Chinese Police Like Counter-Strike

 

The Chinese government may not want kids playing it for hours, but Counter-Strike is good enough for police to play – as anti-terrorism training games. Over 300 members of the Tianjin police force took over an internet cafe on Wednesday for a three-day competition (including a team of judges to ensure no one was ‘cheating’), and took to heart the mantra of “Enhancing police forces through technology”:

After the competition was announced in March, Zhang [Bin, one of the competition organizers] said, police officers were enthusiastic. Now almost half the total Tianjin force are regular players.”Of course, they play, or should I say train, after work,” he added.

Officers reported noticeable improvement in self-protection on field missions after the play, Han said, stressing the game was only “a supplement to their traditional means of training.”

Now all they need is an outpost in Second Life to recruit officers, and they’ll be in business.

If counter-strike improves the ability of police officers to do their job then there is a huge number of 14 year old boys who spend 6 or more hours a day playing the eight year old first person shooter that will be prime recuriting targets for the American poilce force and military.

Why don’t they get one that? Ignorance. Valve already puts ads for movies into online play, why not ads for the military as well?

Source: Kotaku

Apple Issues Warning on iPhone Unlocking

 You wasted your time, asshole!

 

Apple has issued a statement today that programs available for the iPhone to SIM unlock it could cause “irreparable damage” to the device.

Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone’s software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed.

Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update later this week which will include the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.

It appears the statement only refers to SIM Unlocking your iPhone to allow it to use networks outside of AT&T. It would appear that 3rd party hacks (Ringtones, Applications) would not cause the same problems.

One forum user indicates it is possible to reverse the SIM Unlock by reflashing the firmware but must be done manually at this time.

I know I haven’t mentioned this here, but anyone who has heard me rant on the topic I’ll just say: “Tolllllllld you!”

Source: Macrumors

Wii Zapper Box

Kotaku has the first screen shots of the box for the Wii Zapper. The Wii Zapper is a very cool attachment that turns the Wiimote into a light gun style accessory. The gun also comes with a demo where you play as link in five different game modes, which is like the Wii Sports tech demo that shipped with the Wii, it’s an excuse to show developers what they can do with the strange contraption.

Sure it’s a lovely box, but until they put that little sticker on the bottom left it was merely a curiosity. That little recycled picture of Link is gonna make this puppy sell like a puppy made of gold, filled with chocolate when it hits stores in November. Nintendo has released a little overview of the Zapper and Link’s Crossbow Training along with the image, which details operation of the gun peripheral and an overview of Link’s three game modes. Those modes are Target Shooting, which is a shooting gallery type game, Defender, in which you stand still while assaulted on all sides by enemies, and Ranger, which you have to play while singing “Sister Christian” at the top of your lungs. You’re motoring!

Link returns from The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess to pick up the Wii Zapper and take aim at a host of targets in this shooting-gallery-style game. * Anyone can pick up the Wii Zapper and become a master marksman in the quick-play shooting galleries of Link’s Crossbow Training. Dozens of fast-paced stages offer a wide variety of game play, from shooting stationary targets to defending a supply wagon from onrushing hordes of enemies. Multiplayer modes let players and their friends share a Wii Zapper to shoot for the high score.
* Link’s Crossbow Training comes bundled with the Wii Zapper. After a few rounds of Link’s Crossbow Training, players will be more than ready to pick up any of the future Wii Zapper titles, like Medal of Honor Heroes™ 2, Ghost Squad™ and Resident Evil®: The Umbrella Chronicles.
Using the Wii Zapper: The Wii Zapper requires the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, housing both in a comfortable and intuitive frame. The control stick on the Nunchuk controls player movement (on stages that allow player movement), while simply aiming the Wii Zapper moves the targeting reticule on the screen. Pulling the trigger fires Link’s crossbow. By aiming off screen, players can turn Link to face in a new direction (again, on stages that allow this).

Link’s Crossbow Training contains three basic game styles: target shooting, defender and ranger. There are 27 stages in total, and these categories represent only generally how each individual stage operates. Each stage’s goal is to earn the highest score possible within the time limit. All rounds can be played with multiple players: Players pass the Wii Zapper around and then play one at a time and compete for the high score.

Target Shooting: In target-shooting rounds, players shoot bull’s-eyes as they pop up on the screen. In early stages, targets are stationary. As the game difficulty increases in later levels, the targets move. Hitting the center of the bull’s-eye nets more points, and hitting targets in succession without missing earns combo multipliers. Link can aim anywhere on the screen.

Defender: In defender rounds, players remain stationary but can look and aim in all directions – sometimes even in a full 360 degrees – by aiming off screen. Hordes of enemies assault Link, and he must fight them off. These battles have a great deal of variety, from fighting off skeletons in a desert to defending a wagon from boar-riding Bokoblins.

