Video Calls
Posted by Stringent, Nov 19 2008, 02:09 PM in General
Now with the uber 3G loaded onto my phone, I can do video calls with other people. My friend is on the 3 network so he has the capability on his N95 8GB. Just tried it, there was a lot of lag and I couldn't hear much of what he was saying, but it was kinda freaky. Nevertheless, my first video phone call was a success (well technically he didn't pick up when I rang, so he rang me back) and it was cool. Yeah so I get over excited about something that PC's have been able to do for ages (and Macs ... OK take the loaded banana away Elihu) but to do it on my phone WAS cool.
Anyways, I am meeting up with him later this evening for fun and food. So all will be good. Despite the day starting with a dead body at the end of my road (covered in a tent which part of the entrance was open) loads of police around, then me forgetting my wallet and rehearsal music for this evening. Oh well. Time for a J2O.
3G Speeds
Posted by Stringent, Nov 17 2008, 11:35 AM in General
At work our firewalls prevent Remote Desktop Access. If I need to I can use a dial-up connection from a different computer. But I tried it with my O2 3G connection via my N96. I have to say, I was quite impressed. its very quick. Much quicker than the Tiscali Dial-Up. I connected to our Home Server quite easily, and sent a print job to the big printer which no doubt made someone jump who was in there. 
O2 say unlimited data bolt on, but if you read its 200MB which isn't really unlimited. But hey its a get out of Internet Not Working free card ...
I need to try out a video call at some point. Must just make sure its not first thing in the morning ...
Guitar Hero World Tour (PS3)
Posted by Stringent, Nov 17 2008, 08:05 AM in Gaming
My Guitar Hero World Tour came on Friday, and I was quite excited to get it all out and set up. You may remember I have the 'On Tour' version for my DS which I got quite hooked on, this is the full version with a new guitar, drums and microphone. The deal Amazon had on at the time was to pre order and get another guitar for someone who wants to play the bass. Given that these controllers are an extra £60 it was worth it.
The new guitar has a touch sensitive strip at the top where you can do special slide sections and tap instead of strum. Granted I haven't got the hang of it all yet. I have been mainly playing the game on medium for the guitar to get used to the songs and the way it works. I have tried the drums on easy. I tell you, despite me being musical, the drums are tricky. But once you work out the rhythm and get going its OK.
Myt friend came over Saturday evening, he was on the drums and me on the guitar. I think we did quite well for n00bs
My gripe about the guitar is that it clicks every time you strum. If they had made this quieter it would be a lot better, because otherwise to compensate on the click you have to have the music up quite loud which might annoy some of the neighbours. I guess the alternative is headphones. I might try that.
The mic is still wrapped up, and the bass is unpacked but not been used. Basically the bass controller is the Les Paul guitar which you could buy as an add on for Guitar Hero 3. I haven't tried Rock Band instruments so can't comment on that, plus Rock Band 2 isn't out over here for a while.
So its a good party game, with some good single element. I will enjoy it, and some Downloadable Content has already shown up on the PlayStation store. Some trophies would be a nice addition though in a patch.
Hard Disk Data
Posted by Stringent, Nov 12 2008, 06:31 PM in Techie
Data security is something we all should take seriously. Therefore that old PC or laptop you are selling on eBay or giving away as a gift or favour to someone, the hard drive should always be wiped clean. Not formatted, you really need to totally wipe it properly. Even a format does not destroy the underlying data, it can be still recovered by anyone. I therefore recommend using a program called dban to destroy your data. It has quite a few methods, but if you have an old hard disk which housed anything like your accounts, important documents, music then I would recommend using either the 7 pass DoD method or the Gutmann method. Both take a long while (depending on the size of the hard disk) but will probably make your hard disk totally wipped.
So before you sell your laptop, PC, or old hard drive, wipe it first.
