Archive for the ‘Tech’d Out’ Category

• Pebble Smartwatch: We want one!

  Date: 2012.04.16 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gadgets & Mobile | Response: 1

  Have you ever wanted to be able to control everything on your smartphone from your watch? I have. I may not wear a watch often, but I think I can chalk that excuse up to not being able to do what Pebble does. Can your watch:

  • Sync with your iPhone or Android?
  • Have an e-paper display that displays perfectly inside and outside?
  • Work as a GPS meter?
  • Work a pedometer?
  • Show you your text messages?
  • Control your music applications?

  Pebble can? At least, it will once it’s made. They are currently on Kickstarter looking for a few bucks to help make the product. This will be amazing, and will even feature an open SDK (so anybody can make apps for it). If you can spare it, putting some money into this project is my suggestion. I just hope that for us cheap people out there, it will be a good price when it comes out.

  What do you think, is this something you’d be interested in getting? And how much would you pay a watch like this? Let me know in the comments below.

  [Via Android and Me]

• Power to Internet Dummies: Removing Ads from MSN Messenger

  Date: 2012.04.02 | Posted by balconygolf | Category: Tech'd Out | Response: 2

  Hello Fans,
  Sometimes I feel like I know nothing regarding the PC/Internet. But the Internet is such a powerful tool, even in noob hands. When I have a question I just ask the Internet. Simple as opening your explorer fill the “search box” with your question, push enter. Remember, it’s likely someone already had that question and others have already answered. That alone is very powerful.

  Now for an example: Do you want to get rid the ads from MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger? I have a solution for it without downloading & installing third-party software or messing around with the hosts file.

  1. Open up Internet Explorer. Choose “Tools” from the top toolbar and click “Internet Options.”
  2. Select the “Security” tab and highlight “Restricted Sites.” Click the “Sites” button. In the text space, the current site you are on will be displayed. Delete the text and replace it with ” http://rad.msn.com .” This is the Web address that sends advertisements to Windows Live Messenger. Restricting access stops the ads from appearing in the application.
  3. Click “Add” and “OK” to close the window. When you launch Windows Live Messenger, the ads will be replaced by a generic “Windows Live Messenger” banner.

  Three easy steps that will make you feel uber hacker!

  Ok bye bye

• Review: ImTOO YouTube Video Converter

  Date: 2012.03.27 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Tech'd Out | Response: 1

  Disclaimer: The following is a paid review. However, opinions on the product are true to the author’s point of view.

  What is ImTOO YouTube Video Converter?
  ImTOO YouTube Video Converter takes a YouTube video of your choice and converts it into a format you can read offline or on another device (such as AVI, PSP, or FLV). This is useful if you are one of those people who would love to watch videos on your iPod, PSP or phone when you can’t get an internet connection.

  What kind of features does it have?

  • It can convert files from Youtube to most common video types.
  • You can browse Youtube from within the application to find your videos.
  • The interface isn’t complicated.

  Who should use it?
  Anybody who wants to copy a video to their computer to watch over and over again. People who want to watch the videos on the go will also be ideal candidates for this product.

  Cons:

  • The ‘free trial’ only lets you save a video up to 3 minutes. That means most videos are out, or cut off.
  • The browser plug-in/bar only works in IE. I don’t know anybody who uses IE anymore.
  • Though easy to use, the interface feels cheap due to the large size of icons, fonts and empty space (like most Microsoft products-cheap).

  Pros:

  • The program converts files, like it says it would.
  • The interface is dummy-proof
  • The Trial is free.

  Final Thoughts
  ImTOO’s YouTube Video Converter did exactly what it said it was going to do; nothing more and nothing less. Considering that it was free, I can’t really complain to much further. If you need to convert a video that is less than 3 minutes long, this program for you. If you have longer videos their Professional version is $29.99.

  ImTOO YouTube Video Converter
  Also available for Mac.
   
   

• New Site: Player Versus!

  Date: 2011.09.02 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gaming, Site Related | Response: 0

  I didn’t lie, this post is sooner than the gap between the last posts. Sort of.

  I come to you today to announce Player Versus, a World of Warcraft / Gaming blog. Unlike I R Blogging this will be a more dedicated blog to a subject, where as currently I R Blogging is just whatever I want to talk about. We do this not to make you subscribe or read another page, but to direct more of a focus. Some may care about my gaming views, but couldn’t care less about everything else.

