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... that Win 95 is now safe to use?
Microsoft removed code from its Windows 95 operating system
Probably, just safer...
The headline was written by a moron who can't read. Novell announced they will appeal, so Microsoft only won this round, with a judge who was overturned on appeal last time.
Who cares? Windows nor any other OS.. (remember the whole cocoa/carbon debacle with OSX?) gives any guarantee that APIs will never be deprecated.
Who cares? Windows nor any other OS.. (remember the whole cocoa/carbon debacle with OSX?) gives any guarantee that APIs will never be deprecated.
Remember the saying "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run"?
Remember the saying "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run"?
Yes. No foundation in either reality or rationality.
Didn't NT 4.0 SP6 cause problems with Lotus Notes too? (fixed with SP6a if I remember)
Yes, but breaking Lotus Notes is a good thing, on balance.
Remember the saying "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run"?
The one that Lotus guys themselves said was BS? Yes, I do [proudlyserving.com].
If you really want to bring something up, start with AARD code - at least that actually shipped (in a beta version of Windows).
They removed APIs after promoting them for use by clients. At the same time they internally did not use them.
Then, just before the release of the system, they withdrew them leaving the clients out in the cold.
This would be similar to your boss promising a raise, in writing, that you would get if you met or exceeded your deadlines. Then dropped the project you were working on, dropped your bonus, and laid you off.
Was that fair dealing?
Their take on the verdict comes off as biased, bitter in parts, and sarcastic in parts. Do they claim to be balanced, or are they partisan?
Groklaw provides the rulings in PDF and text form. Whether they have a bias or not,
the rulings are shown as is.
In the instant case the jury was eleven to one against Microsoft. Judge Motz -- who
flew in to handle this case from outside his district (!?!) -- ruled afteward that no reasonable
jury would have found for Novell and against Microsoft.
He has already been overturned on appeal once. He will be overturned again.
Microsoft shils notwithstanding (they pay people to say Microsoft-does-no-evil on
and other places), they will be found guilty.
It may not be relevant to much nowadays, seeing as Windows 95, Wordperfect, etc.
are all obsolete irrelevant things, but it's part of the legal process. Just like we don't
excuse rape because "Well it happened to you ten years ago" the same is true of
anticompetitive unlawful actions.
Sorry, Microsoft Fanbois, time to man up and quit modding everything you don't like
down. The truth is out there, and it will be set free. The Internet views censorship
as damage and routes around it (--Gilmore). The same is true for biased modding
and shil posting.
Tucson AZ US
It may not be relevant to much nowadays, seeing as Windows 95, Wordperfect, etc. are all obsolete irrelevant things
Errr, that's a strange way of looking at it. I am with you most of the way, but the very reason that WordPerfect is now an "obsolete irrelevant thing" is that it was ousted by Microsoft, and their dirty tricks (rather than actual merit), which is what this case is about, were at least partly responsible for that. Otherwise WordPerfect might still be in general use today. Therefore the events of 15[?] years ago very much affect what we do today.
Actually, WordPerfect is relevant to me, a
libreoffice --headless -convert-to odf fileToConvert.wp -outdir .
Google is your friend.
Sorry for posting AC (though the content of this message will narrow me down to about 8 people). I worked on Word Perfect, although it was at Corel so well after the events in question. However, I have a good idea of how the software was put together and I have personally talked with several of the original authors. Whether or not Microsoft played these games, I personally don't believe that the failure of WP in the market place was really related to it.
WP 6 was a complete rewrite of WP 5 which was origi
OP is right.
Judge Motz (who flew out of his district to run this court) ignored an 11:1 "hung jury"
and voted to say no jury could find against Microsoft. He's already once been handed
his case back on appeal because he's too pro-Microsoft.
There is no excuse to allow a JMOL (Judgment as a Matter of Law) -- implying no
reasonable jury would find for Microsoft -- when the jury was 11 to 1 in favor of
finding Microsoft guilty. This too will be returned to trial by the appeals court.
There's no excuse for the article to be on slashdot. It's entire "summary" is biased
and incorrect. The editors who approved it have no knowledge of facts. The
moderators who modded down the parent are clearly part of Microsoft's encouragement
of its staff to "read" slashdot (troll on articles) in the hopes they can mod down
disparaging articles.
Judge Motz is biased; he has flown from outside his district to judge this case; he
has been overruled on appeal ON THIS CASE before. It will happen again. All but
that last comment are facts.
See http://www.groklaw.net./ [www.groklaw.net]
Saying a case is won before the appeals are over is like saying a tie hockey game is won before sudden death overtime has finished. Don't be stupid you morons.
How much money should the taxpayers keep spending on this? It's been 17 years. If Novell can't make their case in 17 years, perhaps they should consider that it's just not worth it.
Judge Motz is biased; he has flown from outside his district to judge this case
It sounds awfully much like money changed hands.
No, they did not win yet. Sure, they got a nice ruling from a judge with obvious animus towards Novell. The judge handed a ruling to Microsoft, nothing more. This same judge has already been overruled by the appellate courts and that is likely to happen again in this case. We'll see. But Microsoft has not the war, they've only won a battle.
Well, Microsoft has won over Novell/Wordperfect ages ago, now Novell is just trying to get whatever they can. The lawsuit of course isn't over. However, I don't see any "war" left to fight in this one. It's more like the war has been long over and this is a left over skirmish that stubbornly refuses to go away. Hope Novell can keep this up until they get some court to acknowledge the damage done to them, but I don't see what difference it would make for the rest of us. Microsoft will continue to use similar
No, Microsoft won the war. This is but a side skirmish in a town which has lost all relevance. Whether Novell wins or loses is irrelevant because WordPerfect is dead, killed by the horrific mis-management which let them start with the post popular and most powerful consumer word processor on the planet and drive is so far into the ground that most
The bigger problem is that technology moves so many orders of magnitude faster than traditional brick and mortar processes that the laws and court system can't keep pace in its current incarnation. Patents lasting 28 years? Copyrights lasting 120 years? Common delay tactics and court backlog taking over a decade to resolve? Useless in an industry with a 6-24 month product lifecycle.
Spoken by a truly clueless imbecile....so by your wrecking Microsoft should give up on the mobile device market since that keep up with the release cycle....
An illiterate calling someone an imbicile... thanks for the chuckle.
FYI, I believe the word you malaproped should have been "reckoning." And sorry for verbing that noun...
If the final ruling goes against Microsoft it could set an ugly precedent that an OS must forever remain backward compatible to whatever version some developer used in its earliest version.
Not necessarily. If the change is well-documented, then it is up to the developer to adapt to the change. The question here is that Novell alleged Microsoft made undocumented changes that broke the WordPerfect codebase. Now, this would be difficult to argue in the case of GNU/Linux since the "open" code of the kernel, etc
I don't think the complaint is valid. I think vendors of software should be legally responsible for the software features they advertise and little else
Is there any real evidence that they sabotaged Novell's programs? The judge is saying that didn't happen.
So short of a conspiracy to conceal changes in the API from Novell for the purpose of making their product incompatible with Novell's apps, what's wrong? Does a software company have to keep every old API feature the same so everthing is backward compa
... Sometimes Microsoft is damned if they do and damned if they don't. But then again, they have been damned inconsistent with their behavior.
On one hand, they may wish to deprecate parts of the OS. On the other, they may wish to maintain compatibility with some applications. And the fact that they maintain mutiple versions of the same APIs for different behaviors of different applications says they will, at times, do strange things to keep things running in a compatible way.
On the other hand, it seems s
It's not really depreciating something if during a product beta process, you create an API, then remove it before that product is released. There was no released product that had that API in it, and there should be no released products that depend on it.
As someone who used WordPerfect in the days *BEFORE* it had Icons because it ran in DOS, that version (5.2) still could kick ass over ANY WYSIWYG Word Processor for most tasks. I'd still use it *TODAY* if it only ran on XP-7, had printer support, and I could get install disks. (Not to mention that it would be so lightning fast it isn't funny.) Yes, I miss it mightily (not the current Corel offering.)
Thanks for the link. I like reading stories of the Olden Dayes.
A committee takes root and grows, it flowers, wilts and dies, scattering the seed from which other committees will bloom. -- Parkinson


text:
Music done by humans. Feel the difference.
Welcome to my musical portfolio .
Working for ten years in a multinational advertising agency gave me the opportunity to combine my two greatest professional passions: Music and advertising.
At the department of audiovisual production one of my main work was to advise the department on the best creative music for our campaigns , whether original or pre-existing music .
During that period devoted to advertising (and more specifically the advertising music ) and culturing in parallel my role as a musician grew the idea of dedicating to compose and produce music intended for audiovisual market.
I learned that it is not enough to create the best music but it also has to serve the needs of the support in fixing either an advertising campaign for TV , radio, internet, spot TV a web or an Smartphone App .
After the stage BBDO 've dedicated to composing and producing music for advertising, film and TV , having worked for clients such as Coca -Cola , Renault, Burger King, Gillette , Mitsubishi , Pepsi , Siemens, Mc Donalds, Toyota etc.. over ten years ,
Choosing the best music and the most suitable for your project is as important as choosing the best photograph or illustration , the best text , best actor or best model.
As a musician I am involved in many projects, such as the first symphony orchestra of electric guitars: Sinfonity
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Thank you very much for listening to my music. I hope you find it useful
Oscar Sanz.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rail Development Commission authorizing the installation of flashing lights and gates at five grade crossings in Crawford, Delaware, Huron and Shelby counties. The upgrades will be made as follows:
• Indiana & Ohio Railway will install flashing lights and gates at the Jackson Street (258-661J) grade crossing in Shelby County.
