Posts filed under 'Misc / Humour'
The internet is alight with reports that one of the encryption methods used by HD-DVD and Blu-Ray - AACS - has been cracked.However, the reports seem likely to be exaggerated, with those delving more deeply into the reports suggesting that the ‘crack’ is actually just a method of obtaining the encryption key for a small number of pre-recorded discs.The hacker claiming the crack, muslix64, revealed that his application “BackupHDDVD” would strip encryption from HD-DVD discs. A video hosted on YouTube seems to suggest that he has obtained a small number of encryption keys for pre-recorded discs and can then use these keys to circumvent the copy-protection on HD-DVD.
As a result, the crack is extremely limited in its potential use and only discs for whom the key is known can be copied. However, some commentators are suggesting that the news will give HD-DVD a boost over Blu-Ray, as the latter uses an extra level of protection.
December 29th, 2006
Here in the UK we have just seen a slight relaxation of the rules banning…well, just about anything from the cabin of an aeroplane. However, as quickly as we have been granted the right to carry eye shadow onto a plane, airlines are banning us from taking a laptop onboard.
Those who have been following the whole ‘overheating laptop battery’ saga will be aware that Virgin Atlantic have banned Dell and Apple laptops from the cabin as a result of the massive recall of Sony batteries recently.
“As a result of the current problems being experienced by the Apple and Dell Corporations with some of the batteries fitted to some of their laptops, as a safety precaution and with immediate effect, customers wanting to use an Apple or Dell laptop on board can only do so if the battery is removed. Any removed or spare batteries must be individually wrapped/protected and placed in your Carry On Baggage. This is limited to two batteries per passenger.”
But before you non Apple or Dell owners start to snigger, here’s another cautionary tale. A Thinkpad user in LA recently had passengers scattering when his PC burst into flames at a departure lounge just before he boarded a flight to London. Lenovo, makers of the Thinkpad range since they were sold by IBM, dispatched a team of investigators to Los Angeles within 12 hours of the incident, and confirmed that the laptop was a ThinkPad T43. At this stage there is no news about whether the battery involved was a Sony, but it is known that Lenovo use both Sony and Sanyo batteries.
So, expect Virgin to add Lenovo to their list of banned latops. In fact expect it to ban ALL laptops before much longer.
September 22nd, 2006
DigiGear, Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative products for the exploding digital photography marketplace, is launching its most exciting product to date, EZ3D Photo Print. This product gives anyone the ability to take any digital photo and turn it into a stunning 3D photo in three EZ steps and in just minutes.
Previously, in order to make 3D photos, you would have to use special cameras, 3D glasses or other complicated means in order to make a 3D photo. Well that has all changed with the introduction of EZ3D Photo Print. It is a product that is a perfect addition to the exploding print-at-home market. Plus, the product is so easy to use that all age groups can take advantage of it, including, Moms, Dads, kids, and even seniors. It is a product that spans all generations.
EZ3D Photo Print comes complete with everything you need to get started. (However, you will need a Windows based computer, and photo-quality printer, and photo paper works best!) At the center of the product is the EZ3D Photo Print software which is easily loaded on your PC and is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, ME and XP operating systems. Once loaded on the PC, all you have to do is to open the EZ3D software, select your image you wish to make 3D and import the image into the EZ3D software. Then the next step is to use the built-in rendering tool to outline the item in the photo you wish to make 3D. After you have done this, all you do is hit “print” and your EZ3D image will print out on your printer. Now just take this digital print and mount it behind the included EZ3D Photo lens and place it in the EZ3D frame and you now have your favorite EZ3D photo.
The EZ3D Photo Print starter kit includes the software, one EZ3D Photo Frame, one 4” x 6” lens for landscape photos and one 6” x 4” lens for portrait photos. This package retails for $29.99. For printing additional photos, the EZ3D Photo Print Refill kit is available and includes two 4” x 6” landscape lenses, two 6” x 4” portrait lenses and four EZ3D Photo Frames. The refill kit retails for $24.99.
EZ3D Photos make great gifts and are perfect additions to any desk, mantel, or coffee table. You can make great “eye-popping” photos of your family, friends, pets and more. You can even add text or a message to make your EZ3D Photo more personal. You will have so much fun turning your boring 2D photos into brilliant 3D photos. You are only limited by your imagination.
