There is no defending this behavior. Someone asked "what it gets her" to promote this film, one "she has already done". Yeah, because that's what it's all about nowadays, isn't it? What does this get ME? No one here thinks about the real issue, about the hundreds or thousands of other people that worked on this film. MANY people worked on this film... many! People behind the scenes that put their blood, sweat and tears into this thing who don't have the privilege of going on talk shows to get seen by millions of people. Instead, they have to rely on people like Mo'Nique to promote the film. They are frankly, at her mercy. No one wants to hear from the sound guy, the cinematographer, or even the director (in most cases) they want to hear from the star of the film, and that is Mo'Nique. Gee, lets not expect Mo'Nique to promote this film, because what the heck? It's already done, she's on to bigger and better things.

Not doing the press is *incredibly* self-centered. The people that made the film had many actors to choose from, but they gave the role to Mo'Nique thinking that she would do the press that is necessary to promote the film. Then Mo'Nique acts like a diva and doesn't do the press and she isn't even thinking about the people that put their trust in her. She isn't thinking about all the people that busted their ass making the film who are at her mercy. Press and marketing of a film are key elements that can mean the difference between a blockbuster and a bomb.

There are only a few people who can do the press for this film and if she doesn't do her job, it isn't just a matter of her award, it's about all the other people that worked on the film that desperately want it to be a success so that their careers can get a boost too.

Right, Mo'Nique shouldn't care about a film she's already done. Who cares about the people that put their money up to produce the film, who cares about the other actors who don't have their own show, who cares that this may be their one and only shot at success, who cares about the director who worked his/her guts out making the movie? Mo'Nique has her own show now, she can't be bothered to help others get their chance too. Who cares that demanding money to do the press for the film makes you look like a money grubbing scumbag? Coming off like that to the public can't possibly hurt the ratings for her show, right? I mean, actors don't need to worry about their image, do they? Going on talk shows and entertainment shows won't do anything to increase her popularity and perhaps boost the ratings of her show exponentially. No, of course not. Poor Mo'Nique, we don't want her to relive the terror on Letterman. I wonder what's next, is she going to ask the viewers to shove a dollar in the television when her show is on? Sorry, that's a dollar too much for me.

HAHA! More nonsensical blather from an Apple hater. "My girlfriend loaded apps and now her iPhone doesn't work". Dude, do you think anyone believes that claptrap?! Short answer: NO. The REASON that Apple "checks out" apps is precisely BECAUSE they don't want apps to "break" the iPhone. I have tons of apps on my iPhone and none of them have "broken it". I doubt you even have a girlfriend, let alone one with an iPhone.

Again, we have knuckleheads that are just *craving* that "iPhone killer". When it is *because* of the iPhone that we even HAVE something cool like Android. Do you think if it weren't for the iPhone that Google would be working so, so hard to make Android? Take a look at the first Android device from T-Mobile. It's a lump of junk. The browser is clunky, the hardware is all plastic and feels cheap, the buttons are stupidly laid out, there is no no multitouch functionality, and so once again you have a failed "iPhone killer". THAT is what happens when you have no control over your software *and* hardware. The iPhone is so loved and so popular because it just WORKS and works beautifully.

Keep dreaming that some company is going to "overtake" Apple. I have heard that garbage about mp3 players for YEARS now, and guess what? NONE have done it. The iPod still reigns supreme, and it continues to innovate while all other play catch up, or pretend that having a good FM tuner makes their junk better (another short answer: It doesn't). I heard over and over how Vista was going to be the "OS X killer". HAHA! Yeah, riiiiiiiight. It's "killer" alright, kills anyone using it with frustration.

Apple has guidelines for the "human interface" for a *reason*, so you don't end up with the spotty, lousy collection of software that plagues other platforms. Mac stuff just works, and works elegantly.

So Amazon has come out with their new "iTunes killer", well I heard the same about Rhapsody, and on and on. Anything that gets rid of DRM is great, but it isn't Apple that is pushing DRM, it's the record labels. You watch though, if this Amazon thing takes hold, how long do you think it will be before Apple is pressuring labels to drop all DRM? Another short answer: very soon.

Keep dreaming about an "(whatever Apple product) killer", meanwhile Apple keeps producing elegant, awesome, beautiful and superior products that just work, work well, and are a joy to use. Perhaps while you're dreaming about that, you might consider just giving up your sour grapes and buying a device that is excellent, that is, anything made by Apple.

Can someone please explain to me why they would want a band new device that runs old SNES games? Am I missing something here? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love to play them on my computer in MAME emulations and what not, but a brand new handheld device that runs old SNES games *only*? Er.... wtf? Show me a handheld device that runs Wii games, or Xbox 360 games, yeah... but SNES? Whew... that one escapes me. I guess I'm not the geek I thought I was.