• Norfolk Southern will install flashing lights and gates at the Carey Road/Township Road 27 (481-581B) and Willey Road/Township Road 211 (481-504B) grade crossings in Crawford and Delaware counties, respectively.
• Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway will install flashing lights and gates at the Young Road/Township Road 23 (473-653G) and Base Line Road/County Road 11 (001-977G) grade crossings in Huron County.
The railroads will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by Feb. 23, 2013. Funding for all upgrades will be provided by federal funds.
To increase public safety during the construction of the projects, PUCO will assist the local governments with the cost of improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other safety enhancements at the project location. Funding for the improvements will come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and will not exceed $5,000.


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So even though it is not serious, I think you'll be happiest if you apologize rather effusively and let HER tell YOU it wasn't a big deal. "oh, mom, I just realized I got all mixed up about what day it was yesterday and I completely forgot to wish you happy birthday! I'm so sorry! What must you have thought? Did you have a great day?". The point is, rather than defending yourself or giving excuses, let her be the gracious one.
. . . Is there a polite way to say "I'm sorry, I forgot?"
. . . Is there a polite way to say "I'm sorry, I forgot?"I called my mother yesterday evening just because I wanted to talk to her. (I usually call her once a week or so, or she'll call me.) We had a nice chat, got caught up with news on everybody's lives, etc. Our usual chat.I, just now, looked at the calendar. Yesterday was my mother's birthday.I did not say/sing Happy Birthday to her.I feel like such a heel.Is there a polite way to say "I totally cheesed when I talked to you. By the way, Happy Birthday?"
As somebody whose best friend forgot her birthday last year...It is a LOT less hurtful to hear "I'm sorry, I completely forgot to wish you happy birthday." than "I'm sorry, I completely forgot your birthday". The former is "I was thinking of you, but forgot to actually say the words." the latter is "I wasn't thinking of you." and since you DID call her (even if it wasn't for that reason), you obviously were thinking of her
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Is an MBA better than a CPA? Is a CDFA more qualified than a CFP? How do you sort through the alphabet soup credentials to pick the right financial adviser?
We'll tell you, PDQ:
CFA—A chartered financial analyst is a prestigious designation, often held by securities analysts, investment advisors. It doesn't spell "financial planner" for ordinary folks.
|CFP—A certified financial planner has completed years of training, tests and work experience, and is geared to help consumers choose investments and manage a long-term financial plan. You want to see these three letters, at minimum.
ChFC—A chartered financial consultant is trained sell insurance products and can also do basic planning.
CDFA—Certified divorce financial analysts offer financial advice to those going through a divorce. They aren't financial planners, unless otherwise noted.
CPA with PFS—A certified public accountant with a personal finance specialty indicates that a highly trained tax pro (CPA) has an additional certification that allows them to do financial planning.
Bottom line
Take any adviser's designations as a starting point for discussion, "rather than the final criteria," says David McPherson, a CFP in Falmouth, MA. And beware of flimsy titles like "financial planner," without the appropriate credential.
Do you have a financial planner? Are you a financial planner—what kind? Tell us.


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Emergency Preparedness - Bomb Threat
Bomb threats usually occur by telephone.
The person receiving a bomb threat call should remain calm and attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the caller by using the checklist given on the following page.
Call University Police at Ext. 2111; give your name, location and telephone number. Inform them of the situation. Include the time you received the call and any information you may have regarding the location of the bomb and the time it is set to explode.
Inform your department head or supervisor of the situation.
If you should spot a suspicious package or object, report it to University Police. Under no circumstances should you touch, tamper with, or move the package or object.
University Police will establish exit routes and assist in building evacuation if necessary. Do not re-enter the building until instructed by University Police that it is safe to do so.


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I've tuned into the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest a few times. I'd never consider joining an eating contest, but I like a good gross-out as much as the next guy.
Eating challenges, on the other hand, those intrigue me. The Old '96er for instance. There's a whole show dedicated to them on the Travel Channel. The few times I've been to places that offered a challenge, I was tempted to try it.
Up all night on Monday at a concert in Newark, I was empty this Tuesday at lunch. I ordered this:
That's a Grand Slam from Go Go Curry. A chicken cutlet, a pork cutlet, an egg, two sausages, a fried shrimp all covered in a thick, brown curry. There's a pile of shredded cabbage on the side. And underneath all that is a mountain of rice. With nothing on the line but my pride and my 12 bucks, I bid adieu to all but the rice. The rice just kept coming and I ended up leaving about a handful on the plate.
Maybe if I wasn't headed back to work and if I didn't have to play basketball that night, maybe I could have taken it down. But I was happy I left it there.
How about you guys – what was your biggest eating challenge?


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Austin, Texas—Following the primary election, Kinky Friedman released the following statement:
"Obviously a straight up win is what you always want, but we knew this was going to be a tough sell for some folks in Texas. Our camp has taken on a tough issue, and we're not backing down because this is what's right for the people of our great state. We're eager to talk real issues and real solutions during this run-off and believe the people of Texas are ready for new, innovative ideas from this office."
TexasforKinky.com Twitter: @theRealKinkster


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City seeks proposals for elderly housing at Rhodes School
If developers are interested, the Christopher Rhodes School could become housing for the elderly, an assisted living facility or an adult day care facility.
Last week, the administration and Council President Bruce Place, chairman of the Christopher Rhodes Elementary School Reuse Committee, announced that the city has issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the sale and reuse of the former elementary school. Using the school for some form of elderly housing will be considered, but not for building general single-family units or condominiums.
That's good news to some of the immediate neighbors.
"I'm happy to hear they are going to be doing something with it," said Jan Levasseur, whose property abuts that of the school. She said that her children attended Rhodes before moving on to Aldrich and then Pilgrim High. "It was a great school."
She and her husband Norm would not want to see the school developed as apartments or condominiums.
"We love this neighborhood," he said. "That's why we wouldn't want to see housing."
Norm suggested the building could be used as a nursing home or community center. Both Norm and Jan thought the building was put to good use when it was leased to the Rhode Island School for the Deaf while it was building new facilities. They suggested it might be also be good as a center serving special needs students.
Similar aversion to use of the former school for housing was recorded Sunday afternoon in a door-to-door survey of the neighborhood. No particular problems with the vacant school were noted. One family reported seeing police at the school on a fairly regular basis and speculated the building was being used for some form of training exercises.
In a statement released last week, Place said, "The residential uses we envision are the most appropriate ways to preserve the character of the neighborhood, re-purpose the building and provide additional recreational opportunities for our residents. On a personal note, I was very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of the committee members. It's been a pleasure to work with them on this project."
The School Committee closed the school in 2008 due to declining enrollment. It was then leased to the School for the Deaf before being transferred to the city. The school, constructed in 1952, is a 46,685-square-foot, one-story building with a flat roof, situated on 9.97 acres on Sherwood Avenue in the Norwood neighborhood. The property is zoned Residential A-7.
As a condition of the sale, the city would retain roughly 5 acres for development of a recreational field and running-walking track and would reserve the right to lease the school gymnasium for municipal recreational use. It would also retain ownership of 24 of 96 existing on-site parking spaces near the field.
A pre-proposal conference will be held on Monday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. in the lower level conference room of City Hall, 3275 Post Road, Warwick. Though attendance is not mandatory, it's strongly encouraged. A tour of the facility will follow the conference.
All RFPs must be submitted to the Division of Purchasing by 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at which time they will be opened, publicly read and recorded. No late submissions will be accepted.
All proposals must be submitted in sealed packages containing one original and 10 copies and clearly labeled "RFP #2013-160 Development of Christopher Rhodes School Property." Financial statements should be included with the proposal and sealed in a separate envelope clearly marked "Confidential/Not for Public Viewing."
RFPs should be sent to: City of Warwick, Purchasing Division, Lower Level, 3275 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886.
To view and download the full RFP, go to www.warwickri.gov, click on the "quick links" tab on the upper right hand side, then click the "bids available" tab.
Mayor Scott Avedisian said yesterday that a committee is also studying possible future uses of the closed Potowmut School.
"Potowomut is a little behind in terms of getting their work done due to the fact that the Rhodes committee was organized and formed earlier. The Potowomut committee has been meeting and has started the process. They will be using the RFP and framework of the Rhodes Committee as a Model," he wrote in an email.
In addition to Place, the committee consisted of: Phil Slocum, in his capacity as Planning Board chairman; Rick Crenca, principal planner in the Planning Department; Joe Blake, maintenance supervisor for the Department of Public Works; Lara D'Antuono, executive director of the Warwick Boys & Girls Clubs, which has a Norwood branch; Margaret Andreozzi, a longtime area resident; Heather Murphy, who has been active in a number of area organizations; John Mulhearn, in his capacity as a real estate developer; and Carl Salusito, president of the Norwood Neighborhood Association.
"The committee devoted a great deal of time to examining all of the issues related to the property to ensure that its reuse would be most beneficial to the city," Avedisian said. "I thank the committee for their efforts and the thoughtful, measured approach they took."
It's in Norwood? According to the Norwood Neighborhood Association's own webpage, their eastern limit is Elmwood Avenue.


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August 2016 Treatment with an extended-release stimulant medication plus cognitive behavioral therapy was associated with reductions in cocaine use and in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in patients with both disorders.
December 2012 Study findings indicate that children exposed to methamphetamine prenatally show more signs of increased emotionality, anxiety, and depression than nonexposed children at ages 3 and 5 years.
December 2009 Describes an animal study showing that rats raised in isolation may prove useful in future studies exploring the neurobiology that links impulsivity and vulnerability to addiction.
