Negafox's Denhttp://www.negafox.com/Where Everything Geeky GoesPowered by: Forest Blog Copyright 2006 Host ForestBirthday Girl
For your viewing pleasure, I present a slice of cake.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=55http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=55Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:59:04 --200Red Light... Green Light!
My wife and I ate lunch out in Aliso Viejo. I ordered a house special chicken lunch special from Pick-up Stix while my wife ordered chicken alfredo from Pasta Bravo. After lunch, my wife and I went clothes shopping and I purchased a new pin-striped over shirt. After we were finished shopping at the plaza, we were driving home to play World of Warcraft – for the umpteenth millionth time. Unfortunately, unexpected events can happen in our lives which can interrupt our plans, or even the course of one’s life. The former will be more accurate than the latter in this case.

On the way home from our afternoon outing, we were waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Once the light turned green, the intersection appeared to be clear, so I started to proceed to drive through. Unfortunately, a white van appeared to have run what appeared to be a red light and we ended up in a collision with my car flying towards the right. I was able to drive into the spin to pull the car over to the side of the road. After getting out of the car, our vehicle's front-end was smashed and the passenger door was unable to be opened. My wife had to climb out of the back doors to get out of the car. Initially, the other party openly admitted that our light was green while theirs "suddenly turned red". Can we say "beat the light"? A so-called witness stepped in and provided useless information that completely contradicted the stories that myself and the other party claimed. The witness attempted to claim that our light was red and the other party had a green light. Sorry, ma’am, but both parties are in agreement that I had the green light.

Eventually, an ambulance took my wife and I to the hospital as preemptive measures to ensure the baby was alright. Fortunately, the baby turned out fine in the ultrasound and we even learned the baby’s gender: female. Yes, we are going to have a daughter. My wife did not fare so well and she has a fractured knee. She will be on crutches for at least the next four weeks and will be out of work for the next few days. The sheriff's deputy eventually showed up at the hospital to obtain information for the report and harassed me that the entire situation was my fault. Excuse me? I was merely proceeding through a green light while the other party openly admitted to the police officer they were trying to beat the light. The entire accident would have never happened if the other party was not driving so recklessly. The intersection appeared clear so I attempted to proceed through during a green light. The officer was acting like I must have been distracted from possibly a cell phone call or music. I later discovered I accidentally recorded the entire conversation with the other party on my cell phone and they blatantly admitted they ran the light completely red – their light was not even yellow.

The story with the car accident will continue and I am quite sure there will be some fallout. Despite the bad, there were some good as well. We have friends to count on who were there to assist us in our hour of need. Additionally, we now know our baby is a girl. We can now call her "she" instead of "it". She now has an identity, and that makes it feel all the more surreal.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=54http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=54Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:40:18 --200Rock Band
Rock Band unsurprisingly turned out to be an excellent music-based game. Developed by Harmonix, the developers behind the Guitar Hero series, Rock Band feels like what Guitar Hero III would have been if they continued the series. The game plays similarly to the first two Guitar Hero games; however, two new instruments are now supported: drums and microphone for singing. Additional changes include separate boards onscreen to display notes for each player, and completely customizable characters (hair, skin, eye color, shirt, pants, boots, etc.) I highly recommend the game to any fans of the Guitar Hero or Karaoke in general.

Currently, I am playing as the lead guitar and my wife, Heidi, is alternating between the drummer and singer. As we progress through the game we will likely start playing online on Xbox Live.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=53http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=53Sat, 8 Dec 2007 22:00:20 --200PC World Names MacBook Pro The Fastest Vista MachinePC World magazine has named the Apple MacBook Pro the fastest Microsoft Windows Vista notebook of the year. According to PC World magazine, "The fastest Windows Vista notebook we've tested this year is a Mac. Try that again: The fastest Windows Vista notebook we've tested this year--or for that matter, ever--is a Mac. Not a Dell, not a Toshiba, not even an Alienware. The $2419 (plus the price of a copy of Windows Vista, of course) MacBook Pro's PC WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 88 beats Gateway's E-265M by a single point, but the MacBook's score is far more impressive simply because Apple couldn't care less whether you run Windows."]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=52http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=52Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:45:03 --200ATI Radeon HD 3800 / DirectX 10.1 White Paper LeakedTeam ATI's website. Some of the information learned from this white paper is that ATI's next generation graphics card will likely be the ATI Radeon HD 3800 which will feature DirectX 10.1 support, 55nm transistor design, and support PCI Express 2.0 Interestingly, it seems that DirectX 10.1 will support more realistic lighting that objects can obstruct light sources creating more realistic sense of depth and more accurate lighting effects.

In case the white paper is removed, here is some of the information:

Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 is the latest application programming interface from Microsoft that unlocks the state of the art in GPU technology, represented by the ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 series. Key features include an updated shader model, improved anti-aliasing support, more flexible data access, and tighter specifications for better application compatibility.