I think it's funny that people keep talking about wanting the "iPhone killer". Folks, there is NO iPhone killer. It is so humorous to me that some people are just dying for Apple to be "beaten" or making a mistake, when Apple is a LOT of the reason that we have such cool stuff to purchase and own. I mean, I would think people would be loving Apple and wanting nothing more than their continued success.

Lets be honest, do you think if there weren't an iPhone that there would be so many new phones coming out that are taking quantum leaps ahead? No way! Apple FORCES the market to get off their duffs and innovate.

I bought two MP3 players before the iPod came out, the Archos Jukebox 6000 and some flash piece of junk. When the iPod came out, it changed *everything*, and for the better. Same with the iMac, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, Final Cut, GarageBand, and the iPhone, not to mention OS X and the myriad of other innovations that Apple has wrought.

There never is going to be some iPhone "killer", just like there is never going to be some iPod killer. Why? Because unlike the rest of the companies that seem content to simply copy something great (with varying, mostly bad, degrees of success) Apple is not trying to "keep up" with anyone. They are *driven* to innovate. To make things that are truly great, different and wonderful.

I desperately hope that Apple continues to make "killer" apps and devices, because I remember what things were like in the years when Sculley and others drove Apple into the ground and we lived in a beige world with lousy and boring electronics being pumped out like moldy waffles. Apple forced the computing world to STOP using floppy disks, when it was just damn ridiculous with 15 or more disks included with games and so forth. They forced the computing world to adopt USB which was there to be used, but PC users wouldn't include it in their systems. The same goes with Firewire (IE 1394), DVD drives and so on. When Apple adopts a standard, peripheral makers can commit to making devices for it and know they won't lose their butts. What other computer maker can cause that? Dell? Sony? No.

I thank God for Apple, and I scoff at idiots that sit on the sidelines secretly (or overtly) wishing for their demise or someone to create some device that is an Apple product "killer". They should be thanking Apple instead of being so petty in their wishes of their demise. It amazes me that there are so many people who would be more than happy to return to a beige world and shoddy and poorly designed electronics and computers. Apple makes up such a small percentage of computer users (what is it, less than 12%?) I'm not looking for Apple to take over the world, I just want them IN the world. Because I thoroughly enjoy how they innovate and force others to innovate and I think that spells a great deal of goodness for those of us who use electronic devices. I don't see how you can be an Engadget maven and not be an evangelist for a company like Apple.

Horseshit! What a CROCK! Bob Iger is a lying, greedy, scum! Do you know that theatrical releases were $9 billion dollars in 2006, DVD sales were 24 BILLION!!! So don't give me that "slackening DVD sales" CRAP! What the hell is "slackening DVD sales"? I'll tell you what, it is the very first year that DVD sales haven't grown *exponentially*. And why? Because it has finally been fully indoctrinated as a standard (over VCRs). That doesn't mean that "DVDs are slackening", it simply means that it is a MONSTER, a BEHEMOTH moneymaking machine and it is no longer "peaking". It has peaked, but it isn't "slackening", it simply isn't growing because it is FULLY SATURATED and pumping billions upon billions into the coffers of these moviemakers. Most of the time they make millions of profits on the theatrical release, then they make MORE on the DVD release! And how do they thank us? By cramming DRM down our throats and keeping Mac users like myself out of the loop.

All those movies you mentioned, I OWN on DVD. Every single one (except The Prestige which isn't out yet). I contributed to the 24 BILLION in DVD sales in 2006!

So don't give me the "slackening sales" garbage! You damn studio shill.

Slysoft is a tiny, tiny company. Their annual sales don�t equal the total sales of the WEAKEST DVD released last year! American Pie: The Naked Mile will do more sales than Slysoft will do a HUNDRED TIMES OVER.

The big movie studios are MONSTERS that squeeze every, single penny out of us. They release five and six of one DVD as collector's DVD just to bilk the public (Sin City ring any bells?) And then you guys come along and try to sling that *incredible garbage* about "slackening DVD sales"! What incredible lies! How you can even write that insipid crap without vomiting all over yourself, I have no idea. But listen to the words that are coming out of my keyboard, WE KNOW BETTER!

What we are asking for is the ability to BACK UP OUR DVDS!!! I have two elementary age children and they are hard on DVDs and I WILL NOT re-buy DVDs just because they get scratches on them. It is totally and completely unacceptable that I can't make a back-up. And what do I hear when I ask for that? What do I hear when I say that I do that anyway, despite the studios? I hear that I am a CRIMINAL! What low, immoral people spread lies and filth like that? My own children ask me if we are breaking the law? What do I say? I say, "Sometimes it is your duty to break the law, to civilly disobey the wrongful laws of tyrants". And that is what they are, they are tyrants sitting on piles and piles of money and using that money to buy others who lie the same lies and tell us "DVD sales are slackening".