October 2009 Reports on research providing evidence that teaching aggressive youngsters social coping skills reduces their chances of becoming substance abusers.


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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ About 25 students from across Kansas will be lobbying state lawmakers to oppose stricter regulation of abortions.
The students met with national organizers Monday at a building near the Statehouse before fanning out to meet with legislators at the state Capitol.
Activists from Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union attended the meeting.
The activists and students oppose a bill in the Kansas Legislature banning the use of state funds for some abortions. They contend it would limit access to reproductive health services.
Last month, at least 1,000 abortion opponents gathered at the Statehouse to mark the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion.


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August 19, 1927 - November 13, 2012
Sun City, AZ - Formerly of Warwick, NY
Walter Sayer Seely, Jr, 85, died on November 13, 2012, at home in Sun City, AZ. He was born on August 19, 1927 in Pine Island, NY to Walter S. Seely and Katherine Wern Seely. Walter, known as "Sonny" to many, spent most of his life in Warwick where he worked for Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad, Laroe Sawmill and Park Avenue School. He attended Ryder College in Trenton, NJ, and was a NY State Guard Bugler for three years following his US Navy World War II service.
As an active member of the Warwick community, he was a member for over 50 years of the Raymond Hose Fire Company, Warwick Community Ambulance Corp., and IOOF. He was a charter member of O. C. Fire Chief's Assn. and an member and past president of Whippoorwill Hunting Club in Beaverbrook, NY. He also served in the American Legion Post 214 for over 65 years, additionally he belonged to: Warwick Masonic Lodge (past master), Middletown NY Chapter and Comandry and Shrine of Albany, NY, Tall Cedars and Middletown Elks. Walt retired with his wife Mary, to Sun City, AZ in 2003.
Walt is survived by his loving wife, Mary Holbert Seely and three children: Walter Seely III and his wife, Dottie of Longmont, CO; Katherine Christensen and husband, Boyd of Phoenix, AZ; and Mark Seely, also of Phoenix, AZ. Eight grandchildren: Becky Seely of Denver, CO; James Christensen and wife, Stacie and great grandchild Brody of Chandler, AZ and Megan and Jake Schmidt of Tempe, AZ; Joseph Somborovich, Janethe, Ashley, Marykate and Mark Jr. of the Mark Seely family. He is also survived by two nephews, John Townsend and Richard Townsend. Walter was predeceased by his mother and father, his sister, Betty Jane Townsend and her husband, J. Raymond Townsend.
A Celebration of Life open house was held by the family at his home in Sun City, AZ on Nov. 19. Plans for Internment in Warwick, NY are directed to spring 2013.
Memorial donations may be sent to: Warwick Ambulance Corp., PO Box 315, Warwick, NY 10990 or Infinity Hospice Care, 5110 N. 40th St. Suite 107, Phoenix, AZ 85018.


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KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Six personal watercraft piloted by elite combat veterans have departed Key West on a 1,600-mile voyage up America's east coast.
They plan to be in New York City on Sept. 11. The trip, dubbed the Never Quit Challenge, began Friday and features different jet ski riders each day. The trek benefits three charities that assist military members, veterans and their families.
Among participants is Navy SEAL Bo Reichenbach, who lost both legs in a July 2012 Afghanistan combat explosion. He's been outfitted with special prosthetics for jet skiing.
Others include former members of an aviation regiment nicknamed Night Stalkers, riding to honor Turbine 33, a Chinook helicopter downed during a 2005 attempt to rescue Navy SEALS in Afghanistan. Eight Night Stalkers and eight SEALs on board died.
Online: http://www.neverquitchallenge.com
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Chris -- 2018-04-11
"Hell-bent" means extremely determined to perform some action or attain some goal. I just came across this on the 'Net: "When you are hell bound to take on everything…". Googling "hell-bound for" yields quite a few quotes wherein "hell-bound" is clearly substituted for "hell-bent" (though I'm too busy tonight to count them up). I'm not calling it an eggcorn because it seems that the words "bound" and "bent" don't sound enough alike; that's why I didn't post this in the "Contribute!" section. But what would this sort of thing be called?
Seems like it might be an idiom blend. Confusing "hell-bound train" with "hell-bent for leather."
Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.
kem wrote:
Seems like it might be an idiom blend. Confusing "hell-bound train" with "hell-bent for leather."
Okay, except that "hell-bound" and "hell-bent" are both commonly used in contexts other than "train" or "leather".
The two phrases have already blended together in "hell-bound for leather," which gets a lot of hits (both punning and authentic-looking). So I'd guess that a certain fraction of instances has to come from blending; there may be other pathways, too.
The Word Detective site claims that "hell-bent for leather" is itself probably a blend of two earlier phrases; see the last paragraph of the main post here: http://www.word-detective.com/2009/10/2 … r-leather/
Bent and bound are in these sorts of contexts pretty close synonyms for each other: if you are bent on doing something you are bound (and determined) to do it.
*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .
I is reading the hugeificently poplar book BFG by Rolled Doll to my grandson this month. We are enjoying it like fizzcrackers. At one point in the book the giant, who was not able to attend school and is sometimes saying things a bit turvy-tipsy, announces that he and Sophie have to go "pell-mell for leather."
Oddfully, there is called "Pell-mell" that makes leather goods. I may be left, but I is thinking it is just a codidcidence.
Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.


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Team Xenon/GTS "Shows Its Stuff" In Atlanta
Team Xenon was in Atlanta on the 17th and 18th of last month for a great tradeshow! We enjoyed visiting with sales and marketing people, all of us sharing our thoughts and ideas. The input from the customer base was great! Everyone is very excited about the laundh of our new Jeep JK fender flares! (Click images for 900px views.)
Hot was also a good description of the PT Cruiser in our booth. This gorgeous PT was designed, built and is owned by Mark III Customs. You should have seen the paint!
No pictures can do it justice. A big thanks to Shane Dorrity and staff. Also, Mike Sullivan — you guys are AWESOME!
Eibach Suspension, Borla Exhaust and Good Hoods.
Thanks guys — You're all great!


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I have been surfing the forum and looking for new games to try and I'm seeing random Kickstarter game links but no designated thread for discussion (Sorry if there is one and I missed it). I figured if not, I'd start one and see what ones people have seen and what's good. I'll contribute one to the discussion. It's a Fallout/Book of Eli kind of game with a mix of science and magic called, Afterearth: The Fall. Link is Afterearth: The Fall.
$1 gets you the game and your name in the credits of the book. At higher backing levels you get to vote on what goes into the game (and name in the credits of the book).


text:
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — St. Cloud police are stepping up enforcement this weekend — after learning of an event called "St. Cloud: The Takeover" on social media.
Police Chief Blair Anderson says event promoters have advertised the concert as an 18-plus event, and they are arranging buses to bring concertgoers from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Anderson says he'll welcome visitors if they behave themselves, but authorities will have a zero tolerance policy for those who engage in criminal activity. He tells The Associated Press he is taking his cues from Minneapolis, which has seen its share of challenges at similar events.
The St. Cloud Times reports the concert is Friday night at RumRunners Bar, and features some rap artists. Police patrols in St. Cloud will be stepped up Friday and Saturday.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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News Archives for February 2012
Hardware Roundup: Wednesday EditionPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 05:41AM
Author: Nemo
Yesterday we saw a bevy of reviews on AMD's Radeon HD 7950 video card and we picked up another review on the card and this time it's on the HIS Radeon HD 7950 3GB. Gaming enthusiasts might want to check out the article on 2012's most anticipated games. We have a look at the Cooler Master GeminII M4 CPU cooler and a video on the unboxing of the Kingwin Lazer Platinum 1000W power supply. That leaves us with another review on the Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 full-tower chassis, an article covering Synology's DS212 2-Bay NAS server and more.
Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 Full Tower @ Bjorn3D
Cooler Master GeminII M4 @ XSReviews
Most Anticipated PC Games of 2012 @ TechSpot
Sapphire PURE Black X79N (Intel X79) Motherboard @ TweakTown
Power Supplies
Unboxing the Kingwin Lazer Platinum 1000W Power Supply @ ThinkComputers
Storage/Hard Drives
Synology DS212 2-Bay NAS @ TweakTown
HIS Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card @ TweakTown
Complete Story
Antec High Current Gamer M Series of PSUs AnnouncedPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 06:19AM
Author: Nemo
Antec has announced a new series of mid-range wattage power supplies called the High Current Gamer M. The new PSUs are hybrid modular units being offered in 400W, 520W and 620W capacities. The units are equipped with two fixed cables for the 24(20+4)-pin main power connector and the 8(4+4)-pin ATX12V/EPS12V connector. The modular cables include:
- 2 x 8(6+2)-pin PCI-E
- 1 x FDD + 3 x Molex
- 3 x Molex (1 each)
- 2 x SATA (3 each)
The units are 80 PLUS Bronze certified with up to 87% energy efficiency and the 135mm double ball bearing thermally-controlled fan ensures quiet operation. The units come with four +12V rails and 100% Japanese capacitors. The cables are all encased in black mesh sleeving and Antec backs the power supplies with a five-year parts and labor warranty. Antec is making the High Current Gamer M units available in early February at a suggested price of USD $89.95 for the 400W model, $99.95 for the 520W unit and $119.95 for the 620W PSU.
Complete Story
Augmented Reality Glasses for Crime Scene InvestigationPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 11:31AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Not sure if this has been in an episode of any of the CSI television shows, but now if this is it won't be part of the fiction. The Delft University of Technology has created augmented reality glasses for use at crime scenes. Using a pair of cameras the glasses allow the wearer to mark things at a crime scene for a 3D model. They also overlay a menu above the user's left hand, when it is in the frame, while the right hand can be used for selecting options and placing markers.