These features will enable exciting new techniques, such as real-time global illumination, that will define the future direction of interactive 3D graphics.

DirectX 10 was one of the most significant updates to the API since its inception. DirectX 10.1 represents an evolutionary update that addresses some of the limitations identified after the specification was finalized. DirectX 10.1 support will be coming to the Windows Vista™ operating system with the release of a service pack in early 2008. For many years, ATI was at the forefront of DirectX technology development, working actively with Microsoft to identify and implement new graphics features. The merger of ATI with AMD in 2006 not only continues this tradition, but also enables new possibilities for platform-level synergies between the GPU, CPU, and system chipset.

The new ATI Radeon HD 3800 series of GPUs are the first to be designed for DirectX 10.1, as well as other cutting edge technologies, including PCI Express 2.0, Unified Video Decoder (UVD), hardware accelerated tessellation, and power efficient 55nm transistor design. The products are perfectly positioned to deliver the best experience in not only today’s games, but also in next-generation titles releasing in 2008 and beyond.

This paper describes the new features of DirectX 10.1, and provides a number of examples showing how they can be put to use. To help illustrate these techniques, AMD has created an accompanying interactive game called PingPong. This game makes extensive use of the DirectX 10.1 features on ATI Radeon HD 3800 series products to highlight the benefits in a fun and informative way.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=51http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=51Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:40:15 --200Mac OS X Leopard Review Cominghttp://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=50http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=50Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:30:07 --200iMac + Microsoft Windows Vista = ?find missing files on the installation disc about 96% into the installation. I have had to reinstall Mac OS X 10.4.10 twice within the past week as a result of the failed Windows install.

I downloaded VMWare Fusion 1.1 beta and created a 64 GB virtual disk this evening. Thus far, Microsoft Windows Vista installed flawlessly with VMWare Fusion and the performance is quite fast – more responsive than a Remote Desktop connection. I will likely purchase Mac OS X Leopard this weekend with the hope that the final Boot Camp build may be more stable with installing Microsoft Windows onto another partition.

Currently, I am using my 20.1" Dell LCD monitor as a secondary monitor with Mac OS X on one monitor and Microsoft Windows Vista on the other monitor for software development purposes. In coming weeks, I will upgrade the RAM to 4 GB and swap the 320 GB hard drive out for a 500 GB SATA hard drive.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=49http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=49Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:09:10 --200iMac Reviewold computer to my wife and purchase a new computer. Rather than build another computer for the umpteenth time, I decided to purchase an iMac to experiment with dual booting via Boot Camp. I decided to purchase the 20” iMac equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz processor, 320 GB SATA hard drive, and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro video chipset.

Apple is notorious for releasing buggy software or flawed first-generation hardware. Unfortunately, the latest iMacs are no different as Apple was likely well-aware that there were performance and instability issues with their graphic drivers. Straight out of the box, most games were crashing repeatedly and the machine would intermittently freeze. The latest software updates (iMac Software Update 1.1 in particular) heavily improved stability, but it is apparent that Apple knowingly released hardware with flawed drivers to meet a deadline. In addition, despite the latest software updates, graphic performance is quite poor for running World of Warcraft as I am only achieving around 31 FPS while standing in an open field with anti-aliasing disabled at a 1680x1050 resolution. I heavily suspect that Apple still needs to optimize the ATI drivers for Mac OS X and its OpenGL implementation, in which we will likely see happen with Mac OS X Leopard.

Another gripe with the aluminum iMacs is with the bundled Mighty Mouse. There are numerous issues with the Mighty Mouse that prevent it from being remotely useful for a Windows convert's use. When right-clicking is enabled through the Preferences, the Mighty Mouse detects right-clicks as left-clicks if there is any pressure on the left-side. To get the Mighty Mouse to register right-clicks properly, one has to literally make sure their hand is not touching the left-side of the mouse at all. Also, clicking the left and right mouse buttons simultaneously does not appear to be supported. I recall the Mighty Mouse having these issues when it was first released two years ago, but it is unfortunate the problems still persist.

The aluminum iMacs has some positive aspects as well. Despite the unusual thin design of the keyboard, it is actually quite comfortable and will likely be mimicked by competition within a year. Once Apple releases more optimized and stable ATI graphic drivers -- whether it be another software update for Tiger or a requirement to purchase Leopard under the guise of Leopard = improved gaming performance -- the aluminum iMac may shape up to be one hell of a machine.

Pros:
- Aluminum case and glass screen provide a unique appearance and style over existing computer designs.
- Keyboard utilizes thin buttons which feels more natural after some extended usage.
- Integrated mic and webcam function well straight out of the box. Mic range works well even from a standard sitting distance.

