Author Archives: Robin

FBI Prepares Vast Database Of Biometrics

Posted on by
Reply

Not just fingerprint data from the guilty, not just DNA from anyone entering the USA (I guess they’re guilty of that), but now more biometrics for more people! Irises, face shapes, scars, whatever the FB can think up they’ll be storing. And everybody will be in it. And everyone (well, OK, not everyone, but huge amounts of people – which means for a determined looker everyone) will have access to it. The land of the free huh?

Space Combat Sims

Posted on by
Reply

OK So everyone knows that when playing the legacy of games such as Wing Commander, Privateer and Descent: Freespace, we don’t want too much in the way of realism. There are some great real simulators for space which are tedious and take too much time. If you really want to fly the space shuttle, great. If you want shield management, missles, explosions and lasers that take their time to hit the enemy, then you want one of these games. Where they used to be common, there haven’t been many of them lately. This is the list of cockpit sims – so no Eve online, no Homeworld, allthough they are very well known and respected in their genre.

Microsoft Allegiance is all about multiplayer combat. MS is giving away the source code and has it’s gameplay server available for download. There are still some free public servers available online. Players have different ranks and can do different things. You can fly fighters, capital ships and bases. Build up your forces.

X3: Reunion is a beautiful space game built more on the lines of Elite. There’s not much in the way of storyline and what there is you kind of stumble upon. The universe is huge and very pretty with a massive variety of complex space stations and you can do what you like. Slower paced and more for the explorer.

Space Force Rogue Universe is a single player game where you choose a civilisation and command a squadron of AI aircraft and you follow the storyline. You can trade, craft, upgrade, and explore but the reviews suggest the universe becomes a bit samey and isn’t really that huge allthough the ’empty’ bits of space are gorgeous. This is more combat oriented. with some very imaginative models

Vendetta Online is an alternative to EVE online but with the space combat in the cockpit. It’s been developed by a bunch of four guys and they want to grow the world by changing the universe incrementally. Every Friday there’s an update and it costs $9,99 per month or $6,67 if you buy in blocks of 3 months. It looks good, especially considering the size of the company

Starwraith is an independant publisher with quite a history of space sims.

Evochron Renegades is the latest in the (long) line and has been reviewed very very well indeed. You can explore, trade, race, hide, spy, transport, etc etc, upgrade your ship and has a very nice multiplayer mode where you can go online with friends (up to 24) and take on missions together in your single player upgraded ship. It also features player controlled planet descents, stunning graphics and loads of objects in space you can visit and use as hiding places. It’s also trackIR compatible, with a fully 3D environment.

Sure there are others, but these are the ones I found most interesting. Have fun!

[Edit 20080523]
Jumpgate Evolution promises to be a beautiful space based MMO with some gorgeous screens so far. Very much in development, so no idea how long to wait untill we can play it, but you can sign in to the Beta allready.


Then there’s Starshatter which has been developed by one man(!) since 1997. So the graphics are directx 7, but they’re good enough for the job. The main claim to fame is that as you advance in rank, you get to fly and command more and more powerful ships – fighters, cruisers, destroyers, culminating in being in command of a carrier with wings of fighters and bombers and other capital ships to control. It also comes with a complete SDK allowing you to mod the game to your hearts’ content.


Lifehacker Windows Applications

Posted on by
Reply

Lifehacker has some of its own productivity software on their page:

Windows Applications

Texter (text substitution)
Save countless keystrokes by automatically replacing abbreviations with commonly used phrases you define, like email signatures and common acronyms.

Swept Away (automatic window minimizer)
A simple system tray utility that automatically minimizes applications that you aren’t using.

ClickWhen (timed mouse clicks)
Set up an automated mouse click to run on a window after a user-defined period of time.

Rocker (navigation utility)
A mouse navigation tool that lets you perform common tasks, like moving forward and backward in your browser, by simply rocking your fingers across your left and right mouse buttons.

Dropcloth (desktop background)
Instantly blank out your desktop and all of your running apps with Dropcloth, a Windows copy of previously mentioned Mac-only app Backdrop.

