad that he did, because it is one of the most robust portals we've seen to date.

The iPSP is a portal designed to look and run like an Apple iPhone, and it contains several applications and games for your use. They've fixed some of the previous problems such as the out-of-memory issue that plagued the earlier release. Here's a short list of what you can expect from this program.

• Digg: The Digg application is an easy-route to get to the social-news website, Digg. It's a great site, and I recommend going to it on your PC as well, by going to http://digg.com.
• Photos: The Photos application displays up to ten photos that you choose, at 5-second intervals.
• Calculator: The Calculator application is just that. A calculator.
• Lock: The Lock application is more for eye candy. It's basically a manually-activated screensaver, and is great if you want to show off your sexy PSP's screen. Just try it. You'll think it looks cool too.
• Weather: The Weather application provides easy access to your local weather. It requires a wireless internet connection. Simply input your zip code and, thanks to Weather Underground, your local weather is displayed.
• iPod: The iPod application allows you to listen to music via PSPTunes. iPSP includes PSPTunes installation files if you don’t already have it installed.
• Browser: The EXPEDITION browser is your link to the web, while using iPSP. It has multiple tabs, and all the things you would expect a browser to have. The icon that looks like a book is for your own links, which are read from the PSP’s favorites menu.
• Games: The Games application is very simple, and is your access-way to the Flash games that come with iPSP. Simply choose a game to play it.
• About: The About application gives you legal and creation info about iPSP, as well as your current iPSP version.
• Messengers: The Messengers application is your gateway to the mobile messengers provided by eBuddy. They are: AIM, MSN, and Yahoo!
• Mail: The Mail application is your gateway to the most popular mobile mail providers. The providers are:Yahoo Mail, GMAIL, AOL Mail, and Windows Live mail.
• Vipr: The Vipr application is your gateway to the Vipr Online Media Service. At the time of iPSP's release, Vipr is still in production, so check back frequently for more updates on it's status.

If you plan on downloading it, there's an easy install file in an executable format and a zipped version for manual installation. As with all other homebrew, read the extensive manual that is provided with the program (in both PDF and txt format) to avoid any possible problems with your PSP. Kudos to Chris Tek and Epixx for this awesome program.

Download: iPSP v1.10 executable
Download: iPSP v1.10 zipped
Visit: QJ Development Forums

Making its rounds on Digg is an update on the tale of exergamer J.R. Cook. Cook, who began a weight loss regimen through playing with Nintendo's Wii console and Wii Sports, finds himself living the dream as he gets to play games while losing weight.

According to his most recent blog post, Cook has lost approximately 40 pounds since he started playing, totalling 10 pounds lost each month. As you can see from the above picture, the weight he's lost has had important repercussions with regard to his clothing, as well as his self-esteem.

He writes,

In the end, you still have a fat J. R., but not AS fat J. R. and by far a happier and more positive J. R.... That's not really so hard to fathom considering 4 months ago I was 270 pounds. Once I reach 190, I'm still considered overweight for my height (but not obese any longer) and I'll definitely want to get to a normal weight of around 150-160.

To show an example of my progress, I give to you a picture of me currently in my old favorite pair of jeans. These jeans had actually barely fit me and I didn't need a belt to keep them on when I started the plan.

For all those folks who've needed the inspiration to try gaming as exercise, it's certainly a reason to start trying it out. How about you? Interested in doing some exergaming?

Remember when we reported earlier on how Play magazine said Metroid Prime 3: Corruption would "be the biggest revolution in FPS gaming since Halo"? Well, turns out there's more to that. Because not only was it compared to Halo. As revealed in the actual scan of the magazine, that first-level boss fight is said to be "an intense Ridley battle that plays out like a God of War."

We posted the scan we've spotted via opnickc's post on Digg, and by clicking the thumbnail below, you can read the text of Play's article. There's more info there on the Hypermode which allows Samus to feed off of the Phazon's power of corruption - the way I see it, think Samus Aran letting loose when she's got her monthly period. Question is... Will Nintendo include a Hypermode Samus in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? Besides, you can't have Princess Zelda have all the booty-kicking fun.

Now, for the scan... Feast your eyes on those screens! And Play magazine seems to be right: Third Prime's a charm!

 

The creators of EVE Online CCP has recently been under attack on multiple levels with various allegations. This was compounded by what they called a "carefully constructed and well-timed social engineering effort by one of the largest player groups in our community" with the eventual goal of discrediting both the game and CCP.

The CCP folks have posted responses on various allegations leveled against them such as CCP Sharkbait joining a player corporation to spy on their alliance, the Aurora event team rigging an event arc, and the unfair dismissal of an ISD member from the volunteer program. However, what would interest most people is the conclusion they've drawn regarding the perpetrators of the allegations and attacks. Here's a short overview of it:

An unnamed corporation posted over 4000 times on EVE's message boards concerning these allegations. In addition, 1046 posts were made on Digg.com; 235 comments were added on Slashdot; and made multiple EVE-related edits on Wikipedia.

Each of these sites was hit within a few hours of each other, at the start of the three-day Memorial Day weekend in the US and a three-day weekend in Iceland.

The guys at CCP pointed out that it was done over a three day weekend, thus lessening their ability to react to the problem. They believe this was pre-meditated. Another thing they pointed out was the fact that the entire EVE community was being readied as a weapon to use against CCP through this propaganda.

So far, CCP hasn't given word on which group has performed these attacks, and we doubt that they'll be disclosing that information. Be sure to click on our read link for full details on this.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: The Wii gives even the laziest people on earth some motivation to get up and be active. Needless to say, the phenomenon of Wii-based weight loss is still astonishing, even after so many people have spoken up about it already.

Well, making its rounds on Digg is a new exercise regimen: a 10-week program whose main draw is using the Nintendo Wii to lose weight. The site lists the effectiveness of different Wii Sports games in burning calories, and offers friendly advice for people who are new to video gaming as well.

One thing makes us somewhat hesitant though. There's a decidedly large gap between using the Wii religiously for weight loss and having a balanced weight loss plan that includes a healthy diet. Not that everyone follows a diet and all, but it adds credibility to the plan, at least.

In any case, there's definitely an outpouring of support for using the Nintendo Wii as an exercise tool and gaming machine. Let's just hope people remember to stretch before punching an imaginary opponent with the Wiimote.