  In the near future (possibly tomorrow) I’ll also be putting up some posts on 122 Review, our blog where we give things either 122 minutes (Two hours, Two Minutes) of our time, or a 122 variant (such as 122 pages of a book). Unfortunately, it died pretty quickly when it was first launched. However, we have some half-written posts that should get the chance to see the light (even if they go unread). I encourage you to keep an eye out there.

  I’ll also be attempting to update the sites to post on My Twitter account when a new post is published. Following me there may be the best bet if you don’t feel like subscribing to all the other sites.

  Fret not about I R Blogging, it will still be used for posts that don’t fit elsewhere. It will likely be about updates that we have or rants. If you like that, then stay tuned, because I’m sure something will provoke another rant.

• Why Next-Gen Consoles Are Skill Downgrades

  Date: 2011.07.04 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gaming | Response: 0

  I think it’s been a fair statement for some time that there are those ‘classic gamers’ and then there are the games that play the latest and ‘greatest’ consoles. The two sides can easily be grouped and interchangeable from an outsider’s POV, but there are always going to be the extremists on both sides. For mere convenience we’re going to say everything from the Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation2 era and newer is a Next-Gen console. Everything 64 bits or lower is ‘classic’. I’ve chosen this margin because this is where there is the largest noticeable difference in the switch between the two types of games.

  I’m not actually getting into where I stand on the scale, but will point the one fact that you all should know: Next-Gen consoles are breading gamers that don’t know how to play a game.

  The definition of Game:
  noun /gām/ 
  games, plural
  A form of play or sport, esp. a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

  You’ll notice it doesn’t say “Everybody wins”. It requires skills, strength or luck. I would also add into this time. If you can open a game and have it beaten completely in 4 hours, you should ask for your money back.

  Let’s compare two games; one from classic gaming and one from next-gen gaming.
  Let’s go with Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988 for NES) and Halo 3 (2007 on Xbox 360).

  Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of those games that if you beat it, you were it as a badge of honor. Heck, it’s fair to say if you even got to World 8 you were good. There was no cheat codes, you either knew how to do it or you didn’t. You either had the timing and skill down to hit it just right, or didn’t. You pressed two buttons and did it right to win. Button mashing wasn’t even an option for NES, unless the game required you to just press buttons quickly, which it never did.

  Halo 3, on the other hand is often referred to as child’s play when it comes down to difficulty. This game can easily be beaten in one sitting, with time to spare, and you can save it. Throw in the fact that the game is engineered in the gamer’s favor so that they do not get stuck or have to over think (or think at all in most cases) to get to the end. Button mashing, grunting and yelling at the TV will easily get you through it. The game does have an extended multiplayer mode, but still on the same premise.

  This brings up the question: Are games getting easier to please the new gamers, or are the gamers getting dumber? I feel the answer is yes to both. The current generation is used to winning all the time, because losing may hurt their feelings. We wouldn’t want somebody to be sad, would we?

  I hooked up my N64 earlier today and popped in Perfect Dark. I will always love this game. It was challenging, but was fun. You had levels of difficulties and tons of scenarios to work with. It was FPS, but you needed to work through it to get to the end. This included the clunky, over-sized controllers and unrealistic graphics (and deadly paintball mode!). It took my brain about 15 minutes to adjust to thinking again, but it was there. Unfortunately, it took the younger gamer beside me 10 to decide it was ‘too hard’ and quit.
  Newer FPS may have you controlling a whole platoon, but how often do you need to pull the trigger and come up with the strategy yourself?

  Guess I’ll just become better by process of elimination. Everybody can’t be winners, they don’t give gold stars to losers. Wait, yes they do. Damn.

  So what do you think about the current evolution/devolution of gaming? Let me know in the comments!

• Ready Player One [Book]

  Date: 2010.09.15 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gaming, Geeking, Movies / TV / Books | Response: 0

  Book Title: Ready Player One
  Author: Ernest Cline
  Genre: Fiction
  Target Audience: Children of the 80′s and technology buffs.
  Pages: 372 Pages

  Time To Review (TTR): 122 Pages

  Book Intro/Preface: Ready Player One takes place in the not-too-distant future where our protagonist, Wade Watts, is in search of an ‘Easter egg’ which could reward him a late billionaire’s estate. This all happens within a virtual world called the OASIS, which has become nearly a complete replacement for the shambled and distraught real world. Every man, woman and child wants to find the egg, but it will only be rewarded to those able to solve the late billionaires obscure riddles and mazes within the game itself.

