Submission + - Happy SysAdminDay to all (sysadminday.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Just wanted to wish you guys a happy SAD :-D
Submission + - Demonoid Down after DDoS attack (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Sometime yesterday most Demonoid users in the millions noticed that they could no longer access the site. Instead of the usual welcome they got a “server too busy” message. The message indicates that the server may just be busy for the time being and come back later. However later never came and the site has been down for a long time."
Submission + - Apple no longer interested in EPEAT certification (tekgoblin.com) 2
tekgoblin writes: "Apple has sent notice to EPEAT Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool and will no longer be submitting their devices for review. EPEAT certifies devices in their ability to be environmentally responsible. The certification process also checks whether or not the device will be easily dismantled and recycled with regular tools. Apple’s latest devices such as the Macbook Pro with Retina display are ineligible for certification due to the inability to easily dismantle it."
Submission + - Sony buys Gakai for $380 Million (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "This is big news, Sony announced today that it will acquire Gaikai the online streaming game service for $380 million. The deal officially did close on June 30th, Sony plans to disrupt the gaming force with this purchase."
Submission + - Apple to pay $60 Million over iPad trademark dispute (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Today the Chinese court has stated Apple, Inc. has agreed to pay a local Chinese company $60 Million dollars to settle their infamous iPad name dispute.
In 2006 Apple purchased the Taiwanese rights to the name “iPad” from the company Proview Electronics. In China however, the trademarked name was still owned by Proview Technologies, a Shenzhen based subsidiary of Proview Electronics. Since 2011, Proview Technologies has battled Apple in the Xicheng district court and in 2012 the Santa Clara Superior Court. Both cases are still ongoing."
In 2006 Apple purchased the Taiwanese rights to the name “iPad” from the company Proview Electronics. In China however, the trademarked name was still owned by Proview Technologies, a Shenzhen based subsidiary of Proview Electronics. Since 2011, Proview Technologies has battled Apple in the Xicheng district court and in 2012 the Santa Clara Superior Court. Both cases are still ongoing."
Submission + - Fredrik Neij fined for 'Continued Involvement' in Pirate Bay (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "The founders of The Pirate Bay have been hit with a bunch of punishments and other measures to prevent them from continuing. However Fredrik Neij was just fined by the Stockholm District court another 500,000 Swedish kronor's or ($70,690) USD. Fredrik Neij and Gorrfrid Scatholm both had been banned from operating the site but Neij had been recently found still involved with the site. Neij already owes around 10.6 million."
Submission + - RIM replaces disabled mans lost BlackBerry (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Most people take their smartphone for granted, but not Conrad Jackson. Conrad had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy early in life and is unable to speak. Conrad used his BlackBerry to keep in touch with friends and family. He lost his phone on an OC Transpo bus earlier this week.
After waiting for someone to turn in his lost phone he slowly lost faith. Conrad used his BlackBerry to text and email family members and friends but now he is constrained to using a netbook to communicate. CBC News had aired his story on Thursday and by Friday morning RIM called and said they would replace Conrad's phone for him."
After waiting for someone to turn in his lost phone he slowly lost faith. Conrad used his BlackBerry to text and email family members and friends but now he is constrained to using a netbook to communicate. CBC News had aired his story on Thursday and by Friday morning RIM called and said they would replace Conrad's phone for him."
Submission + - Valve unveils Steam for Schools, Portal in the classroom (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Well this is pretty awesome, Valve has made an entrance into the education sector. They plan to release a new version of Steam for education uses in schools.
Valve will call this service Steam for Schools, an education version of the Steam client that allows administrators to limit what its users can access. The idea of Steam for Schools is to use the platform as a teaching aid. Valve has already put together a number of educational lesson plans for using Portal 2 and its level editor to teach math and physics."
Valve will call this service Steam for Schools, an education version of the Steam client that allows administrators to limit what its users can access. The idea of Steam for Schools is to use the platform as a teaching aid. Valve has already put together a number of educational lesson plans for using Portal 2 and its level editor to teach math and physics."
Submission + - Sony PlayStation Store Taken Down in South Korea (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Due to a new law going into effect in South Korea on July 1st, Sony will need to take down the PlayStation Store to comply. The new law is called the “Game Industry Promotion Act” which makes it illegal for online services to ask someone who is under the age of 18 to verify their account with their real name and age."
Submission + - Sim City 5 vs. Cities XL a future showdown? (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "As many of you may now know, SimCity 5 is slated for release in early next year. Maxis is promising us a glorious and grand return of the title, with amazing new game play and world set up. Yet, they now have some major competition in the city building and simulation genre. SimCity’s cheif competition is Cities XL, which first appeared in 2009 to fill the city building and simulation void left by Maxis and EA when they chose to take such a long break from the franchise. It offers users a full 3D world that could be zoomed into street level and panned 360, as well as multiplayer capabilities. Cities XL offers and entire globe full of city locations and a variety or maps to choose from, with stunning new and updated graphics it brought to us everything that Sim City 4 couldn’t or hadn’t."
Submission + - Nintendo E3 2012 Keynote Recap (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "It was a big day for Nintendo fans today at E3, as Nintendo announced a number of games coming to their Wii U console, and they let slip a little detail about Wii U’s release- this holiday season.