Hmmmm Cofffeeeee
Posted by Stringent, Nov 11 2008, 09:17 AM in GeneralI have an addiction. Its coffee. Not the Nescafe instant stuff, but the decent stuff in Starbucks. I am quite well known in my local one they normally know what to get me, either a Grande Mocha with cream or a Caramel Macchiato with cream. However they do holiday specials too. This Christmas they have a Dark Cherry Mocha (ohhh that is SOOOOO nice) and a Toffee Nut Latte (again SOOO nice). So which will I get later. Hmm dunno. Starbucks and coffee generally are becoming a luxury item. When you think you pay £3 for a cup of coffee. But its nice, makes me smile and gives me that extra kick to help me through the day. If none of those specials appeal to you, then wait for the egg nog ...
3G? I want it ...
Posted by Stringent, Nov 10 2008, 08:50 AM in General
3G has been around for ages now. I mean it was about when I had my N95 18 months ago. I am currently with O2 and they make a big thing about the iPhone and 3G speeds. But for those of us who use decent mobile phones and are not just attracted to gimmicks how do we get 3G? No where is there a simple answer. Since I have had my N96 (1st October) I have been unable to receive picture messaging, so on Saturday I ring up Data Support. He said it was not on my account. I do seem to remember having to ring them up each time I get a new phone. For some reason MMS and GPRS are not set up correctly and they have to refresh my account or tick a box. When he asked "anything else" I mentioned about 3G and what do I need. He replied, a 3G capable handset (N96 - check) a 3G network (O2 - check) and a 3G SIM card ... Uhhh no check. Nice of O2 to tell you this isn't it. Oh your new handset is 3G capable so you can get faster browsing speeds. They don't say your SIM needs to be upgraded. Last time I had a SIM change was ... 7 years ago when I got my first Carphone Warehouse phone.
So I ring up Customer Services. "What do you need a new SIM for?" ... "Oh, just go into a shop and they will get you one". Great. Carphone Warehouse are notorious for standing around, moving out the way of kiddies who want to see the latest phones, and people arguing with the sales representative. Anyway, I get served and I mention to the guy I'd like a 3G O2 SIM "why?" Because I want to use 3G on my phone. So he goes off into the back room to grab some scotch and finds the last O2 3G SIM card. So he has to do a swap, rings up and I hear "why does he need a new SIM?" for crying out loud. So I had to pay £10 for the privaledge. Right then, I just want to go. So does the new SIM work? Nope.
I continue to use my old one. I was at some peoples house on Saturday evening and then the signal just cut out. Great I thought, the new SIM is at home. So I just turn the phone off. Get home put new SIM in, yeah signal. Stick my phone on Dual Mode, yeah! 3G symbol in top left corner! Fire up internet browser Packet data not available please check network services. D'oh! So I ring up Data Support ... "Oh I will put them back on your account for you" 30 mins later I get a text with the settings. Save them as default, it works. W00T! So now I can get fully flegged 3G on my phone. Happy days.
So thats how you do it. If you have a 3G phone make sure you have a 3G capable SIM. To check you need to look at the numbers on the back of your SIM card, if it has 3G written near the end of the string you can have 3G, otherwise, get a new one.
Nintendo DSi and Guitar Hero; Wii Music
Posted by Stringent, Nov 6 2008, 02:49 PM in Gaming
The launch of the new DSi sees the removal of the GBA slot. This presents a problem for those of us who like Guitar Hero On Tour, and also there is a follow up to the game coming out soon. So far there has been no word on a converter to play the current games on the new DSi and how it will connect. So one wonders if there ever will be. Activision known for wanting money will probably want you to buy a whole new thing anyway and not sell it separately. To see some 'formal' stance on the issue you can use this link.
Remember the E3 demo of 4 people playing instruments with the Wii Mote and Nunchuck? Well its being released on the 14th November here in the UK ... That or Guitar Hero? Well I am not cancelling my order. It got 80% in the Official Nintendo Mag, it even went as far to say that the drumming was better than Rock Band 2. Go figure. Pure Nintendo bias if you as me. GameRankings has the average at 58%.
