Windows Phone Marketplace Launches in 22 Countries

Building a strong and thriving app ecosystem is difficult, but Microsoft is taking the task of expanding Windows Phone Marketplace seriously. In a blog post on Thursday, the company announced that Marketplace has launched in 22 new countries.

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Star Wars? Main Theme Sung By One Guy Is Surprisingly Funny and Good [Video]

It's Star Wars day. May the 4th be with you, always, and all that. Nick McKaig, the man who awesomely sung The Simpsons' theme a capella and was later featured on a series episode, made this stunning rendition of John Williams' main theme. More »

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Jonathan Coulton: Down Today (Little green footballs)

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Ashton Kutcher Slammed For 'Brownface' Chip Ad

'The [ad] ... was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone," says a Popchips spokesperson.
By Gil Kaufman

Ashton Kutcher in the Popchips ad
Photo: Popchips Inc.

Ashton Kutcher is used to controversy. The "Two and a Half Men" star drew fire recently after Miranda Lambert thought he was mocking country music at the ACM awards
 and last year he took heat for seemingly defending ousted college football coach Joe Paterno in the midst of allegations that one of the late legend's assistants had sexual abused boys.

And now he's in the hot seat again. This time it's because of allegations that a new ad campaign he stars in for the Popchips brand traffics in racial stereotypes. In the ad, Kutcher's skin is tinted brown, he sports a bushy mustache and is wearing traditional Indian garb while playing the role of a Bollywood producer named "Raj."

"I'm raj, I'm a Bollywood producer. I'm looking for the most delicious thing on the planet, like Kardashian hot ... I would give that dog a bone ," Kutcher says in a stereotypical Indian accent in the viral ad, which has since been pulled.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for the company released a statement hitting back at accusations that the commercial was offensive. "The new popchips worldwide dating video and ad campaign featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone," the spokesperson said. "At popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended."

The campaign for "World Wide Lovers Dating Service" also has Kutcher playing a British stoner named Nigel, a Southern biker named Swordfish and a swishy Karl Lagerfeld-like fashionista. The rep clarified that the ads were not meant to run on TV, but as a "fun online campaign."

Blogger Anil Dash, one of the most vocal critics of the spot, as well as a Popchips and Kutcher fan, wrote on his blog on Wednesday that he had spoken to Popchips founder Keith Belling, "Who was sincere and contrite as he offered a thoughtful, apologetic response that indicates he understood much of what I was trying to say here. I'm cautiously optimistic to see the company's response, and willing to give them time to do it properly. Maybe we can get a good result."

Kutcher, a notoriously active Twitter user who is in the midst of a divorce
 from his wife of six years, Demi Moore, had not responded to the flap at press time.

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Harvard, MIT Will Bring Classes To The Masses With Their ?edX? Online Learning Initiative

Distance learners rejoice! Harvard University and MIT jointly announced their new non-profit edX online learning initiative in Cambridge earlier today, which aims to both enhance on-campus teaching and make courses from both schools available to people around the world for free. "This is the single biggest change in education since the printing press," said Anant Agarwal, newly-installed president of edX. Despite both schools chipping in $30 million a piece (not to mention a chunk of their respective staffs), edX is an independent entity with Agarwal reporting to the organization's own board.

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Sweat-Eating Bees Are Invading Our Cities [Animals]

While most bees get by just fine supping on nectar from flowers, there's a different kind of bee out in the wild that feeds on sweat—and now, they're moving into cities to make the most of all that humans can offer. More »

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Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans

Google Docs has lagged behind offline apps in the number of fonts and pre-made layouts to choose from, but that's just changed with a much larger catalog for both. More than 60 new templates and 450 fonts are now on tap to use in your presentations and reports. This comes on top of a handful of other recent improvements, such as Google Drive support, searching the Life Photo archive and boosts to accessibility and spreadsheet layouts. Apps Script gets both a Google Drive tie-in and new publishing control, too. Be forewarned: Comic Sans is one of the new font options, and it's clearly not an April Fools' gag.

Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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