Shame on you John! Shame on you for your lies. Please take your lies and GO AWAY, and tell your tyrants that are sitting on $24 billion that we will no longer allow them to dictate to us whether we can or cannot back-up our own DVDs - we will, and there is NOTHING you can do to stop us!

Blah, blah, blah! DRM SUCKS!!! I don't pay for DRM, I pay for the music and the movies and I'm TIRED of efforts to keep me from being able to back-up my own collection. I have a TV and a computer and a receiver that all use either component video or DVI connection, but NO, now we have HDMI. And WHY? All because they want to close the so-called "analog gap". HDMI isn't any better than component for video and coax for audio, but it allows them to address DRM keys and control content. So, I've got to upgrade my TV, my receiver and my computer to us HDMI if I wanna do Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. It sucks and all for what? The MICRO amount that is traded online. They alienate SO MANY users, legitimate users so they can shut down the TINY amount that trade in illegal stuff. If you compare the amount of DVDs sold versus the amount of movies traded illegally it is a drop in the bucket! They are SO greedy! They sell DVDs for $20 and $30, yet it only cost about $1 for the entire DVD, that includes the disk, the box and any other packaging. So they are making millions, BILLIONS of dollars and yet, that isn't enough, no... they will spend millions of dollars that come from legitimate sales (read: profits from US) to include this DRM crap that keeps out so many users, Macintosh users, Linux users, and anyone not using the latest version of Windows. They are greedy and deserve for someone to hack their DRM and allow *someone* to enjoy the product without their crappy DRM.

Once again a Windoze fanboy pretends that what he says, is what Apple is saying, and tosses up a "strawman fallacy". Lets look at it *logically*, mmmm k? You said:

"And it's news because of the way both Apple and Steve Jobs have marketed themselves as something different than the great, evil Micro$oft.

Maybe not quite so much as they'd have you believe."

Notice that you said that they "have marketed themselves as something different than the great, *EVIL* Micro$oft"... see that *great, evil* part, Skippy? It's that *evil* part that MODIFIES your statement.

Now, had you said that "Apple has marketed the Macintosh operating system as something different than Microsoft's Windows", I would have had nothing to say *about that*. But when you talk about *fiscal policy* and you say that Apple is saying (in their ads) that they are different than “the great, evil Microsoft”… well, then Houston, we have a problem… a BIG one.

Philosophy and logic lesson… free.
Chance that fanboy learned anything… priceless.
Probability that fanboy did learn something… impossible.

"And it's news because of the way both Apple and Steve Jobs have marketed themselves as something different than the great, evil Micro$oft.

Maybe not quite so much as they'd have you believe."

What way is that Rob? Except for commercials 26 years ago, how has "...both Apple and Steve Jobs... marketed themselves as something different than the great, evil Micro$oft"? Wondering what "marketing" you are seeing and suspecting it is simply your fanboy angrrrr.

I was part of a team that sent another team to ask Gates (and Microsoft) to support Momenta's new pen tablet computer. The result of that meeting was PenWindows and theft of Momenta's intellectual property. We tried to sue, but were immediately overwhelmed by Microsoft's legal team (flooding us with "discovery" requests and many more boring and hurtful tactics). Momenta went quietly into that good night with more than a few of us fantasizing about setting Gates and Microsoft on fire and roasting marshmallows over his/their blazing carcasses. Being the non-psychotic non-killers we are that fantasy never materialized.

Since I've had more dealings with Microsoft, and even more experiences with Apple. Not all Microsoft workers are evil, as a matter-of-fact some are quite good folk. I've had "moments" with Apple that weren't all wine and roses, but I think most seasoned employees of Microsoft would admit that there is a very "bottom-line" kind of thinking in Redmond that often leads to less-than-altruistic decision-making. Ironically, there is very little "evil Microsoft" chat or (from what I've seen) thinking at Apple. Point being? The often cited, supposed hatred or disdain for Microsoft by Apple simply doesn't exist, but the opposite is true among certain Microsoft folk... you know the ones... they often extol the benefits of using Windows over Unix in almost every circumstance. There is a very palpable disdain that oozes out of the pocket protectors of more than a few coders 'n their ilk that is very often directed towards their fellow Microsoftians (who code for the Mac).

Apart from that little bit of Hatfield and Mac-coys, there is a GREAT deal more trust when asking for support for a new product at Apple. My fellow entrepreneurs are VERY careful about what we reveal in the halls at Redmond. Apple is well-known for being either: trustworthy in this regard, or willing to pony up big bucks for whatever it is they would like to acquire, and at Apple "no" means "no". Apple sends geeks to ask questions or permission to take a peek, Microsoft sends *lawyers* and lots of 'em. I know about that which I speak, and big time.

