General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Opera Shows "Featherweight" UI

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 07:15 PM PDT

Browser vendors are making a conscious effort to make their browsers as self-effacing as possible. As a result, modern browsers usually feature a minimalist UI design that gives precedence to the web over the web browser. Norwegian browser vendor Opera Software also has something similar in mind for its eponymous browser with the new "Featherweight" UI.

According to Jan Henrik Helmers of Opera User experience and Graphics (UxG), project Featherweight is intended to make the browser "as light, bright and user-friendly as possible—without sacrificing power or flexibility."

"Featherweight has been under wraps until now, so that we may present a comprehensive solution, not bits and pieces," Helmers wrote in a blog post. 'Some changes are highly visible, such as those to the address and status bars, but you will find that we have reworked much of the skin throughout—including a brand new icon set."

The most notable features of the Featherweight UI are as follows:

  • Brand new toolbar icon set
  • Brighter, softer colors for backgrounds and borders
  • Padding and alignment improvements
  • Updated status bar design and content
  • No more button borders in the address bar
  • The Home and Fast Forward buttons now optional
  • New "tab fold" attention state - no more blue blob
  • New window gradient for OS X

 

Acer AC700 Chromebook Shipping This Week for $350

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 04:11 PM PDT

Samsung was the first to release a Chromebook built around Google's Chrome OS platform, but if the high price tags ($430 for the Wi-Fi model, $500 for the 3G version) had you down in the dumps, lift your head up. Acer is coming to the rescue with its first Chromebook, the AC700, which will begin shipping "this month" starting at $350. Since we're on the home stretch for the month of June, Acer will have to release the AC700 within the next 3 days to make good on its promise.

"We are pleased to be one of Google's leading launch partners delivering a new experience in cloud computing for customers with our new Acer AC700 Chromebook," said Arif Maskatia, CTO, Acer. "As a leader in the mobile computing space, we strive to offer customers the widest range of mobile computing devices to support the many ways our customers connect to their world. The Acer AC700 represents the future of computing as it shows how they can access the cloud to vastly improve the simplicity, security and speed of their online experience."

The A700 boasts an 11.6-inch HD display that's slightly smaller than Samsung's 12.1 inch display. Other specs are similar, including:

  • Intel Atom N570 dual-core processor
  • 2GB DDR3 memory
  • Intel GMA 3150 graphics
  • 16GB SSD
  • 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • Two USB 2.0 ports
  • HDMI
  • 4-in-1 memory card reader
  • Full size keyboard with oversize trackpad
  • HD webcam

And of course the main attraction is Google's Chrome OS. There will be a 3G version made available "later this summer," though Acer didn't mention a price.

Image Credit: Acer

Your Platinum Credit Card Commands a Mere $35 on the Black Market

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT

Supply and demand. It's a simple and fundamental economic model of price determination in a market. We're not going to cover all the particulars and instead will assume you have at least a basic understanding of how it works (if not, Investopedia breaks it down in plain English). The reason we bring it up is because your credit card -- that Platinum one jammed in your wallet -- is worth a mere $35 in the black market. Your Corporate card fetches $45. In other words, it costs more to take the family to Green Lantern at the local cinema than it does to purchase a stolen credit card.

We're not pulling those numbers out of thin air; they come from a recent NPR.org report in which an FBI agent demonstrated how to purchase pilfered credit cards from underground sites.

"To even be able to see the site -- to register and get a password here -- [FBI agent Keith] Mularski had to use an alias to persuade two criminals already on the inside to vouch for his criminality," NPR writes. "It's sort of the exact opposite of getting two references when you're applying for a job; rather than vouching for you as an upstanding, law-abiding citizen, you're getting people to attest to your deviousness."

At this particular site, Mularski explains that in order to become a seller, you have to provide a sample of 50 cards to each reviewer, who would then test them out and write a review. It was at this unnamed site that credit cards were going for $35 (Platinum) and $45 (Corporate).

It's a rather fascinating write-up that's short and detailed, taking you on a quick journey from purchasing stolen credit cards to having them converted into actual pieces of plastic. There aren't enough details to make this a tutorial by any means, so you can check the pitchforks and torches at the door. But it does provide a glimpse into the underground economy where supply is so great that your personal details don't command nearly as much as you might think.

