Xbox 360 Update Removes Demo Disk Use

According to Joystiq.com, the Xbox 360 dashboard update that was released today no longer allows the use of the demo disk that hackers used to run their own flash programs on the Xbox 360.

Now the score is tied. The hackers found a glitch to run their own code, and Microsoft took it away. There wasn't really anything else that is big enough to talk about that the update did. But things to look out for...

Xbox Live Advertisements and 360 camera.

Vista Come No Anti-Virus

According to an article from TheRegister.co.uk, Microsoft will not include any anti-virus software on their newest version of Windows in development, Vista. Microsoft claims that Windows Vista will be more secure than Windows XP, but how can that be without Antivirus prepackaged.

From the article, "Symantec, though its assisted enquiries from investigators, has said it would rather take on Microsoft in the marketplace than cry foul to regulators over Microsoft's entry into the consumer anti-virus marketplace."

This topic is like reopening the browser-war can of warms. Microsoft wouldn't want to package too much in the OS at the risk of being callled a monopoly again. In 2006, it is necessary to have antivirus software to maintain a secure computer. I don't see how they can claim to be secure without it.

Mexico Barters Guns for Computers

According to an article from Yahoo News, Mexico City officials will give away a total of 150 brand new donated computers to individuals willing to trade in a firearm.

Guadalupe Lopez, a local head for the central district of Alvaro, Obregon, said, "People often have a gun at home, which could perhaps be for self-defense, but sadly it becomes a family tragedy when it is not used properly."

So why not trade it in for a computer. This is a great idea. Your aren't just bardering item for item here. You are exchanging violence for education, but what would are great, great grandfather's think? 'Your telling me, you want to give me that colored box thing for my rifle?'

Bill's Got Google's Back

According to Times Online, Bill Gates defends Google's position in censoring their searches in China at the World Economic Forum. Recently Google agreed to China's internet restrictions and Bill Gates explains why that was a good choice.

"I do think information flow is happening in China ... saying that even by existing there contributions to a national dialogue have taken place. There’s no doubt in my mind that’s been a huge plus."

I don't even know what that means, but Bill said it.
The article also points out, "China’s internet population, already the world’s second largest after the United States, rose to 111 million in 2005, according to the official China Internet Network Information Centre."

I agree that comming to an agreement with China was a good thing. Google needs to be available to everyone, but what makes China so special? Why do they need special internet restrictions?

Fake Dogs Just as Good

An article at PCMagazine.com states that a study at Purdue University found that Robo-pets are just as good at lowering stress levels as real pets. The experiement included the Sony Aibo robot dog.

The article says, "Researchers studied children aged between seven and 15 who had a Sony Aibo robot dog in parallel with other children who owned a living pet. Over 70 per cent of the robo-pet owners said that the machines 'could be a good companion'."

What I don't understand is how they came up with that conclusion. Just because kids ages 7 t0 15 say they are a good companion doesn't mean they would rather have a puppy and be happier. I wonder what would happen if they studied actual pet owners.

This study isn't completely useless though. In the future when these Robo pets become even more life-like, they surely will bring even more companionship.

Apple Introduces iTunes U

Now universities can upload lectures, interviews, and debates right into iTunes with iTunes U so students, faculty, or staff can just download the content from anywhere. You need to authenticate proving that you are affiliated with the school. Currently Stanford is the only university available, but there soon will be more.

How much will Apple cram into iTunes? There is hardly a seperation now between school and leisure. Do students really want to combine their music with their studies?

Clickers Forced Out of Closet

IMChaos.net has a service called Link Spy that lets an AIM user track who clicks on links in their profile and know when they are clicked.

This lets you know if someone is checking your profile pictures that you don't know about. If you are the one who is clicking the link though, you will know you have been caught if you check the link before you click. The link will first take you to a page at IMChaos.net, then redirect you to where the link is supposed to go.

There currently is no way to tell if you have a Facebook stalker, but with this AIM tool, it won't be too hard to know if you have one on AIM.

IE7 leaked?!

According to an article from PCPro.co.uk, the latest version of Microsoft's web browser, Internet Explorer 7. This version was not intended for Windows XP, but for Microsoft unreleased Operating System, Windows Vista.

From the article, "The screenshots certainly seem to show off the many new features expected of IE 7, with items such as tabbed browsing clearly visible. Likewise a number of the under-the-bonnet changes are also shown on some screenshots, such as the ability to delete browsing history."

It seems as though Microsoft has to keep up with Mozilla Firefox now with tabbed browsing, although Microsoft's security and management product manager Ben English has been noted for saying that features such as tabbed browsing are not important to IE users (ZDNet News).

Since when does Microsoft know what its users want?

Playstation Chainsaw Massacre

Play-Asia.com is selling a chainsaw controller for Resident Evil 4 on Playstation 2. I just hope some kid doesn't go grab daddy's chainsaw and go hunting for zombies or the possesed, because they will soon discover the real thing won't necessarily be as "ergonomically-designed to be comfortable to hold and use."

The controller features a "pull cord" that starts the game that has a built in chainsaw roar. The controller has a similar button layout to a standard controller, but the chainsaw can be raised up and down and then seen on the screen. Though the website is Play-Asia.com, the controller is for the US version of the game.

Play-asia.com has 8.44 Lifetime Rating on ResellerRatings.com.

Link-Sang also have a version for GameCube. As far as I can tell, these products are not available for sale in the U.S.

College Students Can't Read Good

According to a study shown by CNN.com, college students lack literacy for complex tasks.

From the article, "More than half of students at four-year colleges -- and at least 75 percent at two-year colleges -- lack the literacy to handle complex, real-life tasks such as understanding credit card offers, a study found."

Is this because courses aren't teaching students the right material, or are college kids just dumb?

How different are credit card offers from pop-up ads or pyramid scams?

If college educated people can't understand credit card offers, this leads me to believe that people may actually follow those stupid "clickheres".

No XBox 360 love in China

A Chinese analyst believes that when the Xbox 360 goes on sale in China, it will not succeed. He says there are two reasons.

From the article: "While FPSs and popular sports titles sell like hotcakes in North America, they won't fare so well in China."

I guess American gamers like guns and sports more than... well, the article doesn't say what genre Chinese gamers like, but it does say they won't have the money to buy them.

20 years of viruses

20 years ago if someone were to say they had a virus, they meant that they had an ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts crawling inside their body. But now we have to think twice when we here that word. The two meanings of the same word have a lot in common, they are both a nuisance, but you don't hear about too many people purposely trying to spread a biological virus.

XP on Intel Macs

There is still a debate as to whether or not Windows XP will run on the new Intel Macs. The Macs use a different type of BIOS, known as Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). It is still unclear if the 32-bit version of Windows XP will beable to boot. Others say probably not, but Intel says yes.

New MacBook Pro

On Wednesday Apple released several new products, one being a new laptop called the MacBook. I was considering buying this product because I thought I may be able to install Windows, but that's not going to happen. Plus, whats with the one mouse click button? They have the Mighty Mouse now, they should have made something similar with the touchpad. Still no word on the battery life...

My First Blog

Hi everyone! This is my first blog.