Free iPod nanos on the Tokyo subway...

...sort of. They're flat plastic replicas that are stuck to a wall, and passing commuters can peel one off the wall and take it home. On the back is a QR-code (weird japanese barcode) and URL for a website with exclusive wallpapers. Would be interesting to see this on the tube in London! Click the link for more pictures.

The Chicken Parmo: A Teesside Delicacy

Behold! A culinary treat from back home in Middlesbrough. Chicken breast in breadcrumbs, covered in bechemel sauce, topped with cheese, served in a pizza box with chips. The first thing that pops into a smoggie's head at 3am after a night on the beers.
If you haven't yet tasted the artery-clogging, heart-attack-inducing goodness contained within each Chicken Parmesan, then you haven't lived. Read on for more details (although you won't find out why this legendary food-stuff is unheard of outside Teesside...)
Please add to the comments below with any Parmo-related stories...

Friends Quiz

Have a go at these 5 general Friends quizzes. Let me know how you did in the comments below.

Marvbloke's 1st Wikipedia article addition!

I've had my first contribution published on Wikipedia. I added information to the Pro Evolution Soccer 5 article, explaining about the new PS2 network functionality. Couldn't believe how easy it is to do. You don't even need to create an account to add things (although I recommend you do, so you can get credit for them!)

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 released TODAY!

Quick round-up of all the PES5-related news on the day of release on the PS2!
- The game is released on PS2 and Xbox today (21st), then on the PC on the 28th and the PSP on 25th November.
- Online multiplayer modes on the PS2, Xbox and PC allow for two-vs-two exhibition matches as well as the ability to set up leagues with your mates
- The PSP version can exchange data with the PS2, e.g. your Master League data and customised teams
- A new mobile phone version is planned for release in March 2006 (screenshot below)

- A new Pro Evo spin-off football management game called "Pro Evolution Soccer Management" is being developed for the PS2. Data can go to/from your copy of PES5 . No mention of release dates yet (screenshot below)

- Last year's winner of the PES league was Osman Idris. He beat his younger brother Mazin 3-2 in the final at BT Tower in London. He now goes ahead to the European Championships in Seville.
- A new national PES5 league has been launched, with matches starting in December. Your league ranking can be increased just by playing against your mates! More info at www.pesrankings.com
- If you still haven't ordered your copy, get it here:
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (PS2)
- Loads more PES5 info available at www.pes5.net (including a playable demo for the PC and some exclusive wallpapers)

Expect marvbloke's full review of the PS2 on-line multiplayer aspect of PES5 over the weekend!

Tiki Bar TV shows what a video podcast should be

As featured briefly in Steve Jobs' recent Front Row demonstration, Tiki Bar TV is a great video podcast showing the goings on at a Tiki Bar (it's actually some bloke's flat). The idea is that people come to the bar with various problems, and Dr. Tiki solves them by ordering a cocktail from resident bartender Johnny Johnny. They then give you instructions to make the libation, so you could say this is edutainment. There's also a viewer mail section for feedback. They get visibly more drunk as each episode goes on, so the adlibbing is superb. The humour is spot on, and the fast pace and editing works really well with the video podcast format. I'd suggest subscribing in iTunes so you get all future episodes automatically, then clicking 'GET' on every previous episode and watching them in order. It gets really sublime by the 6th or 7th episode (my two favourites by the way). Please note: not suitable for work as there are one or two 'naughty words' (e.g. "You'll need the juice of two freshly squeezed limes. Only fresh-squeezed lime, never from a can, you f*ckin' savage!")

New Powerbooks, Power Mac G5 Quad, Aperture

Apple have announced new PowerBooks - 12" is unchanged but cheaper. 15" and 17" models now have Superdrive as standard, 46% brighter displays and have 22% better battery life. The 15" now has a 1440 x 960 display, the 17" has 1680 x 1050.

The Power Mac G5 Quad has 2 processors each with 2 cores.

Aperture does for professionals what iPhoto did for consumers. It handles RAW natively and has non-destructive versioning, full-screen contact sheets etc. I don't think they're going after Adobe Photoshop - I think Aperture is more of a proofing short-deadline tool. I'm assuming you can go from the images in Aperture straight to Photoshop when required.

