Thursday, August 28, 2008

PlayStation3 - Wireless Connection - WEP

When entering a WEP key on a PS3, there are 2 things to keep in mind:

1. Even though you type in all the characters, it only shows you 6 (or 8) when you exit the WEP key editing screen.
This is normal!! It is for security (so no one watching you can see the length), and becuase it is easier for them to make an interface with a specific length.


2. WEP keys must be entered with UPPER case letters. I learned this the har way (typed it in lower case twice.) I figured, 'hey, it's Sony. they are lazy, and likely require upper case.' and I was right.

For example, if you WEP key is:
60dgaa294781a973118388f2bb
It MUST be entered list this:
60DGAA294781A973118388F2BB

Sony should fix this in the software. There are two ways they could fix this:
1. Make in imput method that forces upper case letters
or
2. Make the PS3 convert all lower case letters to upper case in the background.


Here are a few forums and stuff that talk about the problem as well:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497170 http://www.3dgameman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53322
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=867199 http://www.pregamelobby.com/forum/sony-reviews-tips/5618-how-get-type-2-open-nat-your-ps3.html

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Dual monitor in Windows

I always have this question a few times a year. So here are a few links to explain how and why you would want to use multiple monitors. This is how to do it in Windows, using Display Settings in the Control Panel.
This does not cover video card manufacturer specific settings (likenVidia and ATI. Please use their web sites to see how to do it with their software and cards. There are just too many different software versions to cover here.

How to Install Dual Monitors (Video)
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/30-how-to-install-dual-monitors-video.htm

Two monitors are better than one
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/twomonitors.mspx

How to set up dual monitors
http://lifehacker.com/software/dual-monitor/how-to-set-up-dual-monitors-218991.php

DIY TV HACK - How to hook up your TV to your computer! (Or 2 Monitors)
http://zedomax.com/blog/2008/04/14/diy-tv-hack-how-to-hook-up-your-tv-to-your-computer-or-2-monitors/

Online gaming services for old games

You go to the store to buy a game. Say the one you wanted isn't there, or you don't know exactly what you want. For whatever reason, you buy a game for $30 or less. Graphics on the box look okay, but you figure it is cheap, maybe low budget, but the gameplay seems interesting.

You get home, install the game. Looks like a cheesy installer, but whater. Fire up the game. Maybe you paly it alone for a bit, whater. Then you figure you will try online.

Now most PC games have some kind of online backed run by a publisher, developer or other company. Back of the box usually says what it is (MSN Zone, Battlenet, Heat.net, Steam, EA Online).

So anyway, you fir this thing up and start to make an account. No go, the game throws an error, or times out. Maybe you start to check your connection and network setting. Maybe you strait to google. But what do you do when the online service no longer exists????

Personally, I think this is bunk. If it is still in stores, and still says "Online play" on the box, then they have to continue to offer the online services. How can they stop the service unless maybe there was NO ONE using them.

I actually purchased Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 this year. Only to discover that Microsoft had "retired player matchmaking services" for it. It also had graphics issues, but I could likely get it working fine in a Virtual PC.

There is such a long list of services that I don't really see the nned to have removed. A few examples I can think of:
Heat.net
Westwood online
Jane's
Mplayer.com
TEN.net

Here is a list of a few more, including some I have never heard of.
http://www.geocities.com/irwinav/game.htm?200824#3

UK cell phone users receive calls for free

Currently in the UK (and likely other places that I don't know about) if someone calls your cell (mobile) phone, you do not pay for the call. That is much different than here in North America.

There have been talks as of late that the UK may be changing to our model, but if seem consumer out-rage may have that at-bay. Lost of links about that:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2140132/Mobile-phone-users-may-pay-to-receive-calls.html
http://www.pocketpicks.co.uk/latest/index.php/2008/06/18/uk-mobile-users-might-pay-to-receive-calls/
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39248823,00.htm
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/more-news/technology-gaming/2008/06/17/mobile-phone-owners-may-have-to-pay-to-receive-calls-115875-20610005/
http://www.cellphonedigest.net/international/Mobal%20GSM%20World%20Phone%20Service.htm
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/05/eu_termination_fees_report/comments/


However, in NA we are getting double charged!!
Doesn't seem fair does it?
Anyone have any ideas of how to get this changed here? I have a feeling the big carriers won't care. We are too attached to our mobile devices to give them up and protest. Like the current gas prices :P

iTunes = overweight software

The iTunes install adds these processes (Descriptions from http://searchtasks.answersthatwork.com/ ):
AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
Apple Mobile Device Service. Service installed with Apple's iTunes 7.3 onward. It enables iTunes to interact with the Apple iPhone and the Apple TV.

iPodService.exe
In the later versions of iTunes, such as version 6 or later, the iPodService is used by iTunes itself to communicate with connected iPods.
iTunesHelper.exe
ITUNESHELPER is no longer a 3rd party add-on, it is now an Apple program and part of the iTunes software itself, and our guess is that it is now iTunes' main CD writing interface.

mDNSResponder.exe (bonjour)
Bonjour, also known as zero-configuration networking, enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks. Bonjour uses industry standard IP protocols to allow devices to automatically discover each other without the need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers.
Problems with the services/process that iTunes installs:
1. Unclear exactly what they all do.
2. If all are installed by default, make them all one process, not four different ones.
3. Make the install of them OPTIONAL
4. If they are not installed or are removed, don't nag me every time I open iTunes to tell me it was removed (like Bonjour)
5. Not everyone has (or wants) an iPod.
6. Not everyone has (or wants) an iPhone.