Cons:
- Games will experience severe instability without the iMac Software Update 1.1. Even with the latest software updates installed, there are still various graphical issues.
- Gaming performance is poor . World of Warcraft runs between 28-32 FPS at 1680x1050 with anti-aliasing disable but all other graphical settings set at maximum in an outdoor setting. Do not even ask what Orgrimmar’s frame rate is.

Overall:
I heavily recommend waiting until Mac OS X Leopard (10.5.1) is released for more optimized ATI video drivers and OpenGL implementation. Given Apple’s track record with release products and software before they are ready to meet deadlines, I would recommend waiting until the first patch after Leopard is released for improved stability and performance. Leopard will likely contain ATI video drivers more optimized for Mac OS X rather than a poor straight port from the Microsoft Windows drivers.

Ultimately, I plan on setting up Boot Camp, install Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition on a separate partition, install 4 GB RAM, and swap out the 320 GB hard drive out for a 500 GB hard drive next month. I will likely cover experiences with Mac OS X Leopard, manually upgrading hardware, and Boot Camp in coming weeks.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=48http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=48Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:22:56 --200Street Fighter IV Officially AnnouncedGamespot has an article and teaser trailer on their website.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=47http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=47Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:20:52 --200Better Business Bureau
Additionally, the Better Business Bureau is an organization, nor a government entity. If I were to decide to continually rip-off customers, the Better Business Bureau cannot take any action against me as they do not have the legal authority as an organization. However, if I were a paying member, they may be able to fine me, but very few unreputable businesses would join the Better Business Bureau to begin with.

So what are the Better Business Bureau and their purpose then? They are an organization that acts as arbitrators between their paying members and dissatisfied customers. However, the Better Business Bureau is ineffective at dealing with some of the unscrupulous businesses in the United States as they have no legal authority. And, worse yet, customers cannot find out that a business is unscrupulous through the Better Business Bureau's website (http://www.bbb.org) unless that business is a member. ]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=46http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=46Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:56:55 --200Kids WB! No MoreToon Zone is reporting that The CW has decided to end their Kids WB! Programming in favor of having 4Kids TV taking over the Saturday morning cartoon block. Unfortunately, this leaves much of their current Saturday morning programming in limbo as the fate of cartoons like The Spectular Spider-Man is unknown.

Personally, I find this most unfortunately as The CW, formally WB, has proven themselves to be capable of developing quality animated programming. In recent years, they have developed some ill-conceived shows such as The Batman which likely harmed the station's ratings.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=45http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=45Sun, 7 Oct 2007 09:51:49 --200New Apartment
When the contract expired for the previous apartment complex, we decided to move to Laguna Niguel since the development is quite new and the community seems fairly nice. Currently, I am without Internet access as I have not received my cable modem from Cox yet. I was using DSL from AT&T at the previous apartment, but I decided to switch to cable Internet since it is available in this area.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=44http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=44Sun, 7 Oct 2007 09:33:13 --200Work and... Checkers?
A few notes about my design:
  • Most employees, if not all, wrote theirs as a command-line application. I decided to write mine as a Windows application with a click-to-move interface.
  • The players and checker pieces were given their own classes to contain the data.
  • A two-dimensional pointer array for the checker pieces to act as a quick lookup table for player locations, as well as the location as within the checker class itself. This helps to improve performance for some validation functions.


Unfortunately, some features were abandoned in the final product due to time constraints. With only four hours to plan, write, and debug the application, a few features were pulled such as menus to customize the board size, rules, and toggle click-to-move or computer AI for each player, plus DirectX support was abandoned as well.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=43http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=43Sat, 1 Sep 2007 09:57:08 --200Slaughter the WorldBlind Ferret Entertainment recently posted their latest animated short online, "Slaughter the World". The animated short features Richard, an Undead Warlock, singing a parody of Disney's "Part of Your World" song while ganking townsfolk and animals as the title implies. At the end of the video, Blind Ferret Entertainment teases that a "Looking for Group" animated film is in development with a late 2008 release date.

]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=42http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=42Wed, 8 Aug 2007 23:32:26 --200World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King AnnouncedWorld of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King webpage:

  • Master the necromantic powers of the Death Knight - World of Warcraft's first Hero class.
  • Quest to level 80, gaining potent new abilities and talents along the way.
  • Learn the craft of spell augmentation with the new Inscription profession.
  • Brave the harsh new continent of Northrend, the icy domain of the Lich King.
  • Engage in epic siege warfare, deploying mighty siege engines to lay waste to destructible buildings in your path.
  • Transform your hero's look with new character-customization options, including new hairstyles and dances.

In addition, StarCraft II was publicly playable for the first time at BlizzCon. Only the Protoss and Terran races were available for play and some changes were apparent such as the Carriers being reintroduced.]]>http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=41http://www.negafox.com/default.asp?Display=41Sun, 5 Aug 2007 22:45:41 --200