Little Big Release
Posted by Stringent, Nov 5 2008, 12:16 PM in Gaming
So the day the next president of America is announced is also the day when one of the PS3 mega titles is released in the UK. So how does it play? Umm ... I haven't got it. Yes you may all gasp at it, but nope, I haven't got it. Yet.
The reason being, I have TOO much else to concentrate on finishing. I think I will get one more trophy on Super Stardust HD and call it quites. The Late Bomber, Shock and Awe, and Extra Ships Optional are just too darn hard and frustrating. I still have to complete a full season of FIFA with Arsenal, and Guitar Hero World Tour is coming following Friday! Besides something needs to be on my Christmas Wish List.
But for any of you who have got it, let me know how it is. Although I am wondering if Morrisons are doing it for £25 ...
Cloning
Posted by Stringent, Nov 4 2008, 09:21 PM in General
I noticed an article in the Daily Mail today about how they have managed to clone from rats (mice or some form of rodent) which have been frozen for a few years. Well woop de doo. Interesting the paper went on to say that one day we could clone loved ones back from the grave. Let me clear something up for you, creating a genetic clone does not give you back a persons experience or memories. Even with the genetic material exactly the same its just that a genetic copy. There is no guarantee that they will even look like the person you lost.
Also what they don't tell you is how many attempts it took to get the rats cloned. Another thing, as the genetic material is taken from a stage in that animals life, the clones will be a copy of that animal at that stage in life. So for example, if you clone a rat who is 2 years old, he would have lived half his life (assuming the average rat age is 4). So the clone would start at 2 years old. Now imagine then you clone your grandpa who passed from this earth at 80. You have some of his genetic material before he died. You create a clone, it will be equivalent to an 80 year old person. He might look like a baby, but the cell age is actually a lot older. You cannot get genetic information from a breathing mammal and make it younger.
Its like copying a Word document. You make a copy of your thesis. Its just that, nothing more or less. It doesn't start out from a blank page (otherwise whats the use of a copy?), it begins where it left off.
Red Alert 3
Posted by Stringent, Nov 4 2008, 08:55 PM in Gaming
As I was on my daily trot through Tesco, my eyes were cast towards the PC chart, and there at number one was Red Alert 3. The Command and Conquer Series, the only worthwhile game to be played on the PC, so I picked it up. I wasn't impressed with the cover, despite on the back I noted that George Takei and Tm Curry were in it. Unfortunately my disappointment grew.
The install took an age, and then it wanted to connect to the Internet to activate the copy. Well, being behind a firewall which I can't do anything about, I couldn't. In this day and age how come these games won't let you enter in proxy settings, even in the EA Update manager there isn't an option. So I had to resort to ... other means to get the game to work, because it won't work without activating.
So I get it to run and am greeted with the intro scenes. They were ... OK, nothing fancy nothing exciting. The menu screen is rubbish, a step back to the niceties we have in C&C 3, Kanes Wrath etc, a 'hand drawn' type menu system which really hasn't been thought out. I start a skirmish as the Soviets. Straight away I groaned. Graphics looked cartoony and rubbish, the way to build is a bit messed up, the game was buggy, for instance after selecting a group of units, issue a command you can't then unselected those units, after much frantic clicking it works. I was greeted with the other general, who called me a n00b in training. OK thats one way to annoy me, so I trounced him when I worked out what was what. You have ore factories which give you the materials rather than a field, which didn't make too much sense.
EA have changed the way this game works, and so far, I am not impressed. Maybe with the patch they have already released the bugs would have been fixed. The game just didn't feel right for a C&C game. I loved RA2, its the only RTS I have played against a friend. Once. 100% win for me, so I am sticking to that. Maybe when I start the campaign it will be better. I hope so. In the mean time I have to finish Kanes Wrath.
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