Smackdown!

Vrooming through the sizzling video game console market.

Yeh duniya khel tamasha
Ethhe jeene ki bhasha,
Kanu khich pich tan ke shoo shaa
Ede chakde phatte…
Oola hoo! Remember these lyrics from that recent flick Khosla ka Ghosla? I can’t help thinking of these lines gawking at the khel-tamasha raging in the video gaming console arena. This genre of gaming has hot-footed into its 7th generation on all four paws this November. The battle that was blasted off with the launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360 on November 22 last year has all making of the Ultimate Joystick Joust. Raring to scorch the combat zone comes Sony's PlayStation 3 (released on November 11, 2006), with Nintendo's Wii gnashing nastily at its heels almost week later (November 19, 2006).

Before heading into the rumbles and tumbles of the smackdown, let’s get one thing straight at kick-off: A video game console is a dedicated electronic device designed to play video games which usually uses a separate television or a monitor for viewing. Earlier, game consoles were a distinct breed that employed a TV for display and did not support standard PC accessories like keyboards and modems. But now those lines have blurred. Nowadays, it is easier to look upon gaming consoles interactive entertainment computers that do not choose to undertake “serious” computing tasks.

Microsoft Xbox 360
www.xbox.com/xbox360
The Xbox 360 CPU comprises three separate IBM PowerPC-based core processors that clock a sizzling 3.2 GHz each. The console is armed to the teeth with a 500MHz ATI graphics processor with 10MB of embedded DRAM, 512MB GDDR3 RAM and 700MHz DDR, 20 GB hard disk, a DVD drive, wireless controllers, three USB 2.0 ports, a WiFi adaptor slot, and an Ethernet port. Being a next gen gizmo, it is ready for the HDTV era and delivers all its games in high definition format at 720p and 1080i—thus becoming the first home video game console to do so. (Oh yes, it works work with your regular TVs too.)

To shore up its awesome hardware capabilities, Xbox has used its headstart to build up a strong array of games on this platform. Last week Microsoft also launched its TV and Movie download service in the US allowing 360 owners to view standard and high-definition TV shows and movies sitting at home. Just released add-ons include: HD-DVD player, wireless steering wheel, headset, networking adapter, camera etc. Price: Rs.23,990.

Sony PlayStation 3
www.playstation.com
The king of the console gaming ring’s newest offering features a Cell processor with PowerPC-base core running at 3.2GHz, backed by an Nvidia G71 550MHz RSX chip for graphics. There is 256MB of 3.2GHz XDR for the main RAM and 256MB of 700MHz GDDR3 VRAM as memory. A 20GB hard drive sits in base model, while the upgrade comes with 60GB. Six USB 2.0 ports, a memory stick standard/Duo (in the upgrade model), a PRO (upgrade), an SD standard/mini card reader, and a CompactFlash drive (upgrade), an HDTV out, an AV multi out, and digital out comprise the I/O options. And ah, there’s in-built WiFi compatibility too. Nothing to beat that kind of ammo, dudes! Controllers: Bluetooth. Disc media: Blu-ray, DVD. Backward compatibility: Of course; with both PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

Unarguably, that’s a zinger of a config. Also in PS3’s favour are its familiar PSP like interface, all high-def games, free online gaming, and no external power supply. So what are the downers? Paltry selection of games for now and a hefty $600 price tag.

Nintendo Wii
http://wii.nintendo.com
Originally dubbed Revolution, this most compact of consoles in the new crowd, Wii is built around a PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway"), developed jointly with--and manufactured by—IBM, and an ATI graphics processing unit. For input, it has USB 2.0 expansion ports, a bay for SD memory cards, and built-in support for WiFi Internet access. Four remotes can communicate with a console wirelessly. The Wii features a single AV multi-output port for component, composite or S-video. A single self-loading media bay plays DVDs as well as 8-cm Nintendo GameCube discs. Backward compatiblilty? Yes, with GameCube, NES, SNES and Nintendo 64, via a virtual console.