  Reading difficulty: The book uses a very simple and easy-to-read tone, and contain a lot of in depth or layered context. However, it does revolve around a lot of 80′s trivia and references, which can be lost on those unfamiliar with the decade.

  Character Development: Ernest does a fantastic job developing the characters attributes, as well as personalities. Given that much of story takes place in a virtual world, he has taken the liberty to indulge the reader with details of the outfits chosen by the characters to actively attribute to their personalities in a way that is near impossible outside of the game. A large part of the opening chapters is building up the characters, which in connection with the setting puts the reader into the right set of mind to imagine the story line.

  Setting: The setting of the story, both in the real world as well in the OASIS, are clearly laid out and described in detail by the author. The minute details given can easily be seen by the reader as our main character, Wade, lives in the contrast of the two worlds. This provides a thriving atmosphere for the story to flourish, and the reader to connect and empathize with the characters living in this environment.

  Plot Advancement: The plot and story is wonderful. The story does advance quite slowly compared to main story of similar length, however given the situation and ‘set up’ needed for the rest of the novel to work it is absolutely excusable. The Prologue more than serves it’s purpose and I feel it is absolutely needed for the story to make any sense.

  Originality: Though there are an ample number of books that can place in a distraught future, none I’ve read involve so much reference to pop culture of yesteryear. This makes it more enjoyable then the typical ‘the future will suck’ stories.

  Wasted Time: About 20 Pages. I love details, but some of the details that went into the setting seems (at least at this point) a little much and weren’t needed to contribute.

  Hooked Time: The remaining 102 pages read. It’s a great read, I just needed to get over the ‘is he still going on about this?’ part, and get back to the story.

  Pros: It’s an easy read; believable; relatable; in-a-sense, desirable.
  WOW-factor(s): I love the 80′s, and I love virtual realities. The combinations of the two would be put me into a blissful coma if they truly exists.

  Can-be-Improved: Cut down on the initial details of the setting and focus more on the virtual reality. It’s easier to imagine a ruined trailer park (they exist), but putting more description about a about a virtual reality system good enough to replace real life? That could use a little more attention.

  Continue/End Book: Hell Yes!
  If yes, how long to continue? Until I’m out of quarters.
  Rating: 5 = Go buy this book.

  Summation: I’m loving this story, it’s right up my ally. Any book involving the future and technology that makes me want to squeal like a little girl at the though of having some thing that cool is a book I’ll read. My only fear is when I’m done the novel, I’m done. I’d like to see the author put more stories inside the OASIS. I’ll definitely be passing this along to a friend to read when I’m done.

• Red Steel 2 [VG]

  Date: 2010.07.07 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gaming | Response: 0

  Game Title: Red Steel 2
  Developer: Ubisoft
  ESRP Rating: T
  Genre: First-Person Shooter
  System: Wii

  Game Briefing: You’re a wild west/samurai cowboy who is rescuing a town from a gang. Of course, this evolves deeper as the game goes on/
  
  Controls/Gameplay: Though still not perfect, Red Steel 2 is a HUGE improvement over the 2006 release of Red Steel. Using the Wii Motionplus, I don’t think it could get much more precise.
  Graphics: The cell shaded like graphics made for a nice blend of Japanese and western, which fit the game perfectly.
  Audio: Fantastic sound track, one of the best I’ve heard it quite some time. It helped you feel as though you were there. No complaints in this department at all.

  Multiplayer: None.

  Originality: Obviously they tried at this style of gun-slinging and sword-swinging in the first Red Steel, I wouldn’t hold that against them. It makes for a fun combo though, which isn’t often seen.
  Personalization: You get to to choose the icon for the save file at the beginning of the game. I think that was fairly all in this category.

  Wasted Time: There was way too much unskippable training points through out the game. Though this is apparently only while you learn new techniques, is annoying when you need to repeat them.
  Play Time: There was about 30% of our time spent doing cut scenes. This can be expected to build up the story line. I wouldn’t count this as a genitive, as it was all needed cut scenes.