The purpose of this technology is to allow objects and areas of a crime scene to be tagged without disturbing any potential evidence. The tags and 3D video the glasses record can be used in a virtual model of the scene, for use in examining and recreating the crime. Also the cameras have a feed back to a crime lab, which will allow observers not at the scene to help in the investigation.
The glasses, driven by a laptop in a backpack, have thus far been tested in a mock crime scene, but the researchers are working with the Dutch police to test the invention at a real crime scene. Future testing will not only be to perfect the technology, but also to see if it actually offers an improvement over current methods.
Complete Story
Kazuo Hirai is Sony's New President and CEOPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 11:51AM
Author: bp9801
After a few weeks of rumors, one of Sony's most recognizable names is getting a promotion. Kazuo Hirai has been promoted to President and CEO of Sony, with current honcho Sir Howard Stringer moving to Chairman of the Board of Directors. Last June, Kaz Hirai was promoted to Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment, which at the time was the latest in a series of promotions for Hirai. Now, he will be running the whole show starting on April 1st, but acknowledges Sony faces some "challenging" times ahead. Hirai seeks to turn around all aspects of Sony, from video games to television to computers and mobile phones, and wants to engage with customers in new and exciting ways. Kaz Hirai credits Stringer with providing "strong leadership," and has the backing of the Board and Stringer himself. With Kaz Hirai soon to be leading Sony, I feel the company remains in good hands to continue pushing the boundaries of what electronics can do.
Complete Story
Superfluorescence Observed in Solid-State MaterialPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 12:03PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
For the first time ever, superfluorescence has been observed in a solid-state material. Previously this phenomenon had only been seen in molecular and atomic gases. As the name suggests, superfluorescence has to do with an extraordinary emission of light. Given the proper circumstances, a material's electrons can be excited and collectively fall back to lower energies, releasing photons in a single, great pulse. Researchers at Rice University have successfully gotten this to occur in a material with 15 quantum wells stacked on top of each other, with gallium arsenide (GaAs) layers in between. Gallium arsenide is a semiconductor which will transfer the energy of an incoming photon to an electron.
With a sufficiently powerful, and fast, laser pulse, the electrons of the GaAs were excited. When electrons are excited into the conduction band, they leave bind holes where they had been. There were enough electron-hole pairs to form a magneto-plasma, and initially there was no pattern to the plasma. Before long though, the pairs lined up and started falling into the quantum wells where the pairs would recombine and release a photon. The photons then travel through the stack causing a macroscopic coherence of all photon emissions. Essentially, the laser pulse that energizes the system is like a potential energizing a capacitor. Eventually the energy in the capacitor is released all at once.
There are several mysteries surrounding this experiment though. For example, the frequency of the emitted light is related to the time it is released. Also, there were distinct peaks in time for the superfluorescent emission. Of course, what's the fun of answering one question without thinking of a few more to ask?
Complete Story
Bethesda Posts Preview Video of Creation Kit and Skyrim WorkshopPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 12:06PM
Author: bp9801
One of the long awaited items for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is nearly here, as Bethesda has released more information on the Creation Kit and Skyrim Workshop. The Bethesda games have all been about modding, and even The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind has an active mod community a decade after launch. With Skyrim, a new game engine means a new set of modding tools, but Bethesdad has kept the Creation Kit as close to the Construction Set as possible. Anything you want to do to Skyrim can be possible with the Creation Kit, and should open up a whole new selection of mods. With the Creation Kit comes the Skyrim Workshop, an easy way to browse and download mods. You can subscribe to different mods, search for the newest or most popular, leave feedback, and upload your own mods. Any subscribed mods will automatically download when you start the Skyrim launcher, removing any hassles someone may have with modding.
One of the new changes Bethesda has made is the ability to upload custom INI files for easier modding. This way you will no longer need to back up any INI files as the proper ones will be included with the mods. Bethesda intends the Skyrim Workshop to work with places like Skyrim Nexus, so the ability to package custom INI files can be used by all.
The Creation Kit and Skyrim Workshop will be launching soon, and you can check out the video below to get some more information on it.
Complete Story
Possibly Perfect Light AbsorberPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 01:04PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
As reported by the Institute of Physics, researchers believe they have found a perfect absorber of light, in the infrared range of the spectrum. This could be very useful for light sensors that operate in this part of the spectrum. The material is one we've already come to know and love; graphene. That's right; our atom-thick friend is at it again, being a miracle material.
The researchers found this form of carbon can absorb light by being carefully arranged in nanodiscs. Provided there is a voltage across the disks, incoming light will be absorbed as it becomes trapped in areas hundreds of times smaller than the wavelength. Key to this are plasmons; quasi-particles that actually represent the interaction between an electron and a photon. Controlling the charge on the disks affects what wavelengths are absorbed, as the charge is directly related to the electrons on the graphene disks.
The researchers wish to examine other materials and explore other frequency ranges. There is a need for good infrared light absorbers, as the current absorbers are not all that great. Potentially new and advanced infrared cameras and sensors, or even solar cells could be developed based on this work.
Complete Story
Genius Releases DeathTaker MousePosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 06:09PM
Author: CheeseMan42
Genius has officially released its DeathTaker mouse, geared toward MMO and RTS gamers. We were able to get a quick look at the DeathTaker at the Genius booth at CES, and it looked promising. The mouse features nine buttons, and the Scorpion UI allows gamers to store macros for up to 55 keys in five profiles. The SCGii engine provides for independent adjustment of the X and Y axis from 100 to 5700 DPI. A removable weight system features six weights that each weight 4.5 grams. Gamers are also presented with cosmetic options, with a 16 million RGB backlighting system. The mouse will retail for $79.90.
Complete Story
Cooler Master Drops Price of Storm Trooper CasePosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 06:25PM
Author: CheeseMan42
Cooler Master is in the middle of celebrating its 20th anniversary, and that is good news for you. As part of the celebration, Cooler Master has announced that it will be dropping the price on the Storm Trooper case to $149.99. A quick look at Newegg has the previous price at $189.99, providing a $40 savings for anyone in the market for a great case. Bryant Nguyen, Senior Product and Marketing Manager, stated "Our team has been searching for several ways to show our customers that we've gotten this far by the bond that we've forged with them and our partners over the years. It is through this, and other, gestures that we hope to convey that gratitude." Hopefully there will be more deals on the horizon from Cooler Master as the celebration continues.
Complete Story
Brighter is Better for NanotubesPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 06:53PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Carbon nanotubes, like their cousin graphene, have the potential to greatly enhance modern technology thanks to their small size, incredible strength, and good conduction. For mass production and use though there has to be some way to identify the highest quality samples and filter out those with imperfections. Researchers at Rice University appear to have found a characteristic of impurities which may aid in this way.
After painstakingly analyzing individual nanotubes, the researchers are confident in their conclusion that the fluorescence of nanotubes is directly linked to both their length and purity. The brightness seems to be limited by the length of the nanotubes, with longer samples shining brightest, but when length was held constant the brightness still varied. When a nanotube is damaged or defective, there can be other atoms attached to its surface which can disrupt the emission of light.
Fortunately the researchers have worked out an automated way to continue this research, shortening the time needed from months to just weeks. With this tool the researchers want to determine if specific production methods are causing damage to the nanotubes as they are grown.
Complete Story
More Layoffs Hit THQ, CEO Takes 50% Pay CutPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 08:14PM
Author: bp9801
THQ has definitely hit some rough times, what with a refocused strategy and the removal of so many kid games from its lineup. Word has it that some more layoffs have hit THQ, with 240 employees losing their jobs worldwide as a result of the restructuring plan. This follows some layoffs at THQ's California and Australia offices, with the 240 cuts expected to be completed by September 30th, 2012. The CEO and President of THQ, Brian Farrell, will receive a 50% pay cut for one year, though next year his salary will be reviewed and odds are it will jump back up. THQ also needs to get its share price higher than $1 a share in order to remain listed on NASDAQ. Currently it is at 70 cents a share, and THQ has until July 23rd to bring it over $1 for 10 consecutive days.
Complete Story
Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.7 Million Active SubscibersPosted: February 1, 2012 @ time: 08:28PM
Author: bp9801
It looks like BioWare's foray into MMORPGs is off to a good start, as publisher EA has released some numbers from Star Wars: The Old Republic. The big news is that Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.7 million active subscribers, with over two million copies of the game sold so far. That many active subscribers may be a small amount of the active World of Warcraft accounts, but BioWare looks to be settling in for the long haul. The studio announced The Old Republic Guild Summit for March 4th through the 6th in Austin, Texas, where BioWare will invite guild leaders (or an appointed high-ranking officer) to attend and discuss the game. There will be a Q&A session with the developers, roundtable discussions, and even previews of new game features, which should make any invited guild leader very excited about attending. The goal is to have an open discussion between the designers and the guild leaders, and face-to-face is certainly one way to build a better relationship.
Complete Story
Survey Shows One Quarter of Tweets are Not Worth ReadingPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 11:39AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have conducted a survey on Tweets and will be presenting their full study February 13. The goal of this research was to find what characterizes a 'good' and 'bad' Tweet. For example, no one enjoys Tweets about what you are eating right then and other personal details. However, Tweets with questions, information, and even self-promotion were well received. Overall though, only 36% of the 43738 were liked by the 1443 participants in the student, with 25% not worth reading, and the remaining 39% not provoking a strong opinion either way. What that means is only about a third of Tweets are interesting and something people want to read.