Wii real uniqueness lies in its revolutionary motion sensitive remote control styled controllers. Apart from a motion-sensing, multi-function Remote, the Wii also comes with another ergonomically contoured, motion-sensing control device with an analog stick to assist in character movement called the Nunchuk. Bundled also is one freebie: Wii Sports, a medley which includes tennis, golf, baseball, bowling and boxing games. No DVD movie playback abilities here yet. Price: $250.

To see who comes out tops as the khilaryon ka khilari, keep watching this space. Meanwhile, hum this:
Yeh duniya mast kalandar
Taa ate utte bethha bandar,
Samjhe apnoo sikandar
Ede chakde phatte, chakde phatte, chakde phatte…

Going the Whole Hog

A freeware feast on a platter called the TheOpenCD…

If you have been following my cawings in this space, you must be aware of the type of software that I usually consort with. Most of my regular peckings, pawings, pokings and proddings are limited to software programs that money can’t buy but everyone can download legally, free of cost. Yeah, freeware. Well, this month--in continuance of my umbilical bond with like-bellied, ever-hungry freebie mongers--I go the whole hog and tell you about something that is quite the mummyji and daddyji of all free downloads. This something is called TheOpenCD (www.theopencd.org).

TheOpenCD is a single-point aggregation of some of the best, most stable, as well as hugely popular, free and Open Source Windows programmes available in the world currently. These programmes encompass most universal computing tasks that you and I may need on a daily basis: Word processing, e-mail, presentations, web browsing, image manipulation, gaming, or even web design. (You may notice that we have already spoken about many of these in this column here.)

Hurmph! A few gyani fellas out there may grunt that the stuffing in each of these categories is not all that very comprehensive. Maybe... But a one-stop collection like this is hard—if not impossible--to come by. So no arguments.

Bundled together as an ISO file, TheOpenCD is ready for burning straight onto a CD. And each of the numerous applications on it is available for download individually from the OpenCD website as well. Now let’s sneak a quick peak at what’s on the platter…

PRODUCTIVITY

• AbiWord, a decent standalone word processor that does just about everything you can belt out at the keyboard and whisk around with the mouse.
• MoinMoin, a very good collaborative tool to generate, organize, and manage content via wikis (easily editable web pages).
• OpenOffice.org, the famous, full-featured productivity suite that is fighting the might of Goliath (Microsoft Office); it includes a word processor, spreadsheet, web page editor and presentation programme.
• PDFCreator, a well-tempered Adobe Acrobat workalike that can create PDF documents from any Windows programme.

DESIGN

• Blender, a pretty advanced 3D modeling software for producing creating animations, generating renderings, performing post-production, interactive creation and playback.
• GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, a good, powerful and compelling imaging solution; can’t beat Photoshop, but it’s legally free!
• Nvu, pronounced “en-view”, is a Macromedia's Dreamweaver workalike that weighs in as a surprisingly full-featured what-you-see-is-what-you-get web page editor.

INTERNET

• Firefox, my fav web browser, that ably takes on if not licks IE7; TheOpenCD still has to update its download to FF 2.0 though.
• Gaim, an instant messenger (IM) client that can chat it out single-handedly in real time with any supported network—from AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, to Zephyr.
• Thunderbird, a rock-steady e-mail client that can wing it against Outook Express.

MULTIMEDIA

• Audacity, a groovy audio editing programme which can record, mix sounds, apply effects using a variety of filters, and provide playback.
• Celestia, an amazing three-dimensional simulation of the universe based on current astronomical information.
• Really Slick Screensavers, some mesmerizing, non-static eye candy (fractals, light trails, fireworks) for you desktop.

UTILITIES

• 7-zip, a beaut of a ute to create, compress, decompress files into 7zip, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, RPM, and DEB archive formats.
• Notepad2, a neat and nifty replacement for Windows Notepad; need we say more?

GAMING

• Sokoban YASC (Yet Another Sokoban Clone), that age-old crate pushing game; crazily effortless, yet abominably addictive.
• Battle for Wesnoth, a turn-based, fantasy-themed strategy game; good (no, not awesome) graphics, first-class gameplay, must try genre.