Apple Event: The result

iMac G5 - now even thinner with 1.9Ghz and 2.1GHz processors, Front Row, Photo Booth and a built-in iSight camera. The modem is now an optional USB module. Ports now horizontal along the bottom at the back. Mighty Mouse included as standard.
iPod - 30Gb and 60Gb, same height, width, but thinner. 320x240 262,000-colour display. Can do video (MPEG4, H.264). 20 hours battery life.
Front Row and Apple Remote - new Media-centre style view of your videos, music, photos and DVDs. Works with the infra-red iPod-shuffle-like Apple Remote. The remote can also control your iPod when it sits in the new Universal Dock. Although the Remote is available separately for £19, Front Row is only available with new iMacs.
iTunes 6 - supports purchasing of video
iTunes Music Store - now offering 2000 music videos and episodes from 5 ABC TV shows including Desperate Housewives and Lost.

Also (not announced) the eMac has been quietly discontinued meaning Apple no longer make CRT-based computers.

Apple Event October 12th

Tonight sees one of Apple's press-only launch events for...a video iPod? A video-enabled Airport Express? Both?? They normally drop a hint into the invitation - this time it's that cinema-like curtain in the background suggesting movies...
If it were a video iPod, the only content you could watch on it would have to be sold via the iTunes Music Store (as it is still technically illegal to rip your own DVDs). The same iTunes "Video" Store would probably offer music videos and short clips of other types - perhaps episodes of TV shows? But I doubt whether full-length films would be available. You'd be able to watch the clips you buy on your Mac/PC, the 'video' iPod and perhaps a video-enabled Airport Express. This is the item that would interest me the most - as I believe video belongs on a decent screen in a comfy environment (e.g. living room TV). Would also hope they add a infrared/bluetooth remote to go with it and a snazzy Apple-like user interface.
Engadget has an interesting take on the speculation that has taken place in the last week or so. They cite Think Secret's latest salvo on the video iPod "will-they-won't-they" debate.

A website that works just like Mac OS X

It has to be seen to be believed - make it look like a Cinema Display or a Powerbook G4. Then rollover the dock to be amazed - all AJAX/dynamic HTML I'm guessing. Even your mouse cursor turns black and does the beachball! Best viewed on a crappy PC with god-awful Internet Explorer. Shows you what you're missing...
Started me thinking about the look of marvbloke.com - shame I have absolutely no web design talent at all. Hoping that the developer of iFizzle comes out with a Blogger template, so we can all recreate the greatness in our own blogs!

Nokia 6280 - highly recommended!

Back in June, I covered the announcement of the Nokia 6280. At the time, I wasn't convinced as there was no mention of expandable memory. I liked everything else though (that new Series 40 UI looks sweet, and the 320x240 display is nice!). Turns out it does have a memory slot, and its the lovely miniSD (not horrible RS-MMC). It comes with a 64Mb card in the package. That means the 6280 is the current Marvbloke-recommended(TM) mobile phone in the UK. A very capable 3G media phone with 2 megapixel camera and video calling features!!! Very nice. You can pre-register your interest with Carphone Warehouse if you so desire (they say it is due Autumn/Winter 2005 - nice and vague).

Changes to marvbloke

- You can now leave comments on ANY post (and please do!)
- No longer using Bot-a-blog for email subscriptions, now using FeedBlitz (see subscription box on the right)
- Amazon link at the top (please use whenever buying stuff from Amazon)
- Google ad at the top of the post list (click away!)
- ifoAppleStore and Digital Spy added to the links list (both great sites)
- WebChat down at the bottom of the right-hand column (give it a go, but there'll probably be no-one in there...)
Please leave a comment with any suggestions for marvbloke.com's continuous improvement programme...

Round-up of Freeview news

The Freeview EPG gets a reshuffle on October 18th. Radio stations will be on 700+, interactive streams 300+, childrens moves to 70+, news moves to 80+. Full details here.

Three new channels confirmed to launch before Christmas:


More4 (channel 13) launches 10th October. Highlights include Curb Your Enthusiasm Series 4, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days.


ITV4 (channel 38 - replaces Men & Motors) launches 1st November. Will feature World Poker Tour, new Kojak with Ving Rhames and Champions League Football


Sky Three (channel 11 - replaces Sky Travel) launches 31st October. Highlights include 24 Series 3.


ITV Kids launches 11th February 2006.

Happy 7th Birthday Google (belated)

This is what Google looked like back in 1999

What do you get the geek who has everything?

Something from the Google Store, that's what! Umbrellas, mini mice, the Google Mini search appliance...

Google Video highlights

Check out these gems I found on Google Video:

- Friends: The Stuff You've Never Seen (copyright, anyone?)
- Star Wars Revelations
- Goodbye TechTV (strictly 'geeks only')
- Carlton Banks Dancing
- Kevin Rose on "Call For Help"