The information was collected using the site Who Gives a Tweet. There participants were able to anonymously rate the Tweets of those they already follow. Putting together the ratings and reviews has allowed the researchers to devise nine lessons for improving content (more details at source link):
- Old news is no news
- Contribute to the story
- Keep it short
- Limit Twitter-specific syntax
- Keep it to yourself
- Provide context
- Don't whine
- Be a tease and don't give away everything; encourage followers to visit the link
- For public figures don't share personal gossip or everyday details
Complete Story
Hardware Roundup: Thursday EditionPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 12:05PM
Author: Nemo
With the announcement this week from AMD on the release of the Radeon HD 7950 video card we saw plenty of reviews on the release date and we picked up another in today's roundup. We also have a review covering GTX 560, 570 and 580 cards from ASUS. We also get a chance to examine a pair of full-tower cases from Thermaltake and Fractal Design. You can find reviews on memory kits and solid state drives as well in the roundup today and all you need to do is follow the links posted below.
Fractal Design Define XL Computer Case @ Benchmark Review
Thermaltake Overseer RX-I Full Tower Case @ ThinkComputers
Input Devices
Corsair Vengeance M90 Performance Laser Gaming Mouse @ Madshrimps
G.Skill Ripjaws Z 2133CL9Q-16GBZH Memory Kit @ Madshrimps
Microlab M700 2.1 speakers @ XSReviews
Storage/Hard Drives>
SSD performance scaling across the spectrum @ Tech Report
Corsair Performance Series Pro 128GB Solid State Drive @ TweakTown
Asus DirectCU II Roundup: ENGTX560, ENGTX570, and ENGTX580 @ PC Perspective
AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card Overclocked @ TweakTown
Complete Story
Listening to the BrainPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 12:09PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Some months ago researchers demonstrated an ability to reconstruct a silent video a person watches, just by measuring signals from the brain. Soon we may be getting a talkie from brain. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have successfully converted brainwaves into sounds close enough to the original word for it to be guessed accurately 80-90% of the time.
This technology required the use of electrodes placed on the brain (the volunteers were already going to receive such implants for a normal medical procedure) and the signal was recorded as single words were spoken to the subject. Using computational models the brain waves were translated into audible sounds which were close enough for the original word to be guessed. With hours of repetition it should be possible to perfect the sound, so a guess is not needed, but the researchers recognize this isn't very helpful. In real life a conversation cannot be repeated over and over again; the conversion has to work on the first try.
This could be a huge advance for people who have lost the ability to speak due to disease or stroke. If neuroscientists can find where imaginary conversation occur within the brain (where one talks to him or herself), then it may be possible to return to these people the ability to talk. That may still be a ways off, but this is an impressive step towards that end. You can listen to the audio of the original words and the converted brainwaves at the source link.
Complete Story
Alan Wake Lands February 16 for the PCPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 05:17PM
Author: bp9801
It was not all that long ago when Remedy Entertainment announced Alan Wake would be arriving on PCs in February. Well, February is finally here and that means Alan Wake is right around the corner, with a release date of February 16th. The game will be available on Steam for $29.99, giving a bit of a discount for PC gamers who have waited so long to try it out. Alan Wake for the PC also includes a couple of DLC packs, so there should be plenty there to keep you occupied. Remedy also released the minimum system specifications for Alan Wake, which you can check out below:
- OS: Windows Vista or Windows 7 (see below for Windows XP)
- PROCESSOR: AMD: Athlon X2 2.8GHz | Intel: Core 2 Duo 2GHz
- VIDEO CARD: DirectX 10 compatible or later with 512MB RAM
- AMD: ATI Radeon 3650, 4450, 5550, 6450 or higher (per series)
- NVIDIA: GeForce 8600GT, 9500GT, GT120, GT430, GT520 (per series)
- SOUND CARD: DirectX 9.0c compatible
- INPUT: Mouse and keyboard, Xbox 360 controller also supported
All in all, there is nothing too fancy there. However, Alan Wake will be able to take advantage of quad-core CPUs, can support AMD HD3D and NVIDIA 3D Vision (including multiple screens for both), and support for high resolutions and graphics. All in all, it looks like Alan Wake for the PC has been worth the wait, however the proof will be in the pudding. A boxed retail copy of Alan Wake will launch at a later date, but for now it is digital only.
Sources: IGN, Gamespy, and Neoseeker
Complete Story
Estimation without Counting Observed in Artificial Neural NetworkPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 05:19PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Researchers have been wondering for a long time how humans learn. After all, no one is born with an understanding of math or language, yet both of these develop throughout early life. In the case of math at least, many forms of life, including humans, have demonstrated an ability to understand when one set is larger than another, without counting the items. Now a virtual neural network has done the same.
This neural network was designed only to mimic the retina of an eye and then generate false images, similar to what it originally saw. How the neurons fire as the original image is viewed and the false ones made is recorded. The researchers found the lowest level of neurons, those furthest from the virtual retina, were firing based on the number of objects in the original image, despite the fact that there is no understanding of numbers in the program. This information was then given to a second program which was able to estimate whether the image had more or fewer objects than some reference number the researchers also gave it.
This finding could be very important for understanding not only how humans learn numbers, but also dyscalculia and robotic vision. Dyscalculia is a condition which makes it almost impossible for a person to acquire even basic math skills.
Complete Story
Corsair Receives Four Industry AwardsPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 05:40PM
Author: CheeseMan42
Corsair was recently selected as the winner of four different awards from major European print publications and websites. The categories were voted on by the readers of the publications, and placed Corsair at the top of three different categories. The Obsidian 800D case grabbed the "Best Case" award from hardware.info, based in the Netherlands. The Vengeance series of DDR3 memory was awarded "Best Memory Modules" from the same site. Corsair received the Memory Manufacturer of the Year award from both PC Masters and Hardwareluxx magazine, both based in Germany. CEO Andy Paul was happy to hear the news of receiving awards that were voted on by the enthusiast community, "We're thrilled with the recognition from our customers around the world."
Complete Story
Valve Previews What is in Store for Team Fortress 2 in 2012Posted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 05:49PM
Author: CheeseMan42
Valve has released a blog post giving details on what is on the horizon for Team Fortress 2 this year. There is a secret TF2 related project that will be released this year, and the only clues are that it isn't a hat, map, or combination of the two. Thousands of items continue to be submitted to the Steam Workshop, and the team is continuing to evaluate the good ideas. The Meet the Pyro video will finally be released as well, and the team has promised that it features far more blood that the movie There Will Be Blood. The Saxxy Awards will be making their return, allowing intrepid gamers to submit their gameplay videos for prizes.
Complete Story
Impurities Held Back Quantum Dot Production MethodPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 06:05PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconducting crystals sometimes also referred to as designer molecules. All semiconductors will have electrons excited by certain frequencies of light, and also give off certain frequencies of light if there is enough energy available. This is key to both LEDs and photovoltaics. What the frequencies of light are though will differ from material to material. Quantum dots on the other hand can be made to respond to whatever frequency someone wants; only production techniques stand in the way.
This makes them very interesting to every field that deals with both electronics and optics. Unfortunately creating them is not always very easy, and one method that, on paper, looked promising was not performing as people wanted. Now researchers at Berkeley Lab have figured out why, by accident.
While cleaning out the lab, a researcher checked the luminescence of a sample of quantum dots that was ix months hold. To his surprise it was responding seven times stronger than when it was freshly made. Already that is a large improvement, but why? To figure it out the researcher heated the sample to 100 C, to accelerate whatever happened during those six months. The result was a 400-fold increase in just 30 hours and an explanation.
The production method used is solution-based as opposed to the traditional colloid-based technique. This was leaving behind cations though which were blocking the movement of charge carriers. Heat causes the impurities to leave the sample, and thus boost the luminescence. Perhaps we will be seeing quantum dot displays and solar panels sooner than we thought.
Complete Story
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Gameplay Trailer LaunchesPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 06:08PM
Author: bp9801
While Ghost Recon: Future Soldier may be a few more months away from a release, Ubisoft today is showing off a new gameplay trailer to get people excited for it. Sure, the opening may remind you of a couple other modern militay FPS games, but then you get to see what makes it a true Ghost Recon game. For one, there are some scenes with your character in optical camo, that is, you are invisible until you attack an enemy. Another scene shows what appears to be a remote controled quadrocopter letting you scout the lay of the land, while near the end you get to a see a four-legged robot walking near some soldiers. Ubisoft definitely looks to be using all aspects of military hardware, both current and upcoming, and it should help make Ghost Recon: Future Soldier worth the many delays.
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will launch on May 22nd for the PC, PS3, and 360. The trailer is not safe for work due to language and violence.
Complete Story
NPD Numbers for January Could be Bad, According to AnalystsPosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 08:26PM
Author: bp9801
The start of the year typically does not have much in the way of major game releases, though there are always some that launch in January. However, analysts from RW Baird predict January 2012 numbers will pale in comparison to January 2011 numbers when NPD results come in, due to no "significant new title releases." The top selling titles will most likely include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Zumba Fitness, and Just Dance 3, but overall, the numbers are expected to be 20% lower than January 2011. The analysts also say that because of the extra hardware units available and the lack of major sales, numbers for last month will suffer on a whole. Things are expected to turn around in February and March, with the likes of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Mass Effect 3, the PlayStation Vita, and all the titles launching for the Vita.