Build It: Convert Your Home Office Into the Ultimate Home Theatre

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 02:30 PM PDT

Is it possible to convert a standard home office into a surround sound home theater with minimal fuss?

I have an average-size spare bedroom that mostly functions as a home office and gaming room, and has been used primarily by me. Given the cramped quarters of San Francisco apartments, I set out to make the room less me-centric and more family-friendly by transforming this home office into a home office theater. The goal was to create a room suitable for three things: normal PC computing, big-screen surround sound movie viewing with no reconfiguration needed, and big-screen gaming. Ancillary goals were to make the room feel less like a cluttered man cave, and to avoid breaking the bank.

For the most part, I think I got this one right.

Ingredients

Component Spotlight: Audio

YAMAHA SP-2200 DIGITAL SOUND PROJECTOR

This is the secret sauce of my digital home theater build. The YSP-2200 delivers big, rich home theater sound at what feels like a bargain rate.


Yamaha's YSP-2200 Digital Sound Projector produces accurate tones in all ranges and accurate surround sound effects.

The trick with this build is that I wanted to be able to connect my PC as well as my PlayStation 3 to the 1080p projector. Prior to this, I'd heard considerable praise heaped on Yamaha's sound projector, and Maximum Tech editor Michael Brown recommended I check out Yamaha's YSP-2200. I'm glad I did.

The YSP-2200 consists of two parts: a 37.13x3x5.75-inch center unit and a 17.13x5.38x13.75-inch subwoofer. It uses complex algorithms and an automated self-calibration routine to determine the acoustic properties of any room, and then projects discrete sound channels at walls and other barriers in the room to recreate the surround sound experience. Frankly, the 5.1 and 7.1 modes really surprised me given the size, enough so that it's hard to imagine ever buying a space-consuming six- or seven-speaker set again.

It also supports HDMI 1.4a, making it 3D-compatible down the road. Not surprisingly, given the acoustic quality and reduced footprint, this is a category that is quickly gaining in popularity. We're starting to see more and more sound projectors on the market every year. It's worth noting that Yamaha makes both lower-end and higher-end sound projectors, as do a number of audio companies, including Boston Acoustics and Polk.

Component Spotlight: Video

EPSON 8700UB

So much for not breaking the bank. The moment we got our hands on Epson's 8700UB projector, we knew it was destined to be the visual centerpiece of this project. Truth be told, it's not that easy to find high-quality 1080p projectors that don't cost a fortune. The low-end of the price scale in this category includes Optoma's highly touted HD20 ($900 retail), and Epson's PowerLite 8350 ($1,100 retail).

The picture quality of the 8700UB is superb, and the 1,600 lumen output (which increases to 1,830 in Dynamic mode) allows it to function surprisingly well with some ambient light present.


You can find cheaper 1080p projectors, but few deliver the sharpness, brightness, and image-throw versatility of Epson's 8700UB.

I really love two of this projector's features. First, an adjustable 2.1:1 manual zoom lens allows you to throw a 110-inch diagonal image from variable distances ranging from 11 feet, 9 inches all the way to 25 feet, 1 inch. This allowed me to run a 120-inch image in my 15x13-foot room. Second, the projector allows you to shift the image position vertically and horizontally, which allowed for convenient installation in the corner of my room. (It's worth noting that using the zoom lens does reduce the brightness—Projector Central reports that this drop-off can range from 18 to 36 percent, depending on zoom level).

I spent a lot of time contemplating a wide variety of projection screens to go with the Epson projector. I drooled over a number of higher-end motorized screens, dreaming of push-button conversion to theater mode before settling on a simple manual screen with a 1.1 gain. It works great. (Gain indicates the reflectivity of any screen or projection surface. A 1.0 gain is considered normal. Most conventional screens have gains in the 1.0 to 1.3 range.)

Regardless of the lumens and the slightly reflective screen, I still found that the best condition for the greatest visual quality was darkness. With notions of weekend-long sessions of Portal 2 and Shogun 2 in mind, I purchased an inexpensive vinyl pull-down shade for the large window in this room. In an effort to keep my girlfriend happy, I installed the shade inside of the room's curtains. Success!

