The new $5 Raspberry Pi Zero, this pirate needs you to watch his video, test new products with HTC Preview, the PlayStation 4 is insanely popular, and Tom Dickson kills Jar Jar Binks.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has launched the Raspberry Pi Zero, its smallest and cheapest offering so far. Priced at just $5, the Raspberry Pi Zero is a programmable computer measuring just 65 mm by 30 mm by 5 mm. A computer for the price of a coffee really cannot be a bad deal.
The Raspberry Pi Zero features a 1 Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM, a microSD card slot, a Mini HDMI socket, and USB sockets to hook up data and power. Previous Raspberry Pis have been priced at between $25 and $35, which makes the Zero an absolute bargain at just $5.
There are various ways to buy a RaspBerry Pi Zero, including at Adafruit and Micro Center Stores. However, the easiest way is to buy the Christmas issue of the official Raspberry Pi magazine, MagPi, (priced at £5.99 or $9) which includes the Zero as a free gift on its cover.
It’s important to note that the Raspberry Pi Zero is useless on its own. You’ll need a monitor, a keyboard and mouse, a sizable SD card, a power supply, and some cables and adapters to get started. However, assuming you have these things lying around, the Zero is an absolute bargain.
Then all you need is the Raspberry Pi knowledge.
If you’re caught pirating software, games, movies, or music, you risk being hit with a massive fine. Because, contrary to popular belief, piracy is illegal, and people do get caught doing it. However, most people who get caught can’t pay the huge fines levied against them. So alternative forms of punishment are required.
A Czech guy by the name of Jakub F found this out when he was caught sharing copies of Windows and other copyrighted software. Unable to pay the fine of $223,000, Jakub was made to star in a video called The Story of My Piracy. The caveat being that the video needs to be viewed at least 200,000 times for Jakub to escape paying the fine.
The video went viral and has already surpassed 400,000 views, so Jakub F has, rightly or wrongly, escaped financial penalty. However, the video is still worth watching as a reminder that piracy isn’t a victimless crime. And as a reminder that getting caught doing it could severely damage your bank balance.
HTC wants you… to test its new devices and software. The company has launched a new program called HTC Preview, which is designed to get real people testing forthcoming HTC products. HTC is specifically looking for “people with an eye for design, a passion for technology, and a bunch of great ideas.”
Unfortunately, there’s no money in it, and those selected will have to reside in the United States, Europe, or Asia, use one of a handful of mobile providers, and sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Still, the chance to try gadgets before anyone else is compelling enough that HTC will likely be overrun with applications.
Sony has sold in excess of 30 million PlayStation 4 video games consoles, making the PS4 the fastest-selling PlayStation hardware of all time. This impressive figure comes just two years after the PlayStation 4 was launched, and suggests that Sony is winning this generation.
The competition comes in the form of the Xbox One and the Wii U. Nintendo claims to have sold 10 million Wii U consoles, while Microsoft has sold between 15 and 20 million Xbox One consoles. Still, the holiday season has now begun, so all three will likely be flying off store shelves.
And finally, just in time for the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, we get to witness the end of the most annoying character ever seen in Star Wars. Yep, that’s the one, ol’ Jar Jar Binks himself, who most people agree ruined The Phantom Menace all by himself.
Thankfully, Tom Dickson is on hand to destroy the Gungan, sticking Jar Jar in a blender until heesa dead as a dodo. Which is far more satisfying than it should be. As long as J.J. Abrams hasn’t put Jar Jar in The Force Awakens then it’s already a better film than the prequels. [H/T CNET]
Are you likely to buy a Raspberry Pi Zero? Should we be helping this pirate escape a fine? Are you keen to test new HTC products? Have you bought a PlayStation 4 yet? Is Jar Jar Binks the worst thing in the Star Wars franchise?
Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.
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