Ranger: In ranger rounds, players can move throughout the level using the control stick and aim anywhere they want by aiming the Wii Zapper wherever they want to look. In these missions, Link storms enemy encampments, fights his way through a forest and seeks out his foes while exploring the environments.

 

Heinlein Archive now online

The complete archive of renowned American science-fiction writer Robert Heinlein will be made available online, thanks to an unusual partnership of the University of California-Santa Cruz and the Heinlein Prize Trust.

Heinlein, who lived in Santa Cruz for two decades, was one of the grand masters of science fiction. He became a pop icon in the 1960s with the publication of “Stranger In A Strange Land,” one of the most successful science-fiction novels ever published. He died in 1988.

The entire contents of the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Archive – housed in the UC-Santa Cruz Library’s Special Collections since 1968 – have been scanned in an effort to preserve the contents digitally while making the collection easily available to both academics and the general public. The digitization project was the brainchild of Art Dula, director of the Heinlein Prize Trust.

The first collection released includes 106,000 pages, consisting of Heinlein’s complete manuscripts – including files of all his published works, notes, research, early drafts and edits of manuscripts. The documents offer a window into Heinlein’s creative process and provide background and context for his work.

Other collections soon to be added to the online archive will feature Robert and Virginia Heinlein’s business and personal correspondence, scrapbooks, photo albums, and unpublished works, including communications with Heinlein’s editor and agent.

I got so excited at this news,it even make me realzie how big of a geek I really am. The unfortunate thing is that they are charging for the documents in PDF format. Now it is good to uphold Heinlein’s capitalist spirit… but I don’t want to pay for it!

Most are only 2 or 3 dollars, but they can get as expensive as $40. Because of this a paypal button will be posted on the blog soon and…. wellll… GIVE ME MONEY

Direct link to the archive  

Source: Mercury News

Two Months Late: iPhone review

I wanted to wait, because a product like the iPhone needs to be tested for practicality before it can really be reviewed. But my impressions after two weeks haven’t changed in the two months since I wrote the first draft of the review. So I will be changing almost nothing. In other words, I was looking for something to go wrong so I could write about it. But nothing did, and I waited in vain. So I give you, the iPhone review:

The activation process was extremely easy, and a very new way of going about the whole process. When I got home I bought my Mac out and while watching the Red Sox game I updated OSX and iTunes, then plugged in iPhone. Itunes went right into the AT&T page which asked what if I had an existing account. Then it asked what my number was, and my account information.

That was it, iPhone activated in a few minutes and it was ready. But ultimately the usefulness of the phone comes from general daily use, so my guess is that a review isn’t going to do it justice. For example, I’ve had it for a week now and while I love it I haven’t really used it casually. But in the book store just an hour ago I couldn’t remember the name or the title of a book that was recommended to me. Knowing where the amazon link was on the Accelerated-E forums I took out my iPhone and hunted it down. The edge network is not the fastest in the world, and the service wasn’t good deep inside the mall. But after five minutes I had the title and author and was able to track the book down.

So what it comes down to is usefulness, the successful combination of an iPod and a Cell Phone. Lets first look at size.

On me at all times are three things; my cell phone, my wallet, and my iPod. Will the iPhone become a suitable replacement for my phone and iPod? At 8gigs it’s a long shot. But let’s look at the size and design of these objects. Just to see exactly what the shift is going to be like.

Combined into this:

And the comparison as these two toys merge into one:

But the look, feel, and use are minor compared how well the iPhone functions in it’s three main areas. As a Phone, as an iPod, and as an Internet Communicator. Even if it’s useful to search the net in the middle of a bookstore, it might not be practical if the network is too slow and the browser is slow. I consider everything else an extra feature. Something that we get as a part of the overall gadget, the fusion of those three functions mentioned above.

Doctor Who To Return For Fifth Season In 2010

After months of media speculation, the BBC can confirm that the BAFTA award-winning Doctor Who will return for a fifth series in Spring 2010.

Viewers are in for a treat this Christmas, as a special episode starring David Tennant and Kylie Minogue will be broadcast on BBC One in December 2007.

Series Four, which went into production in July 2007, will hit UK screens in Spring 2008, followed by a special episode for Christmas 2008.

In 2009 Doctor Who will return with three specials starring David Tennant, with Head Writer, Russell T Davies.

The full-length fifth series will transmit in 2010.

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, says: “Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s best loved and most successful dramas. Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I’m delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010. ”

Menna Richards, Controller, BBC Wales, says: “The success of Doctor Who is a fantastic tribute to the dedication and expertise of the production team at BBC Wales who have worked on the project from the outset. This announcement is marvellous news for all involved, and more importantly for the programme’s amazing fan base and audience. BBC Wales is looking forward to producing the fifth series.”