Other Important Components

If you remember last year's 3D HTPC build, you may recall that we used a number of interesting accessories. I transferred a few of the devices we used back then to work with this home theater.

The no-brainer of the batch was Ceton's InfiniTV 4. Its four-tuner capacity makes it a recording workhorse, and Ceton recently introduced the ability to split the four tuners among other Windows systems on a network, which makes for easy live streaming. We'll explain how to make this work below, but it's worth noting that you'll also need to get your hands on a multituner CableCARD from your cable provider if you want to use it.

Similarly, I found that Logitech's diNovo Bluetooth keyboard and Glide TV's remote control mouse granted me full range of Media Center controls and some basic gaming controls at a distance. Razer's Onza Tournament Edition controller rounds out my collection of input devices.

More and more, Warpia's StreamHD is becoming an essential part of my home theater. It's great because it allows my friends and family to quickly and easily run media (including music) from their laptops to the big screen and receiver. A USB dongle plugs into a laptop, which then wirelessly transmits up to a 1080p signal to the soundbar and then on to the projector. As I mentioned in my review of the StreamHD, some compression artifacts are visible at the higher resolutions, but picture quality is surprisingly clean.

Key Steps In Home Office Conversion
Step 1: Rearrange the Room

The first step in converting my office into a hybrid office theater was to rearrange the furniture, desk, and equipment. Oh, the equipment.

Prior to the conversion, I had a typical office setup, with a desk facing the window, and an old 36-inch CRT (hey, at least it was 1080p) and stereo system situated on a 7-foot-long wooden media cabinet. Inside the cabinet was my cable box and PlayStation 3.


BEFORE: In terms of shape and size, this layout worked perfect as a makeshift office. However, the TV, cable box, and room layout make it inherently antisocial. The computer is essentially the center of the room, and the weird angles caused by the TV and couch aren't very inviting.

One of the goals of this project was to upgrade the CRT to a more impressive-looking (and larger) projection display more suitable for games and HD movies. My other goal was to be able to extend my PC's desktop onto a projected image for gaming, movies, videos, and more. Secondary goals were to ditch my cable box and enable PS3 action on the big screen.

The worst part about redesigning an office/theater room is that you have to spend a whole lot of time unplugging cables. After a few hours, the room was littered with about 45 different types of cables. I placed them all in a box and set them aside. With the hope that I'd never have to use them again, I removed the TV, cable box, speakers, and more from the room. I then set about shifting the furniture around to find the ideal arrangement.

Ultimately, I discovered that the most effective configuration for watching media on the projector would be to use the longest dimension of the room for theater viewing. This allowed for a more theater-like feel, and it conveniently allowed me to place my computer in an ideal location on the far side of the room across from the door.


AFTER: After shifting the furniture around two times, I finally locked in on a format that allows the room to function as an office, home theater, and den. The window provides natural light for the room while working or lounging. And using the longest part of the room as the theater throw makes for a more cinematic experience.

Prior to rearranging the furniture, I measured the couch, desk, and media cabinet and made some sketches. However, after spending several half-days arranging and rearranging the furniture in this room, it became clear to me that the only way to find the optimum configuration is to explore as many possibilities as you can.

Step 2: Mount the Projector

In an effort to avoid having to hard mount my projector to the ceiling multiple times, I used a makeshift series of boxes situated in the corner of this room for a few weeks until I was absolutely certain the room configuration was right.

After examining a series of projector ceiling mounts, I took a chance on a mount a friend recommended: Atdec's flush-mounting telehook device. At $55, it's affordable, but also sturdy. Out of the box, it looks a little bit like a spider—this flexible design allows it to easily latch onto a number of projectors.

The first step in mounting the projector is to detach the ceiling/wall mount mechanism so that you can more easily attach the mount to the projector (below, left). This is easily accomplished using the included hex wrench.

