new msn messenger cool feature

Microsoft added a new translation feature for Msn Messenger, simply add this contact  :

tbot@hotmail.com

everything that you write to this contact will be translated and the text will be written back in the language of your choice.

Guildwars : nightfall , updated for Christmas

When playing GW:nightfall tonight, I noticed that they have updated the entire town for Christmas

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The more I play it, the more I enjoy it..   it’s precious time I spent not working on my shooter!

XNA final version

XNA is now officially out of beta, you can download it directly from Microsoft.

download link

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The XNA team is proud to announce the availability of the 1.0 release of XNA Game Studio Express and the XNA Framework, aimed at helping students and hobbyists build games for Windows and the Xbox 360. This release supports both Windows game development and Xbox 360 development (subscription to the XNA Creators Club is required in order to run XNA-based games on the Xbox 360)

Zune Freebie

 You may or may not like the new Microsoft Zune media player, but Microsoft released a Zune theme for Windows XP. Just download and run this package, it will add a new theme. It’s nice and doesn’t requires a special software.

download link

Ipod shuffle – not podcasts friendly

Today I finally decided to get a small Ipod shuffle. I already have a portable RCA mp3 player that I use at the gym but I wanted something that fully manage my podcasts automatically. By that, I mean that it will remove the podcasts that I have listened to and sync the new one as soon as they are available. After playing with ITunes 7 and doing some searches, it looked like the perfect solution. I went to costco grabbed the last Shuffle on the shelf and headed back home. First thing I did was to copy my poscasts onto it. It worked but something was wrong. There was no option to sync them. The option is in the PODCASTS tab when you click on the Ipod button. Wait, there is no Podcasts tab. I’ve searched into the manual and it says : If you have an iPod shuffle, iTunes-enabled mobile phone, or third-party music player, you can only load podcasts onto it manually. For other iPod models, you can set up iTunes to automatically load podcasts onto your iPod when you connect it.

I think I will bring it back where it came.

The only thing I bought it for, isn’t supported. Will I buy a nano? probably not.

Christmas gift ideas

I’ve compiled a list of cool gadgets for Christmas, have a look

gift ideas

The products are divided by price : below 100$, 100-200$, 200-300$

Pains of war

Yesterday I was in a hurry. I wanted to play a quick game of Gears of war. Thinking it would move me faster in the game menus, I was smashing the A button like a mad. What happened? instead of reloading my old game, I created a new campaign, which deleted my previous saved game.  I was forced to start the game from the beginning,  that sucks!!!!!!!!!

At least there are multiples paths that you can take in the game. I tried alternates routes and that was fun.

Linux kernel 2.6.19

What’s new for this release:

• GFS2 :  a clustering filesystem developed mainly by Red Hat
• EXT 4 : an evolution (not a redesign from zero) of EXT3
• Ecryptfs : crypted file system layer
• new drivers
• Support physical cpu hotplug  and memory hot-add in x86-64
• and lot more

Apple IPhone details

 Some details were leaked about the Apple iPhone. Here are the features :

• January launch on “all” providers, both CDMA and GSM
• Extremely small form factor
• Two battery design (with single charger) — one for playing music, the other for phone functions
• Flash memory: 4GB for $249, 8GB for $449
• “Slide-out keyboard”
• Possibly touchscreen

link to the actual patent filled by Apple

shiny new HD-DVD drive

Just bought the xbox360 add-on HD-DVD drive. I was able to get one for 199$cdn – 15$ rebate with a free king kong movie and free king kong game. The quality of the King Movie is realllllllly great. I never saw a prettier image on my tv. This drive is a must, go get one. It comes with a free remote which is a bit longer that the one I already have (I have the X360 special edition that came with a free remote). Compared to the one I already had, the new one have extra buttons for switching the tv channels (0-9 + 100).

Here are the things I noticed:

• supports both HD-DVD and standard DVD
• I found no way of adjusting the ‘picture’ setting which is a common feature on many dvd players. This is not a big issue, since you normally have a button on the TV for that purpose
• Did not find a way to zoom on the image (was a common feature on most dvd players)
• The speed at which you can play a DVD and a HD-DVD AREN’T the same. On the HDDVD, you have PAUSE,PLAY, x0.5, x2 , x4,x8x,16,x32. You have more control on the speed on a standard DVD. Not a big issue unless you want to see a scene in slow motion.
• Skipping chapters is slower on a HD movie, skipping on a standard DVD is incredibly fast.

I also bought Sleepy Hollow and MI3. I only had time to check the quality of KingKong and Sleepy Hollow. When watching KK, you definitely notice the superb quality. I was surprised to see three 5.1 soundtracks (including french, yeah!!). Sleepy Hollow’s quality was not on the same level. The movie is older and it shows. It’s not really the fault of the technology, blame it on the master film. If you own it in the DVD format, it’s not worth the upgrade.

The coolest thing about this machine is that the movie playback is done in software. Which means, they can add useful functions as they are needed.

If you like high-def TV, you need this player.

Xbox 360 HD DVD Player