  Pros: About time that the Wii got an exclusive FPS on it’s side. It made to feel as though you were that character.
  WOW-factor(s): The sword play is tons of fun. Being able to stab, spin around the guy and stab them in the back is killer (literally).
  Can-be-Improved: I think the only thing more I could ask for is a multiplayer mode. Had they taken the one from the first Red Steel and put into play the new controls and Gameplay, it would have been a powerhouse.

  Continue/End Game: Continue. It’s supposed to be around 12 hours to complete the game, and I wasn’t so much bored as I was sore. I can see myself playing it again.
  Rating: This was a good game, which is saying a lot for the history of the Wii’s FPS. I hope only that more developers follow in step of Ubisoft. I give it a 4/5:
  If FPS are you main drag; buy Red Steel at full cost.
  If you like FPS, but not so much; Buy it at a discounted price if you see it.

• Google I/O Keynotes: Day 2

  Date: 2010.06.18 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Geeking | Response: 1

  *Edit: For some reason or another, I never ended up posting this. Sorry folks*

  day 2

  Some Quick facts were given about Android to set up the love. Android has been around for 18 months, and is up to 100k new activations around the world a day

  Android devices cound for the #2 highest selling smartphones in the United States. This is second only to RIM (B;ackberry). That’s Right, Android > iPhone.. Though #2 in sales, it is the leading platform used for web access by more than 30%.

  At the time of this post, there is also more than 50k apps on the Android market. At the increase rate the past few months, it will surpass Apple before the year is out.

  And then comes FROYO!

  This release will have JIT integrated, making it 2x to 3x faster than 2.1

  Google has also improved dramatically on how you transfer from your computer. This means a new ‘Browser to phone intent’, not just push using cloud computing with your Google account. This means you send it from your PC with 1 click Iinstead of then getting an address to go to on yourr phone, it will load whatever you send, as it was on your PC. For example, google maps on the PC will automatically load the map on your phone using Navigator. The speaker made a great shot at iphones having to sync with itunes here

  Turning your Android device into a portable hotspot and tethering will also be built in when Froyo is released. This will prove intersting as many carriers frown upon, or even lie to customers, about the current tethering abilities.

  To solve the memory issue when having tons of apps, Froyo will have the ability to save apps to SD card. The System can automatically determine based on space left on phone, or you can move apps manually.

  The Android market will also get some new tricks. Froyo will give you an ‘update all’ option for installed apps, and an ‘auto update’; allowing a Set it and forget it mindset.

  Starting. With Froyo, the market will also be viewable on your PC. You’ll be able to use the ‘magic of the internet’ and android intents to start the download on the phone, from your PC aswell. Time to ditch some cords.

  The marketplace will also see a new music category. In addition, plugins are developed to let you stream you PC library to your phone using the cloud, which will up space on the SD card.

  GOOGLE TV

  - Released Fall 2010

  - Marketplace OTA Summer 2011

  - Open Source Fall 2011

  - Will run on Android, have google chrome and full 10.1 flash

  - Will be able to access the Android market, and run mobile apps (not device dependant). Coming Summer 2011

  -Will be an open platform. Android and Chrome trees to become open source in fall 2011

  – Redid listen App, now works with pod casts, video casts and subscribed channels on GTV

  - Merged TV Closed Captaion and google Translate for over 14 languages instantly

  - Integrated Speech top TV searching and communicating Via Android device

  - Android device works as remote control

  - Wifi, HDMI and Intel atom inside

  - Search Bar searchs TV, Apps, Web, Listen and other streaming forms (fox, hulu, amazon)

  - Has a suggested Viewing option, recommended shows on TV, and those on teh web based on what you’ve watched

  Integrated netflicks

  Available at Best Buy

• Google I/O Keynotes: Day 1

  Date: 2010.05.20 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Geeking, Google Greatness | Response: 0

  The following is my review/keypoints from the Google Keynotes this year. Some will be brief, some more expanded.
  Day 1

  Most of Day 1 spoke about HTML 5, the advancements that it is making and what can be done with it. A few nice examples were given, such as a clickable TV.