  

The next step is to determine the center of gravity for your projector. This is important because you want to make sure the projector is properly balanced when you attach it to the mount. You can do this by holding the projector with your hands, and sliding your fingers back and forth on the x and y axis until the projector feels balanced. Mark these axes with a pencil or pen (above, right). The area where they intersect is where you're going to locate the center of the flush mount.

Now it's time to attach the mount to the projector. To do this, you'll need to place the projector mount in the center point, and then screw the appropriate-length mounting arms to the center mount. Once you do this, you can tighten up all the mounting arms, and you can then attach the entire mount to the screw holes on the projector (below, left). Use the rubber standoffs to ensure a snug connection (below, right).

You're pretty much done from here. All you have to do now is attach the ceiling/wall mount to your ceiling, which is easily accomplished, and then attach the projector mount to it. The whole process shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes.

   

Step 3: Run and Connect Cables

The YSP-2200 has three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output as well as optical, S/PDIF, and analog audio inputs. This allowed me the convenience of running all my video sources—PC, PS3, and Warpia StreamHD—directly to the soundbar. I could then run a single, long HDMI cable from the soundbar directly to the projector.


Like many mid- to high-end receivers, Yamaha's YSP-2200 allows you to run all your video cables through the device to the display.

One quick note on HDMI cabling: If you're going to have a long run, like I do, from either your speakers to your projector, and/or from your PC to the projector, it's important to know the limitations. Typically, high-speed HDMI cables are capable of longer runs, up to 15 meters (almost 50 feet). They're also able to transmit 1080p and greater signals. Standard HDMI cables are not able to transmit signals over long distances, and top out at 1080i.

I also took advantage of this cable-reconnect job to organize my cables a little more effectively. I zip-tied the slack loops on my cables, and also clipped the long HDMI runs from my PC to the Yamaha YSP-2200 and from the YSP-2200 to the Epson projector.

Step 4: Get TV Tuner Up and Running

Installing and initializing the Ceton InfiniTV 4 tuner card was a snap. I plugged the device into my rig, plugged my CableCARD into the tuner, installed the drivers, and then initialized the card directly in Windows Media Center (below, left).

I chose to keep two of the card's four tuners assigned to my office PC, and I wanted to assign the other two available tuners to the computer connected to the big screen in my living room at the front of my house. This would effectively allow my household to record and watch TV shows in two different locations with only a single CableCARD device managing the content.

   

The process for accomplishing this was easy. Once Windows Media Center detected the four individual tuners the InfiniTV 4 card provided, I deselected tuners 3 and 4, leaving only tuners 1 and 2 available for my home office PC (above, right).

Later, after I had completed the setup for the office, I used the InfiniTV Network Tuner setup on my living room PC. First, Windows Media Center detected the two available tuners (below, left); it showed the two tuners already in use as grayed out. I quickly selected tuners 3 and 4 (below, right), and was finished.

   
I was able to assign two of the InfiniTV's tuners to my office PC and two to other PCs on my network.

Assessing the Outcome

Between rearranging the furniture and mounting the projector, this project took several weeks to complete, which makes the end result all the more satisfying. I now have a room that is able to function as a basic office, and with a few quick adjustments, I can quickly turn it into a full-on 1080p theater with surround sound and a 110-inch, 16:9 screen. The best part is that I can now play games and movies using my PC or the PlayStation 3.

The real surprise here is the YSP-2200. Holy cow, it's great, so much so that I am kind of kicking myself for buying a 5.1 system for my living room's sound system last year.

Also impressive is the Atdec projector mount. Being able to easily tuck my projector into the top corner of my office frees up lots of space and adds a professional touch that enhances the sense of being in a home theater.

If I had to do anything differently, I'd have used a rigid tension-mounted projector screen instead of a pull-down one. The non-tension pull-down screen works well, but the naturally curved surface produces some slightly distorted images. If I had used an $800 projector, this would be excusable, but a $2,200 projector demands a screen more appropriate for a higher-end home theater.

But in general, this project was a rousing success. The very best part is that I've just become a hero in the eyes of my girlfriend—who no longer has to wonder why two full-time professionals are dedicating an entire room solely to productivity—and my friends. Movie and game nights are way more fun now.

