by taoski on March 10, 2005
At the Game Developers Conference over in the US-of-A details of the new XBOX have been emerging including some potential screens of the new Dashboard and revamped XBOX Live!
See here and here and here for the screenies.
Some websites report that the console could include three 3.0 Ghz processors! How much processing do you need? I bet it comes with a 10 inch fan on the back to cool the thing down.
I guess that as my 2 boys are growing up fast - i had better get one when they come out. However - i am not quite sure where to stand on the “modded” consoles any more. Maybe i should be taking the higher moral ground and start buying these games and stuff. But they are so damn expensive! I might have to get a *proper* XBOX2 when they come out - just so i can get to pay on Live properly. My kids will create the demand and i will have to respond no doubt.
My modded XBOX is still the best “gadget” that i have bought for years. In fact it rarely gets used to play *real* XBOX games and is more used as a networked Media Player for all those videos i download and retro console emulators. Gotta love Sonic and Mario! I gave away my DVD player as i just use the XBOX now! Its totally excellent. Just a brilliant piece of kit.
by taoski on March 9, 2005
A nice review of the new Sony PSP handheld console here at Engadget.
The machine looks totally amazing and i’m sure will beat up the Nintendo DS big style in the ratings. Hmmmm.. £200…. damn… here we go again!
by taoski on March 9, 2005
A new version of the ever popular “Official” Bittorrent client is available from Bram “Stoker” Cohen’s website here. Don’t forget he is the creator of Bittorrent and therefore is deserved of our respect.
I will give the new client a run against Bittornado tonight and maybe post a review tomorrow. I am also trialling another client called Bitcomet which seems ok but is a bit OTT for me i think.
The only reason i decided to start with other clients was to see if the “80% sweet spot” could really be achieved.
I had read somewhere that if you can limit you upload rate to about 80% of its total capacity then the whole torrent transfer process would be at its best. Bittornado just seemed to ignore my requests to impose a limit but Bitcomet does it nicely.
Does it work? Does it f*ck!
Well. I limited my upload on a torrent to 10kbs yesterday and my download rate went from 3kb to 41kb immediately! So, i tinkered some more and lost the high speed totally! Damn! Why did i fiddle! Arrghh.. Got it all down in the end though.
by taoski on March 8, 2005
Its amazing to see that when i come to Brum for my weekly pilgrimage that there are loads of people listening to iPods! Its easy to spot the white and grey earbuds as people shop in the new BullRing.
We spotted three people with the tell tale white earphones in one clothes shop alone! Back in Milton Keynes i never see them at all. Maybe i am just not looking in the right place.
I once went and purchased some white as possible cheapo earphones from Dixons to pretend i was part of the iPod clan. It never worked and now they are relegated to my drawer at work for when i fancy listening to some Jazz (nice). However, the headphone outputs are on the back of my PC and the lead on them is too short. So whilst i am trying to relax - it actually looks like i am praying to the Microsoft Windows god, rocking backwards and forwards and headbutting my monitor in time with the rhythm.
Anyway, they are more of a see through white/gel colour. Not very iPod at all. Never mind - i could always buy an original pair!
by taoski on March 7, 2005
I was out at the local bowling emporium at the weekend and for some reason they had a Nintendo DS display stand with 8 or so consoles to play on.
First impressions. Yuk!
The buttons and controller felt well flat and cheap compared to my Gameboy Advance and the size of the thing puts me off completely! Its huge! It has 2 LCD screens - the lower of which is touch sensitive.
Click here for a Nintendo DS Overview.
When you switch it on you tap the lower screen to start and it brings up a screen with a clock and calendar at the top and a list of available apps at the bottom including any games you have inserted. There were 2 other apps listed - a network chat client called Pictochat (the DS has built in wifi) with text and freehand writing modes. See here and here for screens. The other app is the ability to download a game from another wirelessly connected DS to play multiplayer. The old Nintendo Gameboys used to allow you to play some games in a limited mode if the other Gameboy connected (via a cable) supported it. I tried it a few times - but it never worked.
I played a demo of Metroid Prime Hunters - a 3D shooter which makes you control the game by moving your man with your left hand on the console, but then use the included stylus to “look” around the screen. To shoot, you tap the screen with the stylus. Very odd indeed. Not impressed with that either. Another DS had Tiger Woods Golf on - but some bloke was trying to play it whilst holding a screwdriver in his other hand so i did’nt manage to have a go. Also odd.
This wifi game sharing appears to be the best thing i can find about the new handheld console. But with rumors of another Gameboy out before xmas and a possible release for the DS that will turn it more into a PDA that plays games than a Gameboy - the future is unknown!
The DS is still on my Amazon Wishlist for my birthday. So we will see what happens between now and then (July). Maybe the console will be superseeded with another version of the Gameboy Advance or maybe the DS will mutate into something totally different and also be attractive too. Divx and MP3 playback have been rumored!
by taoski on March 4, 2005
by taoski on March 2, 2005
A late night jaunt on the internet reveals several things.
a) your eyes are either old and tired or scarred by laser scalpel.
b) 20 Junk Emails received in 5 mins!
c) JustinSpace’s Star Wars Designer Edition
Enjoy - i’m off to bed to prepare for Ikea hell tomorrow.
by taoski on March 2, 2005
Just picked up this link via Slashdot about someone who thinks that she is more productive on a Mac than a Windows PC: Gui Avoider. Makes interesting reading - and an insight into the workings of OSX too. I would love to be able to make my folder labels different colors in XP. Maybe someone can point me to an app that does it?
Well, it's not a giant lizard slaying robot and its not a new religion.