  The WEBM Project was also discussed in length. The idea behind this is to have an open source video codec (vp8) so that there is an industry standard, instead of every program and OS having it’s own. Goodle invested $125 million towards this project.

  Sports illustrated is on board with this open source idea, and had a presentation of how it plans to use HTML 5 and vp8 to make their magazines interactive online. However, the CEO made a comment about it being good, so can be marketed. In my opinion, I feel he fails to see th real reason behind Open source, and just that it’s new, shiny and trendy. However, he’s also old so he’s not important.

  Google Wave has also granduated out of Beta, is available to everybody without a beta invite and was also made available to Google Apps, which is fantastic.

  The biggest annoucement of the day was the Google Chrome Web App Store. In short: It’s the Android Market Place for Web Apps. This is sensational, and I saw it coming once they introduced the product store for Google Apps a few months ago.

  This is big news, because it will allow the millions upon millions of web apps and web games to be categorized, marketed and more importantly found by users. I can’t wait until this is released to the public, or I can find my way into a beta.

  With all the web apps being developed, VM Ware discussed management tools for them. Unfortunately, yours truely had to run for work during the later half of this presentation.

• Overlord: Dark Legend [VG]

  Date: 2010.05.16 | Posted by Jeff | Category: Gaming | Response: 0

  Game Title: Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles
  Developer: Cavia and Capcom
  ESRP Rating: M
  Genre: Rail Shooter
  System: Wii

  Darkside Chronicles is a rail shooter for Resident Evil series. A chronicle series similar to Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles. . Starts out in South America with Leon Kennedy and Jack Krauser before going into flash back stages of the Raccoon city story line with Leon and Clair Redfield which recaps the plot of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code Veronica.

  Controls are simple enough, as to be expected with a rail shooter, mostly point and shoot. You can use the nunchuck or the D pad to quickly change between weapons. I personally preferred the nunchuck for this, I kept hitting the middle of the D pad and switching to the wrong weapon.

  The camera movements mimic the movements of the characters as if the game were played in first person. You don’t actually control the movement yourself and this can be a bit awkward for aiming but gives it a more realistic feel.

  In game graphic are pretty good, consistent with no glitches in the in the background or game play that i have noticed so far. Response time with the controls is very accurate. The quality of the cut scenes were excellent as well, on par with many CG movies I have seen. Including Resident Evil Degeneration. I have always been a fan of the music and sounds of Resident evil games. The sounds fit the game well without drawing your attention away from the game play.

  Darkside can be played one player or two player co-op. In the first 2 hours that I played you always had the option to choose between 2 characters at the start of each stage. With two players you play with both. Haven’t tried two players yet, I’ll need to find someone to play with for next time.

  You can collect gold through out the game to power up your weapons. I started with powering the shot gun. The short gun is one your most useful tool against the undead and mutated….. once you power it enough that it not so damn slow. It is able to push back multiple attackers within range which is very useful if you are playing solo and don’t have backup. You can also shoot at random items in the background of the game play (recommend using handgun with unlimited ammo for this) to uncover more gold and hidden files with extra information about the characters and story line. But really its about the random destruction.

  Probably about 90% of the time I was shooting at something. There are longer higher quality cut scenes are the start and end of every stage and usually a few short cut scenes during the stage, but they are blended well into the game pay as not to be distracting.

  As much of a fan of the series as I am, this is a Chronicle game so I wouldn’t call it original. The resident evil series is great for pouring out side games to go along with the main story that re-introduces past story lines and story lines mentioned in other games. Resident Evil 4 mentions the Kennedy report which I believe is based on the South American mission that Darkside chronicles starts with. I personally like all the side story games, they easy to play and is a great refresher for the main story line.

  If I wasn’t wasting my time shooting Zombies I would probably be wasting it with Smash Bros Brawl. Resident Evil Darkside Chronicles is what it is, a straight forward rail shooter. Not much decision making is needed you just point and shoot. Personally after work this is what I look forward to. I don’t have to worry about anything except getting that next head shot. I wish the realistic movement was toned down a bit, it’s frustrating to miss a shot because your character suddenly turned and ran the other way, otherwise this is a fun game to play if your are looking for something quick that does not require a big commitment. Given another 2 hours and 2 minutes I think I might be able to finish the game.

  I would give this game a 4/5 as it is one I would play over again and would like to own.