Clipmarks | scyleung's clips

Next generation gaming

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:33:55 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Go to the website to read more.

Video games: The next generation

The latest games all look great but the potential offered by the processing power of consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PS3 does not end there. They also give developers a wealth of new gameplay possibilities.

At Ubisoft's Montreal studio, a team of 300 designers, programmers and artists have spent four years developing Assassin's Creed, a next generation medieval action adventure.

Every single thing in the city can be grabbed, climbed on, jumped from

Assassin's Creed is set during the Crusades and the action takes place in three huge cities. Each is populated with thousands of computer controlled characters. Players can take Altair, the character they control, anywhere in the city.

Bumping into people affects the direction of the main character

More than 200 models were used as the templates for characters

The video games industry is obsessed with the phrase "next generation", but what does it actually mean? What can gamers expect from any game given that name

Tags: games, game, generation, video games

Launch date set for Apple's Leopard

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:32:22 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: I want it!!!

Clip Source: www.smh.com.au

Launch date set for Apple's new OS

Apple said on Tuesday the newest version of its Macintosh operating system would go on sale on Oct. 26, hitting the market after a four-month delay due to the company's work on the iPhone.

The new version of Apple's OS X software, called Leopard, will cost $A158 for a single user and $A249 for a family pack that can be installed on up to five computers in one household.

New features include a file back-up feature called Time Machine, improvements to e-mail and instant messaging, the ability to preview documents or files without launching a separate program, and quick access to other computers on a home or office network.

"This is going to be great for Mac momentum, which has already been strong for the past few years. This is just one more thing on top of that,'' Apple's vice president of marketing, Phil Schiller, told Reuters in an interview.

Apple shares rose nearly 1.6 per cent to $US169.58 on the Nasdaq.

Tags: apple, computer, leopard, os, osx

Button free remote

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:35:56 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Very useful

Clip Source: www.smh.com.au

New twist on TV remote

You won't have to grope around for the remote anymore if Toshiba's latest technology makes it to your living room: It lets you control a DVD player with hand motions - without touching a clicker or keyboard.

The laptop-based technology runs on the company's new "SpursEngine" chip, which can process motion detected by a camera and turn it into commands to control a DVD player. It's based on the same Cell chip design that powers Sony's PlayStation 3 gaming console.

The camera can detect hand motions from 10 feet away

The technology isn't yet on the market, and Toshiba hasn't set a release date.

The laptop's camera puts your face on the screen, and then you choose hairstyles and types of makeup. The computer makes those changes in your image in 3-D, and you can turn your head to check out the new look from different angles.

The processor includes hardware to decode and encode MPEG-2 video. The prototype operates at a clock frequency of 1.5 gigahertz.

Tags: tv, television, ps3, dvd

Sony OLED TV

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:31:55 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Cool!

Clip Source: www.smh.com.au

Sony to ship first OLED ultra-thin TV

Sony Corp said it will launch an ultra-thin flat TV in December, the world's first television based on organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology into a $US82 billion market dominated by LCD and plasma models.

OLED panels are energy efficient, make thin and light displays. They offer crisp pictures and have strength in showing fast-moving images, suitable for watching sports events and action movies, but size is proving a limitation.

The new TV is set to go on sale in Japan on December 1. Offering an innovative product to prop up its brand image is important for Sony, whose leading position in portable music players has long since been lost to Apple's iPod.

It has a life span of about 30,000 hours of viewing, which is about half of Sony's LCD TVs, but long enough to allow eight hours of daily use for 10 years.

An 11-inch panel is smaller than regular copier paper used in office.

Tags: sony, lcd, television, tv, japan

5000+Resources to do just about anything online free

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:18:09 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: I've clipped a few examples. Links to other resources can be found at the page

Clip Source: mashable.com

Since May 2007, we’ve been bringing you resources and tools to be more productive on the web. Due to popular demand, we’ve brought all these lists together into one gigantic meta-list: 5000+ Resources to Do Just About Anything Online.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to subscribe to Mashable for the latest web news and resources.

6 Key Ways to Measure Your Blog’s Success - Six essential tools for measuring how your blog is performing.

20+ Firefox Plugins For Managing Email - Use Firefox to help you manage and control your email.

100+ Tools For Flickr Addicts - The possibilities with Flickr seem endless, and this toolbox shows you just some of what is out there for you Flickr addicts.