Complete Story
A Few Ubisoft Games with Always-On DRM will Not Work After a Server UpgradePosted: February 2, 2012 @ time: 08:56PM
Author: bp9801
No matter what your opinion is of DRM, this bit of news is just one example why always-online DRM is not the best solution. Next week, Ubisoft will be moving some of its gaming servers, which will result in the downtime of some always-on DRM games. Ubisoft did not say when the servers will be restored, but starting on February 7th, Tom Clancy's HAWX 2, The Settlers 7, and Might & Magic Heroes VI will not be playable. Other titles, like Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Driver: San Francisco will not be affected, nor will other games that can be played offline (provided you already activated those). This is a pretty big strike against why always-on DRM is more of a hinderance, as three different games cannot be played once the servers go down. Hopefully the upgrade to the new servers does not take very long, but still, games you paid for should not have an issue like that.
Complete Story
Hardware Roundup: Friday EditionPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 04:36AM
Author: Nemo
We have continuing coverage on the AMD HD 7950 3GB card with two reviews looking at multi-card configurations. In storage-related news, our roundup roped in another review on Synology's DS-212 two-Bay NAS device along with an article on the 830 Series solid-state drive from Samsung. We also get a chance to read up on AMD's processor and GPU roadmaps through 2013.
AMD Processor and GPU Roadmaps Through 2013 @ PC Perspective
Storage/Hard Drives
Samsung's 830 Series solid-state drive @ Tech Report
Synology DS-212 Two-Bay NAS @ Tweaknews
Trade Shows/Conventions
AMD [H]ard|OCP FX GamExperience @ [H]ardOCP
AMD Radeon HD 7950 CrossFire & TriFire @ Neoseeker
Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB OC Video Card in CrossFire @ TweakTown
Complete Story
Stereotype Threat ThreatenedPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 11:02AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
A classic stereotype is that men are better at math than women, but there has been little if any solid evidence to explain this, even though women are not often found in high positions that require math. (Having worked with and been taught by female mathematicians, I know ability is not dependent on sex.) Basically the stereotype exists and the population seems to display it, but the explanation for why this could be true has not been found. One promising theory is called stereotype threat and it explains that if a woman believes the stereotype she will perform worse than what she is capable of.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have reexamined the studies supporting stereotype threat and have found several issues with them. For example, there is a lack of male control groups and the improper application of statistical techniques in some of these studies. The researcher did what they could to correct the problems and when they did the significance of the results disappeared, showing the studies' conclusions were wrong.
This is a major issue because of the amount of focus given to the theory. If it were to turn out stereotype threat is incorrect then school policies and funding have been wasted trying to fix a problem in the wrong place.
Complete Story
THQ Delays Metro: Last Light, Looks for Help for Warhammer 40,000 MMOPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 01:15PM
Author: bp9801
The news just keeps pouring in about THQ, and none of it looks good. Just days after announcing 240 employees are being laid off, THQ announced Metro: Last Light is being delayed to 2013, and the Warhammer 40,000 MMO, Dark Millennium Online, is still on the way. However, THQ is looking for some help with Dark Millennium Online in the form of a business partner, most likely to help ensure the MMO gets released. Other games, like South Park: The Game, Crytek's Homefront sequel, and Guillermo del Toro's inSane, are still on schedule, but it is Metro: Last Light seeing the delay. Many fans have been looking forward to what Last Light can bring after the successful Metro 2033, but we all have to wait at least one more year before getting a chance with it. THQ just needs some help, so anyone with a spare $10 million should give them a call to support the Warhammer 40k MMO.
Complete Story
Smart Stereo EarphonesPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 01:16PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
While some people may not care, for others it is a habit to make sure the left ear phone is in the left ear and right earphone in the right ear. For some audio sources, it won't matter much, but others, like movies and video games, require the proper channels are going to the proper ear. (You don't want to turn the wrong direction when an alien, orc, or other enemy is firing at you.)
To solve this problem, researchers at the Igarashi Design Interfaces Project have added electrodes to the front of ear buds. When the buds are put in the correct ears, the electrodes will be against the outer ear, which will form a connection. If the ear buds are reversed though, the electrodes are out in the air and not making a connection. This then triggers a chip to switch the channels, thereby ensuring the proper audio is going to its proper place.
The researchers went a step further with this though, as they also added a way for the earphones to know when they are being shared by two people. When worn by one person, there will be a weak electric current between the ear buds, but when two people wear them, the circuit is broken. This causes the chip to combine the stereo channels into a mono channel, which is sent to both ear pieces. This way both listeners get all of the audio.
Complete Story
Creation Kit for Skyrim Hits Next Tuesday, Includes a SurprisePosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 02:50PM
Author: bp9801
Good news everyone, as Bethesda's Pete Hines announced the Creation Kit for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim "is on track" to release next Tuesday! Bethesda recently posted a preview video of the Creation Kit and showed just a little of what you can do with the in-depth modding tools, but did not reveal exactly when we would be getting it. Now, thanks to Pete Hines, VP of PR and Marketing at Bethesda, we know just a few short days await us. Hines also mentioned a "special surprise" with it, but did not elaborate any further. This surprise could be the Skyrim Workshop, but it could also be something else, like details on upcoming DLC (although the first two are 360 exclusive for a month) or even some included mods. Whatever the case may be, we only have until Tuesday to see what everyone can do with the Creation Kit for Skyrim.
Complete Story
Internet Media Constrained by Brain, not EconomyPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 02:52PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Researchers have found it is not economic influences that limit the growth of digitally stored information on the Internet, but the human brain. Reported by Springer is the study (pdf) which considered some 633 million files, constituting 675 TB of data. This represents every file there is an outgoing link to from Wikipedia and dmoz. The file types include applications, text, images, audio and video.
The researchers looked at specific characteristics of the files, such as the bit rate, resolution, and length. These data were then plotted by how often they occur for each data type. The graph shows a decline as the axes increase, but is without an exponential tail at the end. If economic factors, such as the cost of hard drives, limited how large or how high of quality a file was, there would be such a tail. Further examination of the graph showed patterns which match the Weber-Fechner law. Basically what this law says is the noticeability of a change is follows a logarithmic curve. For example, increasing the resolution of a low resolution image is more noticeable than increasing the resolution of an already high resolution image.
What this implies is the information on the Internet cannot grow faster than what our brains can handle.
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AMD Reveals Plans for the FuturePosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 03:40PM
Author: bp9801
AMD revealed its plans for the future yesterday, which focuses on the remainder of this year and all of next year. There is the usual talk of extending out current products with new releases and series, but there was something a bit more curious concerning ARM CPUs. I will get to that last part in a bit, but AMD wants to shorten the time frame between CPU designs to something similar to GPUs, with 18-24 months of separation instead of a few years. AMD will do that by moving away from custom designs for chips, and will instead rely on synthesized layouts and lower power usage. This will also allow for more APUs to be produced, with the CPU and GPU combined on the same die, which AMD sees as a big part of its plans.
There will be three new APU lines released this year: Trinity, Brazos 2.0, and Hondo. Trinity is aimed at performance laptop and mainstream desktop users, and pairs one or two Piledriver modules (succesor to Bulldozer) with an HD 7000 GPU. Brazos 2.0 will have a power usage between 9 - 18W, and packs two Bobcat cores with an HD 6000 GPU. The Hondo line will top out at 4.5W, and will have one or two Bobcat cores and an HD 6000 GPU. All the mentioned GPUs could just be rebrands, so the Trinity APUs will have an HD 6000 GPU while the Brazos 2.0 and Hondo will have an HD 5000 GPU.
As for regular CPUs, AMD will release the Piledriver parts under the FX line, and will have two to four modules just like the current Bulldozer line. 2013 will still see the Piledriver modules used in the desktop line, while the APU lines will get new versions based on new architecture. The server CPU line remains the same this year, while 2013 will see updated versions launch but keep the current number of modules/threads, memory channels, and HyperTransport links. The 2013 versions will be based on Piledriver, however, so the performance will be increased while using the same amount of power.
AMD has more plans as well, which you can read about in full at the source.
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Distraction Dodger: The GamePosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 04:10PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Distracted driving is a big issue as it causes a very large number of accidents, and fatalities, every year. The problem is especially evident in teenage drivers who have been exposed to cellphones for a large portion of their life, compared to older divers.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created a game to educate teenage drivers to the dangers of distracted driving. The belief is some people simply do not understand how important it is to maintain focus while driving, which then makes using a cellphone, changing the radio station, eating, putting on makeup, reading, and any other activity seem less of an issue.
The game, named Distraction Dodger, has the player drive a pizza delivery truck. At first there are almost no distractions or congestion, but as the player advances, the difficulty increases as well. While driving to the next customer you have to watch out for other cars, road construction, jay-walkers, stop signs, etc. Every time you make a mistake, it is recorded and displayed to you in a graph at the end of the level. The graphics and plot may not be even close to Skyrim, but it may still be worth seeing how well you do.
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BioWare Says Gamers May Want to Keep Mass Effect 3 SavesPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 04:21PM
Author: bp9801
BioWare has stated that when you finish Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard's tale will come to an end. The Mass Effect trilogy has been all about Shepard, and any future games in the universe will focus on new characters. However, BioWare has suggested it may be a good idea to keep the Mass Effect 3 saves around once you finish the game, but did not elaborate further. What this means could be anyone's guess, but it is likely future Mass Effect games could pull some elements from the end of Mass Effect 3. BioWare still has not said there will be future Mass Effect games, but has not ruled out the possibility either. With the studio saying "it wouldn't be a bad idea" to keep the Mass Effect 3 saves, one can speculate BioWare is thinking of new ideas set in the universe.
Mass Effect 3 launches on March 6th for the PC, PS3, and 360. BioWare wants gamers to be satisified with the ending of it, and all the choices we have made in the first two games will have an impact in the third.
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Adriana Lima in Super Slow Motion for Five HoursPosted: February 3, 2012 @ time: 04:21PM
Author: bp9801
Courtesy of Kia Motors.