Following the critically acclaimed season three finale, the BBC has announced that Catherine Tate is set to return to the TARDIS for the complete 13-week run of series four, reprising her role as Donna from the 2006 Christmas special.

Freema Agyeman, who won praise for her portrayal of Martha Jones in series three, is also set to return mid series four.

I’m not sure how I feel like this, at least during that break we are going to get some Doctor Who. I feel like they are doing this to get a bit of a break in, as working non-stop on a show for four years has to be tough.

What I hope is that those three specials we are getting instead of season 5 in 2009 will be the best production value and the best stories that Doctor Who has to offer. But I can only hope.

Source: Sliceofscifi 

BSG Split?

Any Battlestar fan will cringe when they read this:

According to reports from the “Battlestar Galactica” panels at DragonCon, it appears SCI FI is considering splitting the final season of the hit show into two halves…with a long wait in between. If the rumor is true, SCI FI would air the first ten episodes of season four in Febuary of 2008 and then take a hiatus until February of 2009 to air the final ten episodes, according to a report at Buddy TV.

Before you come completely unglued and go Cylon on your co-workers and friends, remember this is just a rumor coming out of DragonCon. We’ve had no official confirmation from The SCI FI Channel that they would do this or wouldn’t do this.

Hopefully, if SCI FI is considering this move, the swell of fan protest might cause them to reconsider the position or realize that ten episodes a year just isn’t enough for the fandom. And how they could easily destroy the momentum and goodwill the fans and critics have given them for “Battlestar Galactica.”

If they released the whole series on DVD tomorrow I’d probably buy it at any price. Which proves that models that call for them to drag out a series as long as possible… don’t work. I’m willing to pay money, and they won’t listen.

I’m angry, but it isn’t a deal breaker since I wait a year for 13 episodes of Doctor Who. This will just be one more show I’ll have to sit on my hands and wait for….

Source: Sliceofscifi 

I’m getting $100 back from Apple! (Thanks Steve!)

 

I understand that technology grows and early adopters suffer by paying far more for new technology than the late comers. But the backlash that Steve Jobs got when he lowered the price of the 8GB iPhone from $600 to $400 seemed to be tremendous. Enough that Steve stepped forward and offered everyone who bought an iPhone and is not getting a refund (because they are out of the 14-day return time) which means I’ll get $100 to spend in the Apple Store. Of course, that also means I get $100 off my Apple Care for my macbook ( which is nearly out of warranty), so for those who don’t understand the way business develops technology they are releaved. For me who accepted this $200 price drop as rational, I’m pleased.

To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to ‘go for it’ this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone ‘tent’. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you’ll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.

Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO

To avoid confusion, I accept the $200 price drop based on this reasoning: Apple made about a $250 profit on each 8GB iPhone sold, and because of that they were able to make the development and marketing costs back very quickly. So they could slash the price and only make a $50 profit on each phone, sell a lot more phones, and still make buckets of money. I knew this was a new device going in, new pieces of technology are subject to quick change and drastic price shifts.

Source: Apple 

Itunes 7.4 is released! Custom ringtones are now offically avaliable for iphone

 

 

The new iTunes is finally released with custom ringtones for the iPhone, you now have the whole iTunes library to work from to create your 30 second ringtone!

Apple released a new version of iTunes at the “Beat Goes On” special media event today, allowing users to make their own ringtones & sync directly to the iphone for $.99 in addition to the cost of the song. The user is allowed to pick any 30 second selection from a song, with iTunes automatically creating fade-in and -out for the ringtone. After agreeing to your selection, you can click the “buy” button and for 99¢ you have a ringtone.

Only select songs are available to create ringtones from, with each usable track displaying a “bell” icon.
The new version of iTunes should be available tonight but Ringtone support may lag.

Source: Macrumors , Apple

New iPod Nano?

Gizmodo seems to have a leak of the brand new iPod nano, a shorter fatter version of the device it seems to attempt to optimize it for steamview and video playback. It looks a bit uglier than the previous model but the improved screen looks like it could work:

Hold on to your proverbial horses, this is nothing official, but it is an interesting looking mock-up nonetheless. We are going with mock-up because:

The Apple legal team has not contacted us, the source, Alflennierlandsen, has given no explanation of how he happened upon the image and finally, the blogger has an unusually lengthy name/handle. Based on those three facts, we are sticking to our verdict. Also, we are pretty confident our PS work is more likely to be closer to the real deal, but they do look a tad similar…

We can say one thing for sure; that hand definitely does not belong to our smashing Addy, given the lack of any electric coloured nail polish. We shall find out the truth soon enough, but until then, what do you guys make of it? [broken flicker].