90+ Online Photography Tools and Resources - Tools for editing, finding, and storing photos.

50+ Websites For the Kickass Control Freak - More tools to get your life organized and get more done online and out in real life.

120+ Web Development Resources - A huge list of tools to assist you with developing your website.

Tags: internet, tools, resources, programs, free

PS3 to record digital TV and more new SONY software for PS

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:54:00 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: I would love to have them all!!

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

PlayStation to record digital TV

PlayStation 3 (PS3) users in Europe will soon be able to record and playback digital TV on their console.

Sony has unveiled a TV tuner which plugs into the PS3 and turns it into a personal video recorder like Sky+.

The company has held a press conference at the Leipzig games show in which it highlighted key multimedia capabilities for the PS3 and handheld PSP.

PlayTV for PS3 is a twin TV tuner that will launch in early 2008 in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain with other countries to follow.

Recorded programmes can be streamed over a wireless internet connection to the portable PSP or transferred permanently to the handheld console via a USB cable.

Instant messaging

Sony also used the conference to give more details of a video chat and instant messaging system for the PSP, called Go!Messenger, developed in conjunction with BT in the UK.

PSP users in Europe will be able to send messages, and video chat

the software behind the tool is released in January.

Tags: playstation, ps, psp, ps2, ps3, tv, digital, im, instant

US truck-mounted laser

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 02:44:21 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: WOW

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

US Army eyes truck-mounted laser

The US Army is developing a truck-mounted laser weapon to destroy rockets, artillery shells and mortars.

The solid state laser weapon would eventually be mounted on a 10-tonne, eight-wheel-drive tactical truck.

The American military has several programmes underway to develop battlefield lasers.

The laser is to be mounted on an eight-wheel-drive heavy truck

A beam control system accurately points and focuses the laser

The Airborne Laser will shoot down missiles in their "boost" phase

Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems, said the contract was important because "it supports a cornerstone of the Army's high-energy laser programme".

He added: "We believe this is the next step for developing a weapon system that can change the face of the battlefield."

Tags: us, army, weapon, laser, wheel, air, force, shoot, missiles

Hand free driving

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:10:30 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Isn't it great, hand free driving.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Look, no hands

This car can drive itself from A to B. It's taking part in the Darpa Grand Challenge, a Pentagon contest for inventors to come up with self-driving vehicles - and the ideas are already starting to be used in today's cars.

No-one at the wheel

The car in action

Another member of the team jumps out of the front seat, crosses the road and presses a red button on a box in his hand. "The RAV4 is going autonomous," he says into a radio.

The car moves, slowly forward, like a learner terrified of touching the accelerator. The steering wheel is turning. It is driving itself. The speed is frustratingly slow, and from time to time the car veers towards the verge.

But what's impressive is that no-one is sitting inside.

"You might buy a car that has a special button called an 'auto-chauffeur' button. You push it and it drives you home and wakes you up in your garage. And maybe we have the self-park button that says 'drop me off at the office then go and find yourself a parking spot'.

Tags: car, cars, driving, drive, auto, free

Unfortunately Placed Ads

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:59:24 GMT

clipped by: laceym

Clip Source: www.oddee.com

Ad on the bus reads: "If you don't gave GIO Third Party Property Insurance, we suggest you don't hit this bus"

Tags: humor, advertising

Remarkable Photos

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:17:19 GMT

clipped by: righthand
clipper's remarks: This temple laid under the jungle, completely undiscovered for centuries. The hallway and mysterious chambers seemed to go on forever.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

There were no fireworks, but there was this nice sunset

July 5th, 2007

soon!

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

Streaming Light at the Fortified Gatehouse

July 4th, 2007

locals.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

The Arched Globe in Kharkov

July 4th, 2007

the train station.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

my favorite ones below:

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

Railroad Museum.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

The Secret Passageway to the Treasure

July 13th, 2007

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

One Dollar, Sir!

July 12th, 2007

these two girls were the most persistant and the best salespeople. I asked if I could give them each a dollar, pick out a few bracelets, and take their photograph. They (obviously) happily agreed!

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

The Waterfall Crevice

July 11th, 2007

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

Twisted Inside the Fiber

July 10th, 2007

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

Wormhole

July 9th, 2007

shot just SE of ground zero in NYC.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

“Tongue of Satan”.

