Just days after receiving a pledge of $100 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Newark Mayor Cory Booker has said he has raised $40 million from private donors in his ongoing effort to match the gift.

"I am so grateful that so many are stepping forward after Mark Zuckerberg's announcement to answer our call to action and share our commitment in the limitless potential of Newark's students," says Booker.

The money will all go towards the struggling Newark public school system, which is one of the nation's highest funded but one of its most under performing.

Newark has 280,000 residents, 70,000 of which make under $10,830, the Federal Poverty Level. Only 51 percent of students graduate high school, and 85 percent of those that do need remedial help in English or Math.

Booker says the city may close the worst schools and fire teachers, and that the money will not be used towards private-schools.

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Following many reports that Sony's latest PlayStation 3 firmware update, version 3.50, blocks third-party controllers, popular accessory maker Mad Catz has said it will replace any affected controller.

That being said, Mad Catz says that "all Mad Catz products will continue to function" even after the update, with the exception of a few models from 2008 and earlier.

3.50, as reported by angry PS3 owners, blocks third party peripherals, accessories and USB storage devices.

Sony's response was that the ban would block "dangerous counterfeits," mainly controllers that Sony says have a chance of exploding. Most seem to think the move is a way to stop more products from being used to jailbreak the console.

Users have claimed that Mad Catz's 2008 Wireless PS3 GamePad, 2008 Wired PS3 GamePad and PS3 Wireless MicroCon have all ceased working after the update.

Says the accessory maker: "Mad Catz would like to take this opportunity to put gamers' minds at ease. With the exception of a small quantity of controllers sold before 2008, we believe that all Mad Catz products will continue to function as they did prior to the 3.50 Firmware update."

"Any consumer who owns a Mad Catz product and is experiencing an issue, including an issue with the PlayStation 3 Firmware update should contact Mad Catz customer services. Providing the product is within warranty, Mad Catz will be happy to offer a suitable replacement."

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Verizon will release the limited edition Motorola Droid R2-D2 smartphone on September 30th, says the carrier, making it available online and in retail stores.

The phone is a Droid 2 customized with a Star Wars theme, running on Android 2.1.

Verizon is selling the device for $350 with contract, but buyers receive a $100 debit-card rebate with the purchase.

The regular Droid 2 costs $200 with contract.

Droid R2-D2s comes in "a custom box resembling carbonite," and is stocked with "Star Wars-related ringtones and wallpapers."

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The German tabloid Bild is reporting today that the upcoming Nintendo 3DS will hit Japan on November 11th and then the EU in the "Spring of 2011."

Additionally, the tabloid says in Europe the handheld will be priced at €200.

In the past the paper has made some accurate reports on upcoming gadgets, including predicting Satoro Iwata's announcement of the Wii-mote in 2005.

The Bild is the best selling paper in all of Europe, but it is important to take this story as rumor because the tabloid tendencies of the paper and its shaky reputation for accountable reporting.

Nintendo has long said the 3DS would be released in 2011, and Iwata will announce the launch dates and pricing on Wednesday during a press event.

Three of the handheld's launch titles will be Mario Kart 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle.

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RIM has unveiled their long-anticipated Playbook tablet today, throwing their contender into the market dominated by the Apple iPad.

"Every successful professional has a great PlayBook," said Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of RIM.

The tablet will measure in smaller than the iPad at just 7 inches, but it is thinner at 9.7 millimeters.

Furthermore, the tablet has a rear and front-facing camera, and the ability to natively playback Flash videos.

BlackBerry smartphone owners can tether their devices and use the 3G on the tablet.

The Playbook will not run on RIM's new BlackBerry 6 OS, however, instead it will run on a brand new mobile operating system created by QNX Software, which was acquired by RIM earlier in the year.

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