Currently you can find EZ3D Photo Print at a number of specialty retailers including B&H Photo Video, Meritline, Samy’s Camera, Newegg.com, Amazon.com and a host of independent photo retailers. If you need more information about EZ3D Photo Print, please call (626) 813-0236 or visit our websites at www.ez3dphoto.com or www.digigearinc.com.
July 15th, 2006
Anyone who has tried using a SatNav system in their car will vouch for the fact that it is life changing. No more trying to look at a map while driving around the Orpington one way system, or setting off only to discover that you aren’t quite as sure where you are going as you thought. However, you are putting yourself in the hands of a faceless programmer, so you require a little bit of faith at the best of times.
Drivers looking to travel to between Swaledale and Wensleydale in the UK are being offered a shortcut by the Trafficmaster system that takes them via the village of Crackpot [ get your chuckles out of the way - the comedy name is just a happy coincidence where this story is concerned ]. The only problem is that Crackpot is at one end of a no-through-road cart track that has a 100ft sheer drop on one side.
Locals would fear to travel the track in a 4×4, let alone a plush rep-mobile Mondeo estate, so understandably a lot of drivers are coming a cropper and having to be rescued by friendly tractor-driving farmers.
The road is public right of way so not a lot can be done to prevent trusting drivers following their beloved SatNav system’s instructions to the bitter end, which luckily so far hasn’t included driving off the edge of the cliff.
The AA, who own Trafficmaster say they will amend the directions in the next software update. The local council aren’t going to wait for that and will be posting prominent signage warning drivers not to go via Crackpot unless they really have to. The trouble is what will drivers trust more - the evidence of their own eyes, or the silky tones of the SatNav telling them that Crackpot is the way to go?
April 6th, 2006
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the booth babe is an integral part of most gaming and technology exhibitions. For some reason (can’t imagine why) the PR companies promoting products to the young male demographic seem to think that they will be encouraged to buy based on the fact that an attractive, scantily-clad lady is caressing the box/console/widget. It’s a ridiulous idea.
E3, the biggest and best gaming expo, are obviously in total agreement with TechSmec.com’s moral crusade on this one as they’ve banned the booth babe from this year’s exhibition.
The handbook from the Entertainment Software Association, the show’s promoter, says, “Material, including live models, conduct that is sexually explicit and/or sexually provocative, including but not limited to nudity, partial nudity and bathing suit bottoms, are prohibited on the show floor, all common areas, and at any access points to the show.”
Exhibitors who flaunt the rules (not to say bare flesh) will receive a verbal warning and then a $5000 on-the-spot fine.
No doubt some will find loopholes in the new rules, but it seems fairly comprehensive. One wonders how Eidos are going to manage to promote Tomb Raider at all seeing as Lara Croft falls foul of the majority of the issues raised.
January 25th, 2006
Abcron Corporation today announced the addition of PlayO PA-201 Personal Theater Surround Sound Headphones to their line of consumer electronic and optical media products.
The PlayO Personal Theater Surround Sound Headphones enable users to enjoy a total immersion audio experience with true 5.1-Channel technology that combines left/right channels, center channel, rear channels, and deep bass subwoofer all-in-one. The virtual 7.1 channel mode uses digital sound processing to emulate the effect of two additional side speaker channels.
Andy Huang, Abcron Vice President of Business Development stated, With four strategically placed speakers in each ear, the PlayO PA-201 Personal Theater Surround Sound Headphones allow you to hear every screech, crash or laser blast with incredible clarity, while the enhanced bass processing ensures youll feel every smash, bump and thump. Huang adds, These headphones are ideal for gamers who want to feel thrust into the center of the excitement, as well as for movie enthusiasts who want to totally escape into the action on screen.
The headphones light weight and built in volume controller and mute function allow for comfortable and private listening; and the headphones easily connect to a PC, media center or laptop using a standard USB 2.0 connector. A detachable microphone is included for gaming, chat and karaoke applications.
January 4th, 2006
Larry Page, Google’s co-founder and president of products, is due to give a keynote address as CES 2006 in Las Vegas. The potential subject of that speech is currently exercising the minds of IT journalists around the world as many are predicting that Page will announce the entry of Google into the hardware market.