Clip Source: stuckincustoms.com

Stampede of the Wild Horses

July 6th, 2007

Tags: photos, landscape

Windows Vista SP1 Beta

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:44:57 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Good news windows vista user!

Clip Source: www.betanews.com

Windows Vista SP1 Beta Due This Year

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 20, 2007, 2:41 PM

Within its recent response to the United States Department of Justice that stated it would modify Windows Vista to enable end users and OEMs to change the default desktop search it uses, Microsoft for the first time discussed Service Pack 1 for the OS, saying a beta will come this year.

Microsoft has remained unusually silent about its SP1 plans for Vista, encouraging users and businesses not to wait for the first major upgrade. With a beta slated for the end of ~~2008~~ 2007, Vista users could see the final version of SP1 by the middle of next year. For the update, Windows Desktop Search will continue to run in the background, but other programs such as Google Desktop Search can replace Microsoft's results - if the user chooses to do so via a link. Few other details are known about Vista SP1 at this time.

Tags: windows, windows vista, vista, sp1, beta, this, year, microsoft, version, search

Does anger lead to better decision making?

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:36:54 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Next time you have to make a decision, feel angry.

Clip Source: people.howstuffworks.com

Does anger lead to better decision making?

Ben Franklin told us it's a companion to folly and John Dryden said that it "dwells in the bosom of fools." But the Sith tell us to give into it and Rage Against the Machine say it's a gift, and we like "Star Wars" and rock music. So how should we feel about anger?

Image courtesy Dreamstime
In some cases, angry people may be even more
analytical than their calmer brethren.

Tags: anger, decision, making, lead

Tourist space jet unveiled

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:44:23 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: Cost so much!!!

Clip Source: www.smh.com.au

Tourist space jet unveiled

European aerospace company EADS unveiled a model of a jet designed to take tourists into space on Wednesday, rocketing paying passengers to weightlessness 100km above the earth's surface.

EADS Astrium said it hoped the space jet - which looks much like a conventional aircraft, though it is outfitted with rocket engines - will be operational by next year, with the first flight scheduled for 2012.

Tickets are expected to sell for 150,000 to 200,000 euro ($317,000 to $240,00), said the company, which presented a full-scale model of the craft in Paris.

The space jet would take off from regular airports using conventional jet engines.

Upon reaching an altitude of about 12km, the pilot would ignite the rocket engines, sending the craft shooting to an altitude of 60km in 80 seconds.

There, passengers would be able to gaze down on earth and experience weightlessness for three minutes.

Tags: space, tourist, jet

Google Earth as a Flight Simulartor

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:43:53 GMT

clipped by: scyleung

Clip Source: www.gearthblog.com

Google Earth as a "Flight Simulator"

In Google Earth, you can turn on the G-Force mode by hitting CTRL-G (note: use CTRL-T to return to normal mouse interaction). You will know if you are in G-Force mode if you have an airplane icon for the mouse pointer. Once you're in G-Force mode, you can use your controller device to fly in Google Earth. With a flight stick controller you can use your yoke to fly like a plane. Unfortunately, with my controller (a Virtual Pilot Pro) the throttle control doesn't control speed. I found some of the buttons on the controller would control speed though. (You can also right click your mouse and move forward and backwards to control speed). But, the pitch and roll works as expected with the yoke. It's a very fun way to fly around in Google Earth. Check it out if you have a controller!

Windows 4.0.2091

which has a new control feature in the options for controllers.

like Joysticks, Flight Yoke/Rudder controls for flight simulators

Tags: google, google earth, flight, simulartor

Wirelessly charge electrical devices

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:42:42 GMT

clipped by: scyleung
clipper's remarks: It will be great, do you think so?

Clip Source: theaustralian.news.com.au

Wireless power pulls plug on cables

POWER cables and plugs may soon become obsolete because scientists have developed a way to wirelessly charge electrical devices from a distance.

WiTricity can already power a lightbulb over a distance of 2m, and its inventors believe that within three to five years the system would be able to charge mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players and other electronic devices.

The appliances would only need to be within range of a WiTricity transmitter to work.

Professor Marin Soljacic, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said that wireless electricity could eventually replace most power cables, in the same way that mobile and cordless phones had supplanted landlines.

Tags: power, wireless, cables, plug, pulls, news