Belvedere (rules-based file processor)
Automatically runs user-defined actions on folders and files (like deleting files X weeks old from your Downloads folder.)

Firefox Extensions

Better Gmail
Enhance Gmail with some of the best available Greasemonkey scripts which add over 30 additional features like keyboard shortcuts, saved searches, secure access, conversation previews, attachment icons and more. Translated into over 25 languages.

Better Gmail 2
Enhance Gmail’s new interface with a collection of the best Greasemonkey user scripts available, which add keyboard shortcuts, secure access, attachment icons and more.

Better GCal
Enhances Google Calendar with a collection of the best Greasemonkey user scripts available in a single interface.

Better GReader
Enhances Google Reader with a collection of the best Greasemonkey user scripts available in a single interface.

Better Flickr
Enhances Flickr with a collection of the best Greasemonkey user scripts available in a single interface.

Better YouTube
Enhances YouTube with a collection of the best Greasemonkey user scripts for YouTube available in a single interface.

About This Site Bookmarks (dynamic, page-based bookmarks)
Quick access meta lookups about the web page you’re viewing. (Featured in PC Magazine)

Command Line Tools

todotxt_sm.jpgTodo.sh (shell script to-do list manager)
Manage that todo.txt file sitting on your desktop with a simple shell script that makes adding, prioritizing, editing, and marking tasks as complete simple from the command line.

Car Race Pimping

Posted on by
Reply

G-tech/Pro is famous for its accelerometers or g-meters. They measure how fast you accellerate, how many G’s you’re pulling, how fast you brake and how that compares to your turns. Their SS ($199) / RR ($299) series are the top of the line, but it’s a bit unfortunate that you need to spend an extra $100,- to be able to export to your PC.

Of course, you could hook up your wii-mote to a laptop and let Excel do the number crunching 🙂

The Expandable Gauge System (EGS) is a real piece of engineering with shift lights, a rev meter, a digital display with loads of measurements all easily plugged in through your cigarette lighter and a controller. You can buy extra modules for it and expand it as much as you like. Starts at around $279

Link to G-Tech/Pro Homepage

Of course there is also the DashDAQ Series II which allows you to set your own gauge layouts on the screen and plug loads of third party elements into it.

But pricing at $695 is a bit steeper

PLX Devices has digital gauges you can customise and skin from your computer starting at $79,- per piece. The DM-200 ODB is full colour, 60mm and OLED.

Many more gadgets of to be found on Racergadget.com

So – you want to be a superhero

Posted on by
Reply

And why not? Apparently there are around 200 ‘real’ superheroes in the USA, fighting crime or just helping the community, dressed in their superhero gear.

You’re going to need a suit though and the best, most durable, crime fighting proof come from here. From a mask to a full battlesuit, this is the place to be for one.

Design your own suit using the handy templates

Then you may want to discuss your hero exploits with others at your HQ. The Heroes Network is the place to be for links, chatrooms, the forum, etc.

It’s crime fighting time!

Downsize DC: refuse to be afraid

Posted on by
Reply

This organisation makes an interesting point: they don’t want to be afraid, and they petition you to send a letter to your government saying something like

I am not afraid of terrorism, and I want you to stop being afraid on my behalf. Please start scaling back the official government war on terror. Please replace it with a smaller, more focused anti-terrorist police effort in keeping with the rule of law. Please stop overreacting. I understand that it will not be possible to stop all terrorist acts. I am not afraid.

Sounds like a good plan to me!

Techdirt: ICANN Finally Realizes Domain Tasting Is A Problem, Might Fix It Sometime This Decade

Posted on by
Reply

Two issues in this story: Because registrars allow you to return a domain without costs within 5 days, domain kiting or tasting allows unscrupulous companies to register a domain, see how much traffic it generates and throw it back for free or re-register it every 5 days, allowing them to get free domains. Apparently the scope of this problem is huge.

The second issue is that so called reputable companies (such as Network Solutions) are posting your searches for domain names, so that above unscrupulous companies can register them before you can.