The rumour consensus is that we will see a low cost Google-branded PC. Putting aside the obvious problem of getting a decent specification of hardware for a price as low as $200, costs would be held down by avoiding Windows and instead pre-installing an OS based on Linux.
Sone retailers already sell such low-cost PCs. WalMart has previously sold Linux-based machines, but consumers are naturally wary of buying a device that won’t run the majority of the software with which they are familiar. The Google name could be just the incentive consumers need to get over that issue.
So is there any substance to these rumours? They are originating from some very well-connected sources, but the thought of Google risking a head-to-head battle with Microsoft in the OS arena is hard to believe at this stage of the search engine’s development. Our prediction? The Google Web Browser. It’s not a massive leap for the firm and is merely taking on Microsoft in an area where others are already making inroads.
We’ll bring you the real facts after Larry Page’s keynote on Friday.
January 4th, 2006
GetMeThere.co.uk, a joint venture between Toyota GB and IS Solutions
Plc., today sees the launch of the most comprehensive SMS Traffic Alerts service in the UK. The Single or Multi Trip service brings the latest in traffic avoidance services direct to the mobile phone for a day trip or regular commute. It is no longer necessary to wait 30 minutes for the next radio update or plan a departure time after the morning traffic bulletin, as GetMeThere.co.uks new Live Traffic Alert service will
alert you to the latest traffic conditions, before and during your trip and only text the relevant information for the roads and direction in which you will be travelling.
GetMeThere.co.uk constantly check the traffic conditions on your route so you dont have to and only sent out a Traffic Alert if a new traffic incident occurs or existing traffic conditions change. Live Traffic
Alerts allows you to plan your trip in detail using GetMeThere.co.uks award winning Route Planning software and once you are happy with the route, you simply sign up for a Single Trip at 50p per text or Multi Trip at 20 per month allowing you up to 160 SMS Traffic Alerts.
Jon West, Director of GetMeThere.co.uk said We have concentrated on not bombarding our users with ever changing information but ensuring they will have enough to make the right decisions when they need to. There
are over 1600 types of Live Traffic Alerts that we collect, so it is essential that we filter this information to ensure its relevance. After all an accident, roadworks or traffic lights out of order dont
necessarily mean there will be any delay in your journey, whereas a road or junction closure on your journey will require at least a re-route.
December 8th, 2005
Despite the presence of the ashes of the world’s most famous space engineer (with apologies to Wernher Von Braun), a US rocket has been grounded until at least Feburary by engine trouble.
The private Falcon 1 rocket, run by Space Services, had been due to lift off with the mortal remains of 168 people on board, including those of James Doohan who played Scotty in Star Trek, but a last minute engine test caused scientists to delay the flight while they sort out a problem.
In stark contrast to Scotty, who would of course never dare give Kirk an estimate of three months to fix a problem with the Enterprise’s engines, present day engineers are hedging their bets and deciding to postpone until after the festive season.
However, as the exchange below between Scotty and Spock from the sixth Star Trek film shows, Scotty wasn’t averse to a bit of overestimation himself, so perhaps Space Services are just covering themselves.
“Ahh, Mr. Scott, I understand you’re having difficulty with the warp drive. How much time do you require for repair?” - Spock
“There’s nothing wrong with the bloody thing!” - Scotty
“Mr. Scott, if we return to Spacedock, the assassins will surely find a way to dispose of their incriminating footwear, and we will never see the captain, or Dr. McCoy, alive again” - Spock
“Could take weeks, sir” - Scotty
November 17th, 2005
It’s without the doubt the weirdest idea we’ve come across all year and one that probably only appeals to those with too much spare cash and, most likely, no children.
iAttire, a Los Angeles-based online retailer, is selling ‘cute’ little costumes for your standard iPod, mini or Shuffle. If you really want you can dress up your inanimate (that’s INaninimate, not iNamanimate) best friend as a ghost, Frankenstein, or most popularly of all, a pirate.
The makers admit that costumes serve no useful purpose whatsoever, and in many cases actually render your iPod unusable while the costume is being worn.
Each costume is hand made and it shows in the price - $39.99.
This project does smack of someone searching for a word which hadn’t had the letter ‘i’ stuck in front of it yet and then building a business idea around the results, but we have to admit that it’s a professional looking setup and one that you crazy iPod owners are going to lap up…some of you anyway.
October 30th, 2005
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