At any rate, concerning your comments about how Apple has "marketed themselves as something different than the great, evil Micro$oft", I don't think I've ever heard them doing this about *stock options* for crying out loud! Something different is about *user friendliness* and *human engineering*, not boardroom fiscal policy. WTF? I think 'ole Robbie V. has been sippin' the corn liquor and feeding his psychosis. Being different is about not stealing your company out from under you with a smile on your face.

There is one bit of glee I find in all of this; it wasn't too long ago that "little Apple" would have never raised the ire of folks like Robbie baby 'n crew. Things are just a little *different* now, as Apple (and the Steve) are serious business and their influence is no longer something that Microsofters can feign ignorance about. "What? That's absurd! This graphical user interface leapt right outta good 'ole Bill's head, or from Xerox... I can't remember..." I think things are just a litttttle bit too "fruity" out there for folks who like to go computer-spelunking for naughty .dll files every fortnight. Hee hee.

Just keep repeating to yourself... "Sony is gonna buy 'em soon, and then I can buy an iPod... dammit." Or... "Who needs a computer that runs three operating systems outta the box?!" (a variant of "Who needs a mouse?" or "Who doesn't need a "C" prompt?")

Don't worry Mike V, or Rob V... wait... are ya'll brothers? Uh, anyway... don't worry fellas, there’s a game coming out for the Wii that lets you run Apple Computer yourself, and it even has a "disaster mode" where you can make the Steve embezzle funds and get tossed in the calaboose! You use the controller and nunchuck to fend off the inmates bribed by PC heads to molest our Pixar hero. A feature I know you two "V"s will like is the mini-game that simulates a real Macintosh! That way you can finally use one without really "using" one, and then when you pretend to be a former Mac user that "switched" to PC... it will ring with waaay more authenticity than it does now. It has a coupon for a free iPod Shuffle... that’s the one that doesn't have a display! That way you can keep right on jamming to those fav Debbie Gibson tunes without anyone the wiser. Won't that "V" great?

"I truly believe the Giants would have won had it gone to overtime..."

Uh huh... well my little son believes that Santa Claus is gonna eat the milk and cookies he leaves for him on Christmas Eve, but I got news for both of ya, it ain't so bubba.

Doesn't matter what you think, bottom line is that Dallas handed the Giants their head in handbag, and shoved Shockey's smartass prediction right up his ass. Notice the punk left the field with his HELMET ON like the wuss he is.

The Giants brought their best game, Manning was on 100%, no interceptions, one sack, and he couldn't have had more time in the pocket if he'd had Matrix bullet-time, so NOBODY can say that the Giants "beat themselves". No... Dallas slapped the Giants silly, and did it right in their own HOUSE!

Shockey made some good plays, but did what he does best and dropped the ball when it mattered most. RIGHT in his hands, and he dropped it like a bad cell phone call. Good thing the Giants are keeping the ice away from him nowadays, or some other kids might have gotten pelted by him in the face.

You can call it coaching all you want, and for sure a lot of it is, but when the Dallas Cowboys are clicking and thumpin' your skull, you make mistakes. The Giants lost their composure because they were on their heels all day and simply couldn't handle the fact that Dallas was rolling all over them. So, they do what they ALWAYS do, personal fouls, interference, false starts, all that stuff is what happens when a team is desperate and their game goes out the window.

Giants got beat... and beat when they brought their best game... in their own house... when they needed it most. Hmmmm... I guess there is a "...way in hell..." that Dallas wins, Shockey boy.

Well Tom Halligan looks like you were WRONG. Tony Romo is for real, and handed the Giants their ass on Sunday. Nobody can say that the Giants didn't bring their best game on Sunday, they brought it and Dallas stuffed it right down their throat. Shockey posed and preened and did his little me-me-me routine and Dallas shut him down, bent him over, and shoved it right up his ass. When, oh when, are the Giants gonna see this guy for what he is, an egomaniacal, no-self-control-havin', punk-ass bitch.

Did you see Shockey's weak-ass after the game? Wimp walked outta the stadium with his HELMET ON. Hahahaha, I bet he would've put a towel over his head if he thought he could still find his way to the exit. Tell me that his big mouth comments didn't fire up the Cowboys before the game. If the freak isn't chunking ice at little kids, he's puttin' his foot in his mouth for the rest of his team. This was a big game for the Giants, the last thing they needed was Shockey calling Parcells a "homo" and "no way in hell Dallas beats us". Well, Parcells is no "homo" and there seems to be a way in hell that Dallas wins. The only thing I regret about this game is that they didn't show Shockey's face when Martin kicked the final field goal, but I did get to see him walking off the field like a punk. Hahaha, who's the homo now, Jock-strapy.