You're welcome.
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Hardware Roundup: Monday EditionPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 04:43AM
Author: Nemo
Welcome back to another week of reviews from around the web as we have a nice collection of articles today to get things started. We have something different in the speaker section with the Scott Luminor Sound and Light Wireless System that combines speakers with LED light bulbs and pairs them with an iPod docking station. Interesting. There are several storage-related items for you to examine today with a Kingston DataTraveler USB drive, Corsair's Force Series 3 and Force Series GT solid state drive and another Kingston product in the form of the 16GB Wi-Drive wireless storage device. We have plenty more in our Monday roundup and you can check out all the reviews by following the links below.
Cooler Master GeminII M4 CPU Cooler @ Madshrimps
Cooler Master Choiix Power Fort 5600 @ LanOC Reviews
Input Devices
Steelseries Ikari Gaming Mouse @ Computer Ed
Kingston HyperX Limited Edition DDR3-1600 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ ThinkComputers
Power Supplies
Kingwin Lazer Platinum 1000W Power Supply @ ThinkComputers
Scott Luminor Sound and Light Wireless System (i-DXS 10 L Luminor) @ TweakTown
Storage/Hard Drives
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 Thumb Drive @ TweakTown
Corsair Force Series 3 and Force Series GT SSD @ PC Perspective
Unboxing the Kingston Wi-Drive @ ThinkComputers
Galaxy MDT GeForce GT 520 Graphics Card @ PC Perspective
Five Years With Blu-ray - Part Two @ TweakTown
End of the Internet or the beginning of a new-style Internet? @ TweakTown
The TR Podcast 105: Eye candy and SSD scaling @ Tech Report
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70-Year-Old Nerd Grandma is a WoW Guild MasterPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 08:12AM
Author: edwardquilo
Who says only youngsters can be hardcore PC gamers? Not Marthazon, a 70-year-old grandmother who spends dozens of hours playing World of Warcraft as a level 85 Gnome Mage and as the guild master of her raiding guild Spartans. A constant WoW player since her daughter introduced it to her in 2005, Martha is also an avid Lord of the Rings fan, and she's a tech nerd, too. "I've always been fascinated by technology. My last job before retiring was computer tracking a large fleet of commercial trucks and their deliveries. I helped design the in-house program to track the data we needed to maintain, and I acted as the office IT."
But Marthazon isn't the oldest player in her guild, as her 72-year-old husband provides support in repair gold as their AH "king". With a fixed monthly income, WoW has proven to be a cost-effective way for the elderly couple to be active and keep up with the times. "WoW is an excellent and inexpensive recreational outlet for us old codgers. A lot less expensive than golf," adds Martha. Further proof that 50 years from now, most of us will still be happily gaming away the hours playing PC games - and if we're lucky enough, perhaps even our wrinkled spouses, too.
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Hardware Roundup: Intel 520 Series SSD EditionPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 10:49AM
Author: Nemo
Intel has released a new series of solid state drives which pairs the LSI SandForce 2281 NAND controller with 25nm NAND flash memory. The drives are slated to be released in capacities ranging from 60GB to 480GB. The drive is designed for reliability and performance with a MTBF of 1.2 million hours and 550 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) sequential reads and up to 520MB/s sequential writes. Prices start at $149 for the 60GB version with the 480GB coming in just below the $1,000 mark. The 240GB version reviewed here by OCC will set you back about $509.
Intel 520 Series 240GB @ OCC
Intel SSD 520 240GB @ Bjorn3D
Intel 520 Series SSD Full Review - SandForce on Steroids? @ PC Perspective
Intel's 520 Series solid-state drive @ Tech Report
Intel SSD 520 Series Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews
Intel SSD 520 Series 240GB @ TechSpot
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Making an Atomic AntennaPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 12:46PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Even though graphene may one day replace silicon in electronics, when they work together interesting things can happen. From Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) comes a proof-of-concept experiment that has made an atomic antenna. This device has the ability to receive an optical signal, convert it to an electrical signal for transmission, and then back to an optical signal.
The researchers took a piece of graphene and made point defects in it; single carbon atoms were replaced with single silicon atoms. These impurities cause a plasmonic reaction that converts optical and electronic signals.
This experiment is only a proof-of-concept test though, but it still shows promise for the future of optoelectronics. After all, a compact and reliable means to use combine optics and electronics could greatly speed up computers while also reducing energy requirements.
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Hawken Going Free-to-Play, Beta Signups StartPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 12:50PM
Author: bp9801
Fans of mech games can rejoice, as news on Hawken, the first-person multiplayer mech game, has surfaced. Adhesive Games will make Hawken, its debut game, free-to-play when it launches, in a move likely to compete against similar F2P game MechWarrior Online. This means there will be two different F2P mech games for you to sink your teeth into, and should provide gamers everywhere a chance to battle it out without having to drop a ton of cash. What's more, is that Adhesive is opening the beta signups for Hawken, giving you an early shot to try out the game before it launches in full. Hawken is expected to launch on December 12th, 2012, so the beta should be running for quite some time before the full game is ready.
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New Graphene Transistor DesignPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 02:21PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Graphene is fairly often described as a potential replacement of silicon, but for one issue; the lack of a band gap. It turns out though that there are other issues preventing 300 GHz graphene transistors from being used. If such transistors were packed as densely as modern CPU transistors, the current leak would melt the chips in a fraction of a second. (No, the NH-D14 wouldn't help with that.) Researchers at the University of Manchester have an idea for a solution though; build up instead of out.
The previous graphene transistors were built in a plane, which makes some sense since graphene is as close as one can get to an actual two dimensional object. The new design from Manchester has vertical graphene sheets and uses the material's quantum mechanical properties. By placing the graphene on one side of a dielectric (resistant material) and a metal on the other, electrons can be made to tunnel through the dielectric. This will greatly reduce the energy and current needed for operation. Not only will the graphene encourage the electrons to tunnel, but it has the peculiar effect of allowing an external voltage to change the energy of the tunneling electrons.
Putting this all together makes the design the first vertical field-effect tunneling transistor. With further work, the researchers believe the transistor can be improved and scaled down in size to just nanometers. Ironically though, the transistor design itself may not be the most important aspect of this research. Instead it is how the researchers built the transistor one atomic layer at a time. Such control will allow for even more amazing structures to be made.
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PlayStation Network Accounts Get a Name ChangePosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 02:35PM
Author: bp9801
Over the weekend, PlayStation gamers should have received an email from Sony talking about new Terms of Service. The email also mentioned a new name for PlayStation Network accounts, which will now be called Sony Entertainment Network accounts. When you sign in on or after February 8th (7th in the email), you will be asked to accept the new Terms of Service and User Agreement in order to continue using the SEN account. The change will affect only PlayStation 3 and Vita users (PSP users keep the PSN name), and provides some updates to parental control features, explanation of location-based services for the Vita, and some new pre-ordering conditions. For those who pre-order content from the PlayStation Store, you cannot cancel a pre-order once it has been placed; so be sure you want the item before putting money down on it. All in all, the Sony Entertainment Network account functions much like the PlayStation Network account, and you can use your PS3 or Vita like normal after the change.
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Self-limiting Optical Welding of NanowiresPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 04:02PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
When trying to weld together pieces of metal, most people look to a torch or electric-arc welder, and some look to a friction welder (NASA used this for welding together sections of a capsule because it does not add weight but still creates a high quality weld). None of these methods work when dealing with nanowires though. Heating them risks destroying the sample, and pressure can also ruin the delicate structures. Fortunately, at such a small scale there are certain phenomena that can be used.
Researchers have been looking to plasmons for a variety of reasons. These quasi-particles, which are a photon and electron coupled together, have some interesting properties and can be directed along the metals they are formed. Researchers at the Stanford School of Engineering have realized that shining light onto nanowires will cause hotspots where two wires cross because of plasmonic effects.
The top wire collects plasmons, like an antenna, and focuses them at the junction between the two wires. This creates a hotspot as the energy transfers from one wire to the other, and the heat is enough to fuse them together. Once the weld is made though, the effect stops, because it is the transfer from one wire to the other that generates the heat.
To test the potential and quality of this welding technique, the researchers sprayed silver nanowires onto a piece of Saran wrap, which has a considerably lower melting point than the metal. An advantage to testing with Saran wrap is the nanowire mesh should be transparent, like the plastic. The plastic was completely unharmed by the welding process, unlike if this were done on a hot plate. The researchers then balled up the plastic and nanowire mesh, to check if the welds would withstand such treatment, and they did. This means nanowire meshes, which could be used in solar panels, LEDs, touch and non-touch screen displays, could be sprayed onto most any surface, and welded on the spot. In the future this could allow a 'solar panel' to be sprayed onto you window.
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Microsoft Flight Taking Off February 29Posted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 04:03PM
Author: bp9801
It was near the end of last year when word came that Microsoft was accepting people into the beta for the upcoming Microsoft Flight, a revival of the franchise. Microsoft Flight is set entirely on the Big Island of Hawaii and is a free-to-play game, a first for the series. The game will ship with a plane to get you started, while additional planes, regions, and "customization options" will be available for a fee. Today, Microsoft has announced Microsoft Flight will be available on February 29th, letting anyone with a computer download and start playing the game. Unlike Flight Simulator X, Microsoft Flight will be playable on a wide variety of hardware to allow as many gamers as possible to experience the joys of flight. The company also announced the game's first expansion, the Hawaiian Adventure Pack, will be available on launch day for $20. You get the RV-6A aircraft, new challenges, and 20 new missions for the price, plus you can buy the Maule M-7-260C and P-51 Mustang for $15 and $8 at launch, respectively.
