Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Phantom Entertainment Launches Online Store

Lapboard Selling for $129.95 – Verdict: Not For Serious Gamers

The Phantom is here! No not the console, but a keyboard. Phantom Entertainment (OTC:PHEI), formerly known as Infinium Labs, launched its new website and online store to support the marketing and sales of the Phantom Lapboard, a wireless gaming keyboard.

Phantom.net is already taking preorders for the Lapboard despite the fact that the company has yet to secure funding to manufacture the keyboards. That’s right, the Lapboard you just ordered does not yet exist! Phantom Entertainment also delayed the launch of their gaming keyboard until November. These postponements may continue until funding is secured.

To make matters worse, Phantom Entertainment seems to have missed the mark on pricing their gaming keyboard. At a posh $129.95, the Lapboard will by far be the most expensive gaming keyboard out on the market. In contrast, the Saitek Eclipse, Ideazon ZBoard and Wolfking are all selling for around $50. The top-selling Logitech G15 is selling for just $57 on Amazon.com.

The Lapboard is wireless, but otherwise pales in comparison to the other gaming keyboards already on the market. The Lapboard does not yet have any macros, a must for hard-core gamers. The keys are not backlit for playing in the dark. And most surprisingly, there is no LCD screen for keeping track of in-game stats and other pertinent information.

The obvious question becomes, why the $129.95 price tag? Without the must-have gaming features, the Lapboard acts more like a regular wireless keyboard for casual surfers. We'd pass.

The market agrees. Despite the supposed launch looming in a couple months, the stock has yet to break the $.02 mark. With another 600,000,000 diluted shares authorized to sell at the last shareholder meeting, we’d stay away from this company until significant funding is secured. Until then, it should float back to subpenny territory.

Monday, August 07, 2006

August's Props Betting

Time for some new Props betting!

April's picks went 5 for 6 netting $254 if you laid down a Ben Franklin on each one: Whitney Houston didn't get arrested, the iPod Shuffle is still here, the Fed raised rates by 0.25% & the PSP2 has yet to be released. The only pick that went awry was Ace Young not winning American Idol, but that was a looong shot at 40/1. Although the "male" bet cashed in after my boy Taylor Hicks won.

I guess I need to watch more TV! Online sportsbooks are overflowing with television props bets. Unfortunately, I don't watch Hell's Kitchen, The Next Top Model, Last Comic Standing, So You Think You Can Dance, etc.

Doesn't anyone watch HBO anymore? Why can't we bet on events like:

-What ethnic group will Larry David offend in the first 30 seconds of Season 6 of Curb Your Enthusiasm?
-How many "motherf*cking cocksuckers" will be uttered in Deadwood episode 30?
-How many episodes before Entourage's Johnny Drama actually gets a part in a movie?

I'd be rich. Anyways, here's the picks:


Will Communist Cuban President Fidel Castro reassume control of Cuba by October 31st, 2006?

Yes -160
No +120

Send your "Get Well Soon" cards to our buddy Fidel! Bet yes. Bodog hasn't pulled this one yet despite Cuba's VP stating he expects Castro to be back in office "within weeks." This bet has 7 weeks until it expires, plenty of time for the Commie to recover. The "fine print" is even more favorable for the "Yes" bets: If Fidel Castro passes away before October 31st, 2006, all wagers will be graded as No Action. (I'm not Communist, I swear)


Odds to win the NFL 2007 Super Bowl

Arizona Cardinals 25/1
Atlanta Falcons
30/1
Baltimore Ravens
20/1
Buffalo Bills
100/1
Carolina Panthers
12/1
Chicago Bears
17/1
Cincinnati Bengals
20/1
Cleveland Browns
70/1
Dallas Cowboys
8/1
Denver Broncos
12/1
Detroit Lions
45/1
Green Bay Packers
40/1
Houston Texans
105/1
Indianapolis Colts
6/1
Jacksonville Jaguars
30/1
Kansas City Chiefs
18/1
Miami Dolphins
18/1
Minnesota Vikings
33/1
New England Patriots
8/1
New Orleans Saints
80/1
New York Giants
16/1
New York Jets
90/1
Oakland Raiders
80/1
Philadelphia Eagles
20/1
Pittsburgh Steelers
10/1
San Diego Chargers
18/1
San Francisco 49ers
150/1
Seattle Seahawks
11/1
St.Louis Rams
65/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30/1
Tennessee Titans
105/1
Washington Redskins
15/1

Stay away from any AFC team in Super Bowl future bets. They are by far the superior conference once again. Thus, it will be difficult for either the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Chargers, Dolphins, Bengals, or Broncos to make it to the Super Bowl.

For a better value, try the weaker NFC conference. The clear favorites are the Seahawks, Cowboys & Panthers. This year's sexy pick is the Cowboys with the acquisition of Terrell Owens. But stay away! They appear to be the most overrated team of all at 8/1. Do people forget how awful their defense was last year, and that Drew Bledsoe is still their quarterback?!

Take the Carolina Panthers at a modest 12/1. They may be the most balanced team in the NFL and have an excellent shot of not only making the Superbowl, but giving the AFC representative a run for their money.

Remember it's all about a good value, not who you actually think will win!


What will the FOMC decide to do with the Fed Funds rate when meeting on August 8?

Leave at 5.25% -170
Increase of .25 basis pt. +200
Increase of .50 basis pt. +500

For the first time in 2 years, futures traders believe the Fed will finally stop raising rates. While they're probably right, paying out only -170 doesn't give you enough. I'd take the +200 on another 0.25% rate hike. With probabilities on another rate hike around 35-40%, doubling your money is a great deal.


Will Microsoft's (MSFT) stock price go below $20/share in 2006?

Yes +120
No -140


No!!! While it's true that Microsoft has been struggling with Windows delays, lawsuits, and emerging competition from Google, all the downside risks appear to be already priced in the stock. MSFT current trades for ~$24. Going below $20 in 5 months would be a 20% drop. When you consider Microsoft is currently valued $250 billion as a company, that drop would equate to losing over $50 billion in market capitalization! Not gonna happen.