This install of iTunes also requires closing/re-opening Outlook if you have it installed. The reason for this is the "iTunes Outlook Add in". It is believed to be used to be used to synchronize your iPod/iPhone with your Outlook contacts.
http://wildermuth.com/2006/09/30/iTunes_7_x_Installs_Outlook_Addin_-_No_one_seems_to_know_why!
The Apple Update software is another piece of software that should be changed.
They release updates too often, likely not including many fixes. It has to reinstall every time there is an update. It tries to install Safari by default every time.
Seem more info (and some fixes) from these links:
http://john.jubjubs.net/2008/03/21/apple-software-update/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9922267-7.html
http://dcunningham.net/2008/03/25/disabling-apple-software-update-items/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10002257-68.html


I really hope someone makes something better than iTunes soon. I may have to stop purchasing music from the iTunes store soon so I am not encouraging this crap software.


(Update: Now they also include MobileMe software in iTunes. Great, make it MORE bloated!
Apple is worse than M$! At least MS knows that they need to make stuff like this optional!)

(Update 2: Found more applications running;
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\distnoted.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleSyncNotifier.exe

Under C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\ there is a total of 27 EXEs. Crazy.)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

DataPlay?

You ever heard of DataPlay? I had not.
The story of it's life (or lack of) seems alot like Sony's MiniDisc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minidisk).

You can read a bit about DataPlay here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataPlay

DataPlay had some DRM built into the disk (and players), and the musi industry wanted to make it the new media of music.

A little about it from a Google Book:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=4kaOT8SdfkYC&pg=PA203&lpg=PA203&dq=dataplay&source=web&ots=alc3c7lg6f&sig=q-QNhzSDqNQjAqPlXlsw45kLMHw&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPA203,M1

From NY Times (August 29, 2002):
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E0D8163FF93AA1575BC0A9649C8B63

PC World (Oct 8, 2004):
http://www.pcworld.com/article/118108/dataplay_discs_stage_a_comeback.html

From G4 TV (2006):
http://www.g4techtv.ca/callforhelp/shownotes/0454.shtml?regular

TechWeb's TechEncyclopedia article on DataPlay:
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=DataPlay

Gotta love failed technology!

MSN SPAM bot

Microsoft sucks, once again.

This stipid SPAM bot added me to MSN.
fredaxodyxuc (at) hotmail (dot) com

Doesn't MS ask for human verification or some crap for creating accounts?

Anyway, this bot is a bad script that pretends to be a girl with a web cam that wants you to watch :O
Then it sends you a URL and says you need a credied card to verify your age.... lol
See the conversation below (I changed the link so no one reading it here will click it):

Chew says:?
Freda says:hey, A/S/L?
Chew says:you an automated spammer?
Freda says:hey whats up babe, U got a webcam? finally someone adds me, I am soo fuckin horny today for some reason lol
Chew says:gay
Freda says:listen hun, I am just about to start my webcam show with jen, come chat me there in my chat room? We can cyber, I will get naked if u do..lol!
Chew says:you suck
Freda says:I can show u how to watch if u promise not to tell anyone else how to do it???PLEASE
Chew says:now you will send me a URL
Chew says:cause you are stupid.
Chew says:stop pretending to type, and send the message already
Chew says:wanna see how bad your script is.
Freda says:well since its the law that u gotta be 18 (nudity involved), u have to sign up with a credit card for age verification! BUT.. Once you are inside, just clikc on "Webcams" let me know what name you use to sign in with so I know it is you babe! http:// www (dot) lovelocalgirls (dot)com/janeroom fill out the bottom of the page then fill out the next page as well and u can see me live!
And MSN's SPAMer reporting form is down. Stupid Microsoft.
Update:
Another one:

shannanoxixe@hotmail.com says:
Hi
Chew says:
oi
shannanoxixe@hotmail.com says:
hey, Age/Sex/Location?
Chew says:
no, yes, meh
shannanoxixe@hotmail.com says:
hey whats up babe, U got a webcam? finally someone adds me, http://www.theselocalgirls.com/janevocation I am soo fuckin horny today for some reason lol

Friday, August 1, 2008

Red Alert 3 Beta :D

I just got my beta key for RA3. I am now in the download queue on FilePlanet.
What a SWEET birthday gift for me from EA :P

I will add more info when I get it installed and play it a little (or a lot).


Update 04/08/08:
I have played 3 matches now. I have submitted 19 issues. That includes 1 hang and 2 FE/FRs.

Now I have to report a hang and a crash.
Still a very good game. I sure hope they fix these issues.

Done. 22 issues logged.