Chrome Web App of the Week: Art Project

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 11:17 AM PDT

The internet has spoiled us rotten. Connected as we are through pictures, words and images, those of us lucky enough to be alive today have unprecedented access to everything that the world has to offer with easy and ability that would leave past generations gobsmacked. And what, for the most part, do we usually end up doing with that access? Chase down memes, and tweet and flash videos of trashy pop tunes, of course. Isn't about time we classed our PCs up a bit with a little culture. If you're nodding your head as you read this, then you'd do well to download Google's Art Project, our Chrome Web App of the Week.

Thanks to a cadre of art-loving Mountain View engineers, Art Project provides an all access viewing to a stunning collection of some of the world's greatest museums and art treasures. By leveraging technology similar to that used with Google Street View, users are able to stroll through museums such as the National Gallery, The State Hermitage Museum and MoMA, drinking in the massive collection of artwork they have to offer. Turning to individual works, Art Project users can view a single painting in its entirety, or zoom in painfully close and take advantage of a high resolution view of the work that's sharp enough to reveal individual brush strokes.

Not sure where to start? No problem. Art Project offers an informative video to give you the low down on the best ways to rock the application, as well as another that provides some insight into the passion that drove its developers to bring it to life in the first place. There are hours of exploring and wonder to be had with this one folks and with Art Project gaining more access to additional collections, galleries and museums on a regular basis, you'll never be left wanting for a little beauty in your life.

Be sure to check back every Monday for another edition of Chrome Web App of the week.

MSI Introduces GT780 Notebook for "Extreme Gamers"

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT

A little less than a month ago, Nvidia unveiled its GeForce GTX 560M graphics processor, the first gaming notebook GPU in the chip maker's GeForce 500M Series and currently the company's fastest mobile graphics part. MSI was one of the OEMs who committed to building laptops around the new part, and making good on its promise, MSI just unveiled its GT780 gaming notebook, which it describes as "the dream machine long awaited by gamers worldwide."

The other star of the show is Intel's Core i7 2630QM processor (2GHz, 6MB cache) with Turbo Boost 2.0 technology. Other features and specs include:

  • 17.3-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display or HD+ (1600x900) with LED backlight
  • Up to 16GB of DDR3 memory
  • Various HDD and SSD options, including up to 750GB SATA 7200RPM + Intel 120GB SSD
  • DVD burner or Blu-ray reader
  • 2x USB 3.0; 3x USB 2.0; 1x eSATA; SD (SC/HC)/MMC/MS (Pro)/xD card reader
  • 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; WLAN; Bluetooth 3.0; GbE LAN
  • 9-cell battery
  • Windows 7 Home/Premium/Ultimate

MSI's usual assortment of technologies apply, including Turbo Drive Engine (TDE) for one-touch overclocking. No word yet on price or availability.

Image Credit: MSI

Supreme Court Blasts California's Violent Videogame Ban

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 10:29 AM PDT

Gamers and free speech advocates alike scored a major victory today as the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a controversial California law that restricts the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors. Following a majority vote, the Supreme Court ruled that the law violates the First Amendment, noting that California sought to "create a wholly new category of content-based regulation that is permissible only for speech directed at children. That is unprecedented and mistaken."

In October 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was governor of California at the time, signed into a law a bill that would punish anyone who sells or rents a violent videogame to a minor with a $1,000 fine. Games classified as violent were any in which the player has the option of "killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being."

"Even where the protection of children is the object, the constitutional limits on governmental action apply," Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the ruling. "California's legislation straddles the fence between addressing a serious social problem and helping concerned parents control their children. Both ends are legitimate, but when they affect First Amendment rights they must be pursued by means that are neither seriously underinclusive nor seriously overinclusive."

As you might expect, the Entertainment Software Association was tickled pink by the ruling, stating that "the Supreme Court affirmed what we have always known -- that free speech protections apply every bit as much to videogames as they do to other forms of creative expression like books, movies and music."

California State Sen. Leland Yee wasn't nearly as thrilled, saying that today's ruling "put the interests of corporate America before the interests of our children," and as a result, "Walmart and the videogame industry will continue to make billions of dollars at the expense of our kids' mental health and the safety of our community."

You can read the ruling here (PDF).