Of Masters and Commanders

Life and freeware beyond Windows Explorer.

“To wives and sweethearts. May they never meet!” quips Captain Jack Aubrey during the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Nothing to do with wives and sweethearts, this is the story of a gutsy British frigate, the HMS Surprise and its combat with a French warship. Amazing cinematography, riveting performances (not just from Russel Crowe), soul stirring music, and an enthralling storyline with many twists in the tale. I’ve seen it several times. So should you.

And it is high time you graduated to becoming the total master and commander of your little PC’s file management system. Thing is, we have become so accustomed and dependent on that creaky, stodgy, podgy Windows Explorer for all and sundry file management tasks that we can’t seem to think beyond it. Anything above and beyond WE? Baah, quite impossible! Is there? Aye, aye captain! And it doesn’t require any courage to sail into the unknown. Just follow my wake and make these itsy-bitsy downloads…

A43
A43 is a zippy little freeware file management utility that offers a dual-pane views for quick-gun-Murgun file management, a speedy file finder, a rapid proggie launcher, and favorite buttons to fast-open oft used folders. It features an integrated text editor which can cope with files of unlimited sizes and has in-built zip/unzip features that can create self-extracting zip archives and be deployed both via drag-n-drop files, or click-to-open. A43 requires no installation so you can nip it on a pen drive and take it where ever you go. The program’s config info is stored in a local .ini file, no data is written to the system registry and it nibbles approximately 18 megs of RAM when in use—and 2-3 MB when idling.
OS: Windows XP, 2000
www.primitus.us/a43

CubicExplorer
This is an easy-to-use file manager-cum-browser that is powerful enough to handle multiple directories at the same time. Though a tad lean on meat, it has the basic ingredients in place: Tabbed browsing, a built-in text editor, bookmarks, file search, file quick viewing and thumbnails, free disk space info, and recycle bin control. And ah, it also support for multiple languages. A good tool for those who need something better then Windows Explorer to manipulate files, without the baggage of wading through a complicated and exhaustive feature set. Brawn hungry honchos may wanna look elsewhere. Else hang loose for the next release because yon lad has solid potential.
OS: Windows XP, NT, 2000, ME, 98, 95
www.cubicreality.com/ce/download

ExplorerXP
Despite the advantage of tabs, this drag and drop file manager is very Explorer-like in its work and feel. At just over 400 KB it is compact; and works fast. And unlike WE, it allows multiple folders browsing, offers file merge/split facilities, bristles with a single step multi-file rename tool, shows individual folder sizes, and boasts configurable keyboard shortcuts. In addition, it features advanced copy/move functionality, provides easy access to My Computer, Recycle Bin, My Documents and the Desktop, covers Unicode support and does USB devices. Good step up guys.
OS: Windows XP, 2000
www.explorerxp.com/index.html#download

freeCommander
FC reminds me of my Norton Commander on DOS days and is my personal fav. Here’s why: It is very user-friendly, has customisable dual-panel (horizontal and vertical) with optional tree views; built in file viewer to view files in hex, binary, text or image format; built-in archive handling for ZIP (read, write), CAB (read, write), RAR (read); nested archive handling, searching and viewing; and easy access to Control Panel, system folders, Desktop and Start menu. In addition to the de rigor file and folder copy-move-delete-rename file routines, you can “wipe” files, filter files, select files in either Windows or Norton Commander style, split files, modify file dates/attributes, compare and sync folders, calculate folder sizes, peg folder/program favorites, define columns for detailed view, abuse the DOS command line, connect to a network drive, get multiple language support… and more.
OS: Windows XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95
www.freecommander.com/fc_downl_en.htm

XPlorer
Another quick loading, fast paced, small-footprint, multi-tabbed offering. Very Windows Explorer. But much better. Multiple tabs means that you can have a lots of locations opened at the same time for easy file management. There are loads of keyboard shortcuts--for virtually all commands making it a very snappy affair to use once you get the hang of it. It has an internal file viewer and editor, file toucher, splitter-joiner, wild card file selections, file filters and command prompt. In terms of memory, it takes up 16 MB of RAM and one meg of disk space (so again a highly-portable tool to carry along). Screen refreshes are a bit of an issue. But it has got the proteins for a definite looksee.
OS: Windows XP, 2003 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95
http://guti.webcindario.com/static.php?page=XPlorer

Browser Battles

Internet Explorer 7 versus Firefox 2.0. Which is the better browser?

