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Need to Get a Last Minute Gift? Facebook's Gift Shop Has All You Need, and More!

Paul Lilly — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:41 -0500

We knew Facebook was planning to overhaul it's "gift shop" feature, but what we didn't know -- nor did anyone else, it seems -- was to what extent. Speculation suggested it would mainly transform into a music-swapping front, and while music is part of the gift shop, there's also a whole bunch more.

"We now are unveiling a newly stocked and redesigned Gift Shop, with new categories of gifts and additional gifts for charity, music, and sports from developers," Facebook's Will Chen wrote in a blog. "With so many gifts available, we also introduced a new design to make it easeir for you to browse and purchase gifts with different gift categories."

U.S. residents will be able to purchase songs as gifts for friends in the "Music and MP3s" section, which will contain over 8 million songs through a partnership with Lala, Chen said. Web songs will cost a single credit (equivalent to 10 cents), while downloadable, DRM-free tunes will run 9 credits each.

In the sports section, Facebook buffs will have access to officially licensed gifts from the NBA, MLS, and several college sports teams.

Facebook's gift shop will also deal with "Real Gifts," "Charity," "Virtual Gifts," and "E-Cards."

Image Credit: Facebook

Mod Blog: A Tribute to Tributes!

Chris "MantaBase" Adcock — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:54:56 -0600

It’s natural that after modding a few cases of your own you come to realize that you really don’t need anymore mods in your own space. Ignoring that silly feeling - you mod a few more cases until you realize you really don’t have room for anymore mods. Alas, a single home has limits on the number of mods it can take. Yet, you still need to scratch that modding itch. What’s a modder to do?

Stop looking at the cat that way.

Fear not modder friends! There is a solution.

The Tribute Mod.

Tribute mods solve a few problems. They let us mod without our end product ending up in storage for lack of room. They provide a person or group with a super unique case (if not entire system). They get a modder exposure – they inspire – and frankly, it’s just a flat out cool thing to do. If you can’t mod for yourself, mod for others!

You can find examples of tribute PC’s all over the interwebs from modders who are on their first or second piece, to folks like Paul Capello, Stu King, or Bill Owen - who together have done dozens of top end mods. Of course, if searching the interwebs seems too daunting a task, you can look no further than our own Maximum PC forums where we have examples of a few tribute PCs. In fact, member and accomplished modder XcaliburFX recently completed his tribute mod “Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus” for a special member of his 5 year old game clan (5 years!). The system shows a pretty unique blend of etching both metal and plastic. I’m sure we’ll see it at the Mod Shop soon!

Keep on moddin’ folks – and consider doing it for a cause!

Today’s bling is actually another thread in our forums - this one has plenty of chrome :)

XcaliburFX images from Maximum PC Forums.

Mod Blog: Post Holiday Shopping

Chris "MantaBase" Adcock — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:48:48 -0600

With the Holidays past, I decided to do some post holiday shopping and picked up a few things Santa held back from me - most likely in an attempt to save the planet from disaster (Really, I can’t see why I didn’t merit a flux capacitor – I’ve been extra good!).

I pickup up one of these multifunction panels from a trusty e-tailer and hope to see it delivered soon. I’ll report on my experience after I break…..erm…install it. In the mean time, the whole shopping experience got me wondering if modders realize just how many resources are available to them. Of course there are places like Xoxide and MNPCtech that specialize in accessories for modding, but not all modding materials have to come from a modding specific source. In the past I have blogged about products from art/hobby and hardware retailers, but I seem to always forget about one type of retailer you may have right around the corner. The auto accessory/parts shop in your neighborhood may have just what you need to top off that mod.

12V, 20A Blue LED switches - ready for deployment!

Car enthusiasts and PC enthusiasts have a great deal in common (just ask Jon Philips, MPC’s editorial director, who is into both). As such, you can find a great deal of moddelicious stuff at an auto parts retailer; pin striping, u-channel, chrome flame siding, hood scoops, switches, speakers, cable sleeving, and of course, no mod is complete without a new oil filter.

A bit of paint and these side scoops will be great mod accents (and functional)

The nice thing about the electronic auto bling you find in these stores is that it’s all 12 volt (and mostly <20 amps) – just waiting to be hooked to a nice PSU. For me though, I like walking around and getting ideas by looking at stuff. Sure, the employees give me odd looks – and the store security guys seem to find me attractive, but ideas are around every chamois filled end-cap.

Can you get more stylish than using a 1965 Ford Mustang Washer reservoir as your water cooling reservoir? I think not.

Today’s bling is MNPCtech’s Full Metal Alchemist Tribute video.

Enjoy, and Happy Moddin!

Maximum Modding News: December

Chris "MantaBase" Adcock — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:16:18 -0600

Pump up the Volume: Metku Mods is an international modding site known – well, internationally. They have a reputation for letting their modding skills go beyond just PC mods. Their newest finished project is a portable boom box you can hook up to any device an RCA adaptor can be found for. With a battery life of 20+ hours, you could party ‘til the cows come home!

Shop Talk: ModShop.net saw Deathstarchris’ MAX PC take the November tourney. Who will take December? Take on you roll as The Decider - vote for your favorite mod. This month’s tourney has entered its Sweet 16 - soon to be the Elite Eight of December ought 7.

The blogging will continue until morale improves: MNPCtech is known for inspirational videos (of the modding kind). But wait, there’s more! Now there’s a blog! Check out MNPCtech Holiday Ideas. (Did I mention I could really use some of those fan grills Santa? Oh….and one of those compressors… I NEED one of those!)

All Dressed Up with Someplace to Go: The Best Case Scenario finally completed their long awaited site make over, and we have to say….It’s schweet! Check it out - and check out the Modcasts. Oh…and the Gallery…and the Hall of Fame. Nice TBCS!

December ROTM Winner: December's Rig of the Month winner is David Broadwater's Fridge PC. A game rig inside a fridge with enough room left to cool some frosty caffienated beverages. David wins a $500 spree at Buy.com for his winning entry! 'Gratz David! You can check out David winning mod in the December issue of Maximum PC (page 144).

Happy Holidays All, and Happy Moddin’from the MPC Mod Blog!

Today’s bling is a reminder to remember your pets this holiday season.