The Nintendo conference began with an intro featuring Mr. Miyamoto in his dressing room, with some familiar little creatures running around in the racks- PIKMIN! Mr. Miyamoto took to the stage and we got a close look at the Pikmin, and their new game, Pikmin 3 which will be coming to the Wii U. It seems like it will be a far more satisfying experience than has been offered for Pikmin thus far, with better camera viewing angles and a constant mini-map display on the Wii U Controller display."
The Nintendo conference began with an intro featuring Mr. Miyamoto in his dressing room, with some familiar little creatures running around in the racks- PIKMIN! Mr. Miyamoto took to the stage and we got a close look at the Pikmin, and their new game, Pikmin 3 which will be coming to the Wii U. It seems like it will be a far more satisfying experience than has been offered for Pikmin thus far, with better camera viewing angles and a constant mini-map display on the Wii U Controller display."
Submission + - Blockscape, Minecraft, and the Uncanny Valley (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Whether you have been playing Minecraft for over a year or are just now getting into it on the Xbox 360 I'm interested in hearing what you think of this.
A man by the name of Jens Blomquist is working on a game called Blockscape that appears to be centered around the idea of being a much more detailed version of Minecraft. I'm generally bothered by games that seem to blatantly rip off something that's popular without doing something new, but Blockscape is far too early in development to tell how things will turn out. Only time will tell whether it'll be a Terraria or just another FortressCraft.
What I'm curious about instead are the visuals and somewhat altered world mechanics. Lighting, water, shaders, and many other elements of Blockscape appear more technically advanced than those in Minecraft, and there seems to be an emphasis on having a wider variety of sizes and shapes to build with. Despite this increased complexity, I immediately and frequently find myself strangely revolted by what I see.
It makes me wonder if there's some element of the uncanny valley at play here. For the initiated, the uncanny valley originally referred to an issue where the more lifelike a humanoid machine became the more disturbing it looked. In video games it is frequently used to discuss how realistic graphics can often be less appealing than stylized visuals. Extra Credits also recently applied the concept to analyze why people can use a controller to play a game but are so alienated by even the smallest problems in ultimately more realistic motion controls. The idea is that the more realistic something becomes the more individual flaws bother us."
A man by the name of Jens Blomquist is working on a game called Blockscape that appears to be centered around the idea of being a much more detailed version of Minecraft. I'm generally bothered by games that seem to blatantly rip off something that's popular without doing something new, but Blockscape is far too early in development to tell how things will turn out. Only time will tell whether it'll be a Terraria or just another FortressCraft.
What I'm curious about instead are the visuals and somewhat altered world mechanics. Lighting, water, shaders, and many other elements of Blockscape appear more technically advanced than those in Minecraft, and there seems to be an emphasis on having a wider variety of sizes and shapes to build with. Despite this increased complexity, I immediately and frequently find myself strangely revolted by what I see.
It makes me wonder if there's some element of the uncanny valley at play here. For the initiated, the uncanny valley originally referred to an issue where the more lifelike a humanoid machine became the more disturbing it looked. In video games it is frequently used to discuss how realistic graphics can often be less appealing than stylized visuals. Extra Credits also recently applied the concept to analyze why people can use a controller to play a game but are so alienated by even the smallest problems in ultimately more realistic motion controls. The idea is that the more realistic something becomes the more individual flaws bother us."
Submission + - Best Buy to Close 50 Stores (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Big consumer electronics retailer Best Buy plans to close 50 of its big box stores by the end of 2012. This does not really come as a shock to us as the company has had a hard time in the past competing with online retailers in the same business. Properties such as NewEgg, TigerDirect, and even Amazon.com can offer lower prices for the same merchandise.
Best Buy has not released any financial figures detailing the reasons for the closures as of yet. Best Buy will try its best to help employees find other employment and offer severance packages to employees that chose not to work at a different location. Details on severance packages will likely depend on the level of the employee at the company. Best Buy details their plans below:"
Best Buy has not released any financial figures detailing the reasons for the closures as of yet. Best Buy will try its best to help employees find other employment and offer severance packages to employees that chose not to work at a different location. Details on severance packages will likely depend on the level of the employee at the company. Best Buy details their plans below:"
Submission + - Apple May be Testing a 7.85-inch iPad (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "Apple seems to be reportedly experimenting with a smaller 7.85-inch iPad model in their testing labs. John Gruber or Daring Fireball revealed this information on an episode of The Talk Show when host Dan Benjamin asked if Apple was going to release a smaller tablet. He said “Well, I don’t know. What I do know is that they have one in the laba 7.85 inch iPad that runs at 1024×768 it’s just like the regular iPad shrunk down a bit.” He also said that he heard from a bunch of people that they were ‘noodling’ with the design at Apple."
Submission + - Apple 'Captures' iPad 3 Units that Exhibit WiFi Issues (tekgoblin.com)
tekgoblin writes: "There have been many reports of users with the WiFi Only version of the iPad 3 having connectivity and signal issues with WiFi connections. The symptoms include slow download and upload speeds, connection drops, and complete loss of connectivity."
