Last day for R18+ game classification review submissions!
Hurry!
If you haven't done so already, here's your last chance to tell the Australian government that we need an R18+ rating for games! You can get the appropriate document here.
Don't fret though, it takes 10 minutes to fill out, and the comment section is optional (it's only 250 words anyway). When you're done, it's as simple as e-mailing the document to the provided e-mail address. Get to it!
Microsoft Reveals ‘Windows Phone 7 Series’
A whole new mobile platform has emerged, eager to topple the efforts of Apple and Google.
It's official, Microsoft have released their new mobile OS. It's not Windows Mobile any more, in name nor functionality - it's literally a new OS experience. Playing on their lucky 7 history (read: Windows 7), Microsoft has taken the plunge to deliver a fancy new way to cater to user wants and needs. I've scoured the Internet for information on this new competitor, and have collated the main points of interest.
Mediocre music and the mainstream market
The music you've come to love has been sabotaged.
Not many people realise the degree of degradation music quality has experienced over the years. It has got to the point where the old vinyl records of yesteryear, the same ones that were popular some 100 years ago, provide higher quality dynamic range and clarity than today's CD audio. Remasters of old classics are sounding worse than the originals, and new music is sub-standard from the get go. It begs the question; surely technology has improved since vinyl?
Did Apple miss the boat with the iPad?
A neat little device, but has Apple lost their opportunity?
So, the long hyped Apple tablet has finally been announced. As expected, it very much resembles a larger iPod Touch. A single hardware button, minimal ports, and a screen which consumes most of the device's top surface. It's touted as a new platform, somewhere between the smartphone and the netbook, which is interesting. Of course, it's not exactly a new platform; Apple is essentially entering an existing one with their own offering. Android based tablets have been around for a while, and haven't really taken off. Regardless, there's been much excitement over this particular device for a couple of reasons. It was a long rumoured product, and it's from Apple. But will the hype pay off? Is the device compelling enough to warrant purchase? Let's find out.
Build the Ultimate PC – Q1 2010
Get the power of a custom PC build, without spending a fortune.
Another quarter, another list of parts. I've created five builds ranging from $1000 to $3000, each with high quality components and a strong focus on raw performance. Looking at gaming? No problem. Video editing and graphic design? There's a PC for you.
The online computer store PC Case Gear has been used to produce the price lists. For comparison, prices in brackets were found using an average of the top 5 StaticICE results (minus outliers). Although StaticICE results tend to be marginally cheaper, keep in mind that the cost of delivery from multiple stores may increase the total considerably. Each PC consists of the tower without external peripherals or operating system (OS).
PS3 Hypervisor Hacked
The seemingly uncrackable has been sliced, diced and dissected.
According to George "Geohot" Hoz, the man responsible for jailbreaking the iPhone, the infamous Playstation 3 Hypervisor is no longer an obstacle. His blog entitled On the PlayStation 3 suggests that his attempts at hacking the PS3 were very fruitful.
The search for sanity
*pokes Google, twitches at Bing*
It's not often that you search for software on the Internet, and discover that there's nothing that does what you want. With the vast amount of free and open source software up for grabs, it almost feels as if all bases have been covered. Sometimes, however, you find yourself trawling though the dark depths of search engine results, until the page numbers became mere blurs, and hitting the 'next' link becomes an autonomous reflex. Along the way, many promising results prove to be nothing more than shareware sites attempting to entice you with irrelevant software. Others, which show some glimmer of hope, have UIs that you can only imagine being designed by the local primary school kindergarten class during pastel fun time.
5 things that’d make Project Natal a worthy technology
What does Natal need to succeed?
Microsoft's Project Natal has been getting mixed responses lately. Some critics liken it to an elaborate Sony EyeToy, whilst others see it as a Wii-like motion control gimmick. Those who like it tend to brush it off as a child's toy. So is there any hope of making Natal an interesting method of control for gaming enthusiasts? I've created a list of the things I'd like developers to implement in their upcoming titles, bar the cliché EyeToy-like functionality.
Windows 7 ‘GodMode’
It would appear that a developer at Microsoft is also an avid gamer.
God mode is the close friend of gamers who want ultimate control over their virtual enviroment. Infinite health, inventory, and perspective - everyone at your mercy. Such exploits are often refered to as hacks, or 'HAX' to the initiated. So it comes as a surprise to see such a feature in Microsoft's latest desktop OS Windows 7.
Comic relief for those concerned with R18+ classification and Internet censorship.
This is what happens when you're bored on a Tuesday night.
Xbox 360 Wired PC Controller Review
A gaming PC is not complete without a good gamepad.
Website: http://www.microsoft.com/
Price: $38.74AUD + $16 postage - http://www.gizmomart.com.au/ (at time of review)
Atomic KitLog – How to Overclock Core i7 CPUs
Yes sir, very Atomic!
Not too long ago I wrote a tutorial for Australian tech magazine Atomic which delves into the process of overclocking Intel's latest high end CPU architecture - the Core i7. They've now released this article for free in their quarterly issue of Kitlog, which is an e-mag aimed at providing information regarding computer builds across different budgets/purposes. It's a great opportunity to see what Atomic is all about, and to check out some of my published works.
KitLog is a new publication which is currently at issue two. Their first issue also has one of my articles which is all about designing the perfect PC. So, if you're looking for something new to check out, head over to Atomic, indulge in their offerings, and mingle with the best tech minds on their online forum!
Thermalright Ultra eXtreme Keyring Mod
Increased cooling and retention in the form of a small modification.
The Thermalright Ultra eXtreme is probably the most recommended aftermarket cooler within enthusiast circles. Its high performance air cooling capabilities surpass its competition, and even puts some water cooling kits to shame. However, the cooler isn't without its faults. The surface which contacts the CPU is machined quite roughly, causing many ridges which need to be filled with thermal compound to ensure adequate contact. In addition to this, the pressure of which the cooler exerts on the CPU tends to be lacklustre due to the limited thread on the retention screws. The former requires sandpaper, large amounts of time, and some elbow grease to fix. The latter, on the other hand, can be solved with a neat trick which involves a keyring and some double sided tape.
TP-Link TL-PA201 Ethernet Over Power Kit Review
Need a wired connection without additional cables? Read on.
Website: http://www.tp-link.com/
Price: $147 - http://www.megaware.com.au/ (at time of review)
Restoring dead Ni-MH batteries
It wasn't neglect, I swear!
So, I'm on holidays. An excellent opportunity to get back into robotics, I thought, whilst I eyed my dust entrenched Lego NXT prototype SumoBot built several months prior. It was a uni project at the time, and ever since, I've been busy with other studies. So I quickly brushed off the dust and hit the on button, only to find that the batteries were dead. "That's OK" I thought, "I'll just charge them up again." I was wrong. You see, when you don't charge batteries for a long period of time, they tend to over-discharge. I proceeded to place the batteries in their designated charger, switched it on, and noticed that the status bars for each battery were not changing. In fact, the charger didn't realise there were batteries inserted! Why was this so? Could the issue be resolved? I investigated further...
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