G Data Survey: Users Don't Know Jack About Malware

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 09:15 AM PDT

The past couple of months have seen the web come under attack in a series of high profile security breaches, and if there's a silver lining to it all, it's that the attacks have made PC security a hot topic. Turns out it's a much needed one, not just for corporations, but for end users as well. According to a new survey by G Data, users have a lot to learn when it comes to malware and taking proper security measures.

G Data's Security Survey 2011 (PDF) set out to discover how well informed Internet users are about the genuine threats in cyberspace, the perpetrators' methods, whether younger or older users are more astute in terms of IT security, and handful of other related questions. Here are some of the key findings of G Data's online survey of 15,559 Internet users in eleven countries between the ages of 18 to 65:

  • More than 89 percent of survey respondents have security software installed on their system, with 48 percent relying on free software
  • Nearly 44 percent of survey participants regard the scope of service and quality of free security software as equivalent to purchased solutions
  • Only 4 percent of survey respondents are running unprotected PCs

So far there's not much to criticize, not unless you want to argue whether or not free AV software can be as effective as paid security suites. However, here are some of the more concerning key findings:

  • 5 percent said they have no idea whether or not they have any security software installed on their system
  • Most survey participants who said they run free AV software also said they where using an Internet security suite with a personal firewall, anti-spam protection, and web protection, even though these items aren't included in free AV applications
  • 93 percent said they are convinced that malware has a distinct, identifiable effect on the PC, and over 45 percent assume their computer will immediately crash if infected
  • More than half of respondents believe most malware is spread through email attachments; G Data says this notion is outdated and most malware is spread through URLs

The lengthy report goes on to list several malware myths that, according to the survey results, show "Americans are dangerously out-of-touch with the sophistication of today's threat landscape."

Image Credit: despair.com

Citigroup: Hackers Stole $2.7 Million from 3,400 Accounts

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 08:43 AM PDT

No matter what the suddenly disbanded hacking group known as LulzSec may have led the world to believe, not all security breaches are simply about stirring up trouble to embarrass the target and gain enough XP to increase the notoriety meter. Sometimes its about cold, hard cash. Just ask Citigroup, which says a hack attack last month stole millions of dollars from thousands of credit card accounts.

CNN says Citigroup acknowledged hackers made off with around $2.7 million from around 3,400 accounts on May 10. The damage could have been much worse. Hackers actually infiltrated 360,083 accounts, but fewer than 1 percent of the compromised accounts had money removed from them. For those that were affected, Citigroup says they have nothing to fear.

"Customers are not liable for any fraud on the accounts and are 100 percent protected," Citigroup said.

That's good news to Citigroup account holders, though it's a bit troubling the bank waited more than three weeks after discovering the hack to begin sending notification letters. Regardless, Citigroup insists it "took immediate action to rectify the situation and protect any customers potentially at risk."

MSI: Our A75MA-G55 Motherboard Can Kick Your Mobo's Backside

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 07:48 AM PDT

MSI dabbles in both motherboards and graphics cards (as well as other components and products), and maybe that gives them an advantage when it comes to building boards for AMD's upcoming Fusion processors. Whether or not that's the case, MSI isn't bashful about laying claim to the "world's fastest mainboard with integrated graphics," the newly released A75MA-G55 built around AMD's FM1 socket.

"With nearly 25 years of mainboard overclocking experience built into the A75MA-G55, it is the perfect tool to enjoy the ultimate performance of AMD's upcoming A-series APUs," MSI explains. "High ranking overclocker Toppc, who recently won MSI's ultimate overclocking championship MOA in Taiwan, broke several world records for Integrated Graphics performance such as a 3DMark 11 Performance of P1645 points."

The A75MA-G55 board is a micro-ATX part based on AMD's Hudson D3 chipset. It features MSI's Military Class II components. four DIMM slots with support for up to 32GB of memory, four USB 3.0, eight USB 2.0 ports, six SATA 6Gbps, 8-channel audio, GbE LAN, HDMI, DVI, D-Sub, and MSI's Click BIOS concept based on UEFI.

No word on price or availability.

Image Credit: MSI
Posted by Shri Krishna

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