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Prototype Naval Railgun Testing Begins SoonPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 05:28PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
An advantage to large naval ships is the ability to house large and powerful weapons, from missiles to cannons. The Navy has been working on an advanced type of weapon called a railgun. Unlike most guns which rely on a chemical fuel (such as gunpowder), railguns use electricity to create powerful magnetic fields. With the proper setup, these fields can accelerate objects to incredible velocities; in this case the projectiles can reach 4500 mph to 5600 mph.
Much of the research and development had been done by the Office of Naval Research in their own laboratories, but soon they will be testing the first industry railgun prototype launcher built by BAE systems. This device uses 32 megajoules of energy, while Navy's device was only firing at 1.5 Mj. (A one ton car travelling at 100 mph is roughly one megajoule.) At first the testers are aiming for a range of just 50-100 nautical miles (57-115 miles) but intend on expanding this to 220 nautical miles (253 miles) in the future.
More work will have to be done before these weapons will be found on ships though, as automated reloading and cooling systems have to be developed. The Office of Naval Research though has recently award $10 million contracts to Raytheon Corp, BAE Systems and General Atomics to create pulsed power systems that should allow a for a firing rate of 6-10 shots per minute.
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BioWare will Correct Errors in Latest Mass Effect NovelPosted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 06:27PM
Author: bp9801
Tie-ins to video games are nothing new, with books, comics, and even movies seeking to expand the created universe or provide a new glimpse at it. The Mass Effect franchise is an incredibly popular game series, but it also has some books and comics telling other tales within the universe. Recently, Mass Effect: Deception launched as the latest novel, however, it had a new author instead of Drew Karpyshyn, the man who helped build Mass Effect's history. Fans were eager to check out Deception regardless, but were horrified to see the book filled with canonical errors, such as volus not being in full coverage enviro-suits. The fans lashed out over these grevious mistakes, and now BioWare has apologized for the book and will correct the errors in Mass Effect: Deception. The studio is "taking the matter very seriously," and will get a corrected edition released. When that new edition releases was not revealed, but hopefully the book can finally fit into the Mass Effect universe properly.
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Could Bethesda Include HD Textures with Creation Kit Launch Tomorrow?Posted: February 6, 2012 @ time: 07:13PM
Author: bp9801
The Creation Kit for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is scheduled to launch tomorrow, and Bethesda's Pete Hines said it would include a "special surprise." What exactly that surprise is has not been discussed, but one individual has done some digging to potentially give away the surprise. It appears the Creation Kit will include HD textures for Skyrim, at least according to the Steam Content Description Records. Modders have been improving the textures in Skyrim to give PC gamers something higher resolution than the console textures included, but, if this rumor proves true, Bethesda will have taken the initiative to improve the textures itself. Whether these HD textures will actually be included and at what resolution remains to be seen, but luckily the Creation Kit is scheduled to launch tomorrow when all will be revealed.
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AVADirect Launches Clevo P270WM Gaming LaptopPosted: February 7, 2012 @ time: 01:29AM
Author: premiumgfx
Ohio-based custom-computer manufacturer AVADirect has launched its latest gaming laptop dubbed the Clevo P270WM. The new laptop is touted as the 'fastest desktop replacement in the world,' featuring the Intel X79 chipset coupled with Sandy Bridge-E CPUs, such as the Intel Core i7-3960X. In addition to the Intel CPU, the Clevo P270WM packs up to three 9.5mm HDDs or SSDs (optional RAID configuration), up to 32GB of quad channel memory, the latest GPUs such as the NVIDIA GTX 580M 2GB with SLI support, and overclocking support. Other features include an HDMI output, three USB 3.0 ports and a 17.3" Full HD LED display. A backlit keyboard makes typing easy in low-light situations. The AVADirect Clevo P270WM gaming laptop is available for pre-order now, starting from $3000.00. The base model will include the Intel Core i7 3930K processor, NVIDIA GTX 580M 2GB video card, 4GB of DDR3 memory running at 1333MHz, a 750GB hard drive, and will run on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
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Hardware Roundup: Tuesday EditionPosted: February 7, 2012 @ time: 05:32AM
Author: Nemo
A couple of days post-Super Bowl and we have a gaming review covering the NFL Blitz 2012 Edition title for PS3. Xigmatek might be better known for its cooling products, but in today's roundup we have a look at the company's Midgard II Mid-Tower chassis. Speaking of cooling products, we also have a review on the Cooler Master Gemin II SF524 CPU cooler. There's been a bit of discussion lately in the OCC forums regarding hard drive prices and the effect of the recent flooding in Thailand on the hard drive industry. We also picked up an article titled HDD Pricewatch: Three Months Into the Thai Floods in today's roundup that further examines the situation.
Xigmatek Midgard II Mid-Tower Chassis @ TweakTown
Cooler Master Gemin II SF524 @ XSReviews
NFL Blitz 2012 Edition PlayStation 3 @ TweakTown
Vaja Libretto Limited Edition iPad 2 Case @ Madshrimps
Optical Drives
Asus BW-12B1LT Internal 12X Blu-Ray Writer @ Tweaknews
Storage/Hard Drives
OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB Solid State Drive @ ThinkComputers
HDD Pricewatch: Three Months Into the Thai Floods @ TechSpot
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The Start Button Removed in Latest Windows 8 BuildPosted: February 7, 2012 @ time: 08:25AM
Author: edwardquilo
The Start button, that familiar desktop selection first glimpsed in Windows 95, may cease to exist in the final version of Windows 8. As it stands, it has disappeared in the latest Windows 8 consumer build, which can be seen in leaked screenshots replaced with a "super bar." Earlier Windows 8 builds streamlined the Start button to match the Metro interface, but according to reports, Microsoft has been mulling over the decision to scrap the Start button indefinitely. Despite that, the functionality of the Start button hasn't disappeared entirely. It is reported that there will still be a hot corner, which when hovered with your cursor or with a finger swipe, will let you access navigation windows and offer thumbnail previews. This is an effort to provide a more consistent experience between the traditional desktop mode and the Metro UI environment. While this might be jarring to people used to the traditional Start button, the super bar will let users pin favorite shortcuts from desktop applications.
Another gripe some users have with Windows 8 is its apparent focus on touch input and the Metro UI, with the new UI reportedly being an uncomfortable experience when used with a keyboard and mouse, although Microsoft has promised to address that in an upcoming Consumer Preview.
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Terahertz Polarizer TestedPosted: February 7, 2012 @ time: 11:37AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*
Terahertz radiation exists at the edge of the far infrared part of the spectrum, near microwaves. This range of frequencies is of great interest to researchers the world over because only water and metal blocks it. This property makes terahertz incredibly useful for communication and sensing devises as the radiation does not adversely affect the human body. From medicine to security and communication, terahertz technology would have a great impact. Before that can happen though, researchers have to be able to control the waves.
Rice University researchers have recently devised a terahertz polarizer that operates on frequencies from 0.5 to 2.2 THz. This is huge compared to other polarizers. The new design utilizes nanotubes that will other block or allow transmission of the radiation based on an external electric field. A nanotube polarizer had been tried before, but was only able to block 30-50%, which isn't enough. To fix this the researchers made it thicker. The result is a polarizer that can switch from allowing 100% of a terahertz signal through, to blocking 99.9%.
Further improvements to the polarizer can be made, but they will require overcoming an issue all nanotube researchers are having. When nanotubes are grown the sample includes both semiconducting and metallic nanotubes. Only the semiconducting are useful in the polarize, but there is currently no efficient way to either sort out the types of nanotubes, or simply produce one kind instead of both.
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Creation Kit for Skyrim Launches, Includes High Resolution Texture PackPosted: February 7, 2012 @ time: 02:18PM
Author: bp9801
The day has finally arrived, as Bethesda has launched the Creation Kit for Skyrim. The Creation Kit is an incredibly in-depth set of mod tools to let anyone create whatever they want for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. You can have your mod sent to the Skyrim Workshop for anyone to search for and download, and the Workshop also allows for you to subscribe to different mods to always keep them updated for your game. With the Creation Kit also comes the High Resolution Texture Pack, which is a free download separate from the main game. It is a 3GB download and Bethesda recommends your computer exceeds the recommend specifications before you install it. It should overhaul all the textures to turn an already good looking game into something great. You can pick up Skyrim for $40 on Steam until this Thursday, 4PM PST.
With the Creation Kit now available, it should only be a matter of time for the impressive number of created mods to swell to extraordinary heights. You can download the Creation Kit from the Tools section of your Steam Library, although you may need to restart Steam for it to show. Below is the first part of a video Bethesda has made introducing us to the Creation Kit. You can view the second part and the third part as well.
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard junior quarterback Collier Winters has been named the Ivy League's Offensive Player of the Week in an announcement from the league office Monday morning.
Harvard has had at least one offensive player of the week each season this decade while having a quarterback win the award in each of the last three seasons.
Winters accounted for all three Harvard touchdowns in a 24-21 win over Brown in a matchup of defending Ivy League champions at Harvard Stadium on Friday night.
Winters completed 18 of 27 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns (30 yards and 15 yards) while also running for a game-high 51 yards including a three-yard TD run. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry on the night (13 attempts).
With the win against Brown, Harvard has now won its Ivy League opener in 10 of the last 11 seasons with nine of those wins coming against the Bears. Harvard has won 11 straight games at Harvard Stadium, having not lost at the Stadium since the end of the 2006 season. The Crimson has won 17 of its last 18 home games.
Entering a nonleague game at Lehigh this week, the Crimson has won 15 of its last 19 non-Ivy games dating back to 2003 while also posting a 32-11 record in road games since the start of the 2000 season.