There is a little tale doing the rounds on Net these days. According to this, the earliest NASA astronauts in space discovered that their pens wouldn't function in zero gravity conditions as the ink could not flow down to the writing surface. (Houston, we have a problem, eh?) Eventually, almost a decade and $12 million later, the NASA’s R&D nerds developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on practically any surface, and at temperature--from below freezing to over 300 degrees Celsius. And what did the Russians do? They just deployed pencils instead. Hah! I am not sure if this story is true or not. But it is allegorical in highlighting the difference between focusing on problems versus concentrating on solutions.

And that indirectly brings us to two mini-events that took place end- October: The launch of Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2.0, the two dominating web browsers. IE7 has taken five years to cook (IE6 was born in October 2001). FF2 follows less than two years after version 1 and about 10 months after version 1.5 was put out to pasture. While the upgrade of IE can be called a long overdue overhaul, FF can be summed up as fine-tuning an already feature-laden offering. So are both browsers finally at par? Hmmm…

Internet Explorer 7
www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx
IE, which has steadily been losing marketshare to FF, has tried hard to play catch up with its new rendition. To bring IE up to speed with the competition, the prime features that Microsoft has included in this 15MB download are: A neat new Windows Vista-like user interface, much-needed tabbed browsing, good integrated search, excellent RSS newsfeed support, a nifty add-ons manager to promote and distribute the extras, and a useful session-saver option for tabbed windows.

In addition to this, the IE7 development team has spent the last five years squashing IE 6 bugs, enhancing web page programming support, adding quick page zooms, working on a nice little bookmarks panel, churning out a faster rendering engine, and collating and vetting add-ons (www.ieaddons.com). On the much promised security front, IE 7 has beefed up by plugging several security holes, adding an antiphishing tool, SSL3 support, and opt-in support for ActiveX.

Pause mode, for those who feel out of sync… Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is a scam to steal valuable information like credit card, user IDs and passwords via an official-looking e-mail is sent to potential victims pretending to be from their bank or or ISP. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, an Internet security protocol used to validate the identity of a website and to create an encrypted connection for sending credit card and other personal data. (When you making online purchases, check for a lock icon at the bottom of your browser; a “closed” lock icon shows you are on a secure SSL connection.) ActiveX is a set of technologies and tools sheparded by Microsoft that helps programmers create small components or applets (self-sufficient programs, also called ActiveX controls) that can be installed and run on networks. ActiveX is viciously exploited by evil Web weevils to distribute malware, spyware and adware.

Mozilla Firefox 2.0
www.mozilla.com
With FF2, a lot of the aforementioned is a been-there-done-that case. Being an open-source project that is constantly being worked on by global community of committed techies, Firefox has always taken full advantage of two of its inherent strengths: Speed of development and ability to innovate. While it demonstrates no radical revamps since its last major release less than a year ago, version 2.0 of Firefox polishes and perfects what it has already delivered. On some fronts, FF2 has integrated into the browser what was previously available as extensions or add-ons.

This 5.6 meg download offers perpetual customizability, an improved user interface, excellent browser tab and form control enhancements, a first-rate in-line spell-checker with multi-language support, an admirable auto-complete function for the built-in search engine box and web forms, a competent tab session save as well as reopen closed tabs capability, an outstanding PC crash session recovery function, and a refurbished themes and extensions manager. RSS integration is limited but can be enhanced via extensions like Sage (https://addons.mozilla.org). Security-wise, FF2 has a built-in phishing-detection system to caution you of a "suspected web forgery."

Endgame: For finicky mirchi-masala mongers like me, who like to tool and tinker, taste and tune, smack and squeeze power and performance, Firefox is the chosen one. For those of you who like your Web meal experience pre-cooked, pre-salted, pre-set, Maggi noodles style, IE 7 is the road ahead. Because all said and done, Firefox again sets the bar a few notches higher and remains the browser to beat.

