Microsoft Discussing Creation of Xbox TV Channel

Peter Chernin, the former News Corp. President is supposedly in talks with Microsoft regarding an Xbox TV channel.

Bloomberg today cites people familiar with the matter who claim Microsoft and ex-News Corp. boss Peter Chernin have discussed creating a television channel for Xbox users.

Exclusive to Xbox Live subscribers the channel would see the cost of the service rise by $1 to $2 per month and programming (both repeats and original shows) would be aimed at Live's young, male demographic with repeats and original shows airing.

While Microsoft refused to comment and Bloomberg says the company has yet to respond to Chernin's proposal, Peter's publicist said he is talking to "lots of people about lots of ideas in the digital space."

Hide Your PC in the Wild with NZXT Camo Chassis

Is it a cow, or a military-grade chassis?

Earlier this week, we spotted NZXT's Tempest EVO Camo chassis while hunting down another story. At first glance, this rig casing looked somewhat silly, sporting spotted blacks, whites, and grays like some square cow or a stiff pair of military camouflage fatigues. But for some reason, we kept coming back to the lead since then, wondering what it would look like on a desktop.

So here it is. Can it successfully hide out in the wild? Perhaps if it doesn't make too much noise. Can it run Crysis? Depends on the guts you stuff within its frame. For $149.99, interested cow herders and deer hunters could find out if this chassis really can blend into the woods by ordering it via Newegg here. Just don't feed it grass.

Google Brings Back Goats as Grass Mowers

Resisting the temptation to lead with, "Google gets kids to eat grass."

Last year Google brought in goats to cut the grass at the Googleplex. It was a low-carbon approach that was designed to eliminate the noise and pollution that come with mowers. The goats were rented from California Grazing and after they had done their job, Google returned the handy animals. With spring upon us, the grass needs cutting again and the Google goats are back.

"More than 200 goats from California Grazing have once again arrived at our Mountain View headquarters where they’ll stay for over a week chomping away on grassy goodness," Dan Hoffman, Director of Real Estate and Workplace Services for NorCal said in a blog post. "The cost of bringing in the goats is comparable to hiring lawn mowers for the same job and the green benefits are clear: the goats eliminate mower emissions, reduce noise pollution, restore plant species and fertilize while grazing."

I'll refrain from making any corny goat puns, but only because I made them all last year. Go nuts in the comments if you can't resist goading the people who want to work for Google but haven't managed to get hired. *

This Xbox 360 is Covered in 10,000 Crystals

This one pack's AU$1,000 worth of crystal bling bling.

Earlier this week we featured an Xbox 360 organized by Microsoft Australia to celebrate the 1 millionth Xbox 360 console sold down under. It was an impressive effort from WETA Workshop, crafting one amazing sculpture of the Xbox 360 and Master Chief. But what if you wanted the bling?

This other shiny console, which has plenty of bling-bling in the literal sense, is also a part of the charity auction.

Nothing sparkles quite like the ‘Crystal’ console boasting more than 10,000 semi-precious stones and valued at more than $1000.00 (AU). A one-of-a-kind design, this Xbox 360 Arcade console is set to be a showpiece for the most glamorous ‘bling’ living room.

iPad Shortage Due to LCD; Next iPad Packs OLED?

An OLED-packing iPad would be something worth waiting for.

While Apple was able to make good on its April delivery dates for the iPad to U.S. customers, Apple had to delay the worldwide rollout by a full month due to demand outstripping supply.

Now analysts close to part vendors point to the iPad's 9.7-inch IPS display as the culprit for the supply problems. Bloomberg cites Andrew Rassweiler, an analyst at research firm ISuppli Corp, saying, "We understand that the yields on the display have been low and that they’re creating a production bottleneck. That they have been doing it for the iPhone for some time is great, but once you go to 9.7 inches, it is a much more complicated process."

In related news, DigiTimes cites its sources in the component industry as saying that Apple is currently investigating the use of OLED panels for its next iPad, expected to hit sometime in 2011.

While OLED panels are now making their way into mobile devices such as PMPs and smartphones, DigiTimes' in-house analyst believes that even by next year the price of a 9.7-inch OLED panel would still be cost prohibitive.

Currently, the IPS panel in the iPad is estimated to cost between $60-70, while a similarly sized OLED screen would be in the $500 range.