Wacky Ware

Odds and ends from the fringes of tech.

Inventions are often just an improved means to an unimproved end. They are like pretty toys that distract us with their workings, fogging our minds with fancy functions while achieving and delivering nothing more than what their prior editions did. Technology is definitely a lot of fun. But we allow ourselves to drown in our technology, becoming tools of our own tools as it were.

Here’s a look at some odds and ends from the fringes of the tech product universe.

Wooden Memory
Seen anything like this sticking out of a comp or laptop before? Well, neither had I. They look kinda weird because the memory stick is encased in thickish wooden twigs! Yep, these thingies are actual functioning USB memory sticks. According to the manufacturer, the sticks are “manually selected on their natural beauty, and professionally handmade into unique and personal USB memory sticks.” The 2 x 2 x 10 cm USB 2.0 sticks come 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB memory sizes, are suitable for Windows, Linux and MacOS and costs lumber between $50 to $90.
www.oooms.nl/usb

Germ-Killing Keyboard, Mouse
Yep, you read that right, this wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse incorporate an antimicrobial compound. Called AgION, this compound is alleged to prevent the growth of a broad range of bacteria, mold and mildew. Other features include an ergonomic straight keyboard layout, large, full-travel, quiet keys, Windows Vista compatibility, one-touch Internet calling controls, an integrated soft-touch palm rest, and sculpted mouse contours. Both devices cost $100 and boast sophisticated power management which ensures that keyboard batteries can last up to 15 months which the mouse can scuttle around for 6 months at stretch. Flit on…
www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2162,CONTENTID=12130

An Open LED Clock
Take look at this contraption. It is a series of four blocks, each of which measures 2 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches and displays a glowing LED numeral. If you have the inclination to place the blocks in the correct order, the blocks will have the correct time. Mix ‘em up and you’ve got a tech art work. This extraordinary timepiece obviously has to have an extraordinary price tag: $89. Time to time out?
www.gnr8.biz/product_info.php?products_id=274

Helmet for 360-Degree View?
Looks like a three-kilo monster moonman Bubble Helmet. It is. And it aims to revolutionise entertainment by giving couch potatoes and avid video gaming buffs a 360-degree view of whatever they are watching or playing view on a 40 centimetre dome-shaped screen. When will we see this in action? Don’t know. While we await details on this future contraption from electronics giant Toshiba, we need to figure how seriously will it impact munchie management and cola consumption.

Air Purifier, Thermo Clock
Call me a cuckoo for telling you about another quaint clock. But I must. This one sits on your desk, cleans (yep, as in purifies!) the air around and tells you the ambient temperature. And yeah, also tells you the time and date. You can it hook to your PCs USB port ($30), or get the AC adapter version ($36). It features a backlight that comes on when you press the clock body as well as a glowing LED light tells you the time in the dark. The air purifier with negative ion delivery style helps remove impurities in the air in a nine square meter (100 sq. ft) area. Hmmm…
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00194

Mini Shredder
OMG! Can’t think of too many people around me who would want a device like this. Yet, it so odd that I had to tell you about it. This 555 gram device hooks up to you USB port for power. You then feed it all the hardcopy versions of your confidential documents, love notes, scribbles, idling doodles, and unnecessary business cards down its 126 mm throat, two at a time. And it chews these printed pieces of paper in to little strips of scrap. And ah, by the way, it also functions as a letter opener. Go see the demo.
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00197&cat_id=035&dept_id=015

Tailpiece
My constant vagabondings across the cyberspace often take me to wacky, weird websites. Here are two sites that I came across recently that merit a visit or two: The first, www.msdewey.com, is neatly knitted, but utterly annoying search engine with Flash and lots of video. Use it when you have time on your hands and are bored of Googling. The second, www.office-humour.co.uk, a crazy humor site with hundreds of mad little scraps that will bring you many smiles. And a smile as you know is a little curve that sets everything straight…