Gaming

URL: www.Lik-Sang.com
A place in Hong Kong is the largest holder of gaming products: video game software, controllers, cables. They have everything that a hardcore gamer would ever want. Lately, Lik-Sang.com has been role-in the cash. As of September 16, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony filed a lawsuit against Lik-Sang in the High Court of Hong Kong. The offense is that Lik-Sang sells mod chips, a device used to play copied games. "Modification," is to crack a game console to play legally and illegally copied software, meaning games, is a practice that has turned into a legal explosive for the video game arena. Lik Sang, is one of the world's leading distributors of mod chips, is now back in business, under new management and no longer selling the controversial product. The founder Alex Kampl, says that all it real is, is a crack down on technology. And it doesn't just happen to Lik-Sang, it has been happen all over the world. The use of mod chips has bothered the video game business/industry for years. Some believe it encourages game play, others view it as a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. It is all up to what one believes. Lik-Sang is now playing by the rules and prepping his defense. To bad Microsoft wasn't that easy to lay down for legal reasons.

A MAN ACCUSED OF EBAY FRAUD

EBAY IS POPULAR SITE ON THE INTERNET FOR SELLING AND BUYING VARIOUS THINGS. ON THIS PAST WEDNESDAY A MAN, CHRIS CHONG KIM, WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH 4 COUNTS OF GRAND THEFT AND 26 COUNTS OF MOCK AUCTIONS. HE WAS A RETAILER ON EBAY WHERE HE SOLD COMPUTERS AND THEIR PARTS OR SOFTWARE ON HIS WEB SITE, CALVIN AUCTIONS. WELL ACCORDING TO THE LA TIMES HE STOPPED SHIPPING OUT THE PURCHASED MERCHANDISE IN LAST APRIL AND SINCE THEN HE DIDN'T POST ANY COMMENTS ON HIS WEB SITE INFORMING BUYERS NOT TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE HE KNEW HE HAD NO MORE MERCHANDISE. SO HE STOLE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE'S MONEY FROM 6 OTHER CONTINENTS, 26 AMERICANS, AND HE'S BEING SUED BY EBAY INC. AND BANK OF AMERICA CORP. FOR THEIR LOSS AS A RESULT OF HIS ACTIONS. IF HE IS CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS HIS BAIL WOULD BE SET AT ABOUT $400,000. FOR MORE INFO VIEW:
I'M GLAD THAT I DON'T BUY THINGS OFF THE INTERNET BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S A SCAM. EVERYBODY CAN DESIGN A PAGE AND SAY THEY'RE SELLING SOMETHING AND DO JUST AS HE DID BY LYING AND STEALING THEIR MONEY.

Flash Animations

Used to be that websites were only text based and rather boring. This makes sense because of the initial use of the internet- to share ideas within the academic community. However, as interest in entertainment on the web increased, new webpage styles and graphics were employed.
Because of limited computing power and slow internet connections, early web entertainment was limited to small graphic files, MIDI songs, or snimated GIFs. However, as technology improved, so did the animated images. Soon, JAVA applets were created. These were pictures that could offer a small degree of animation.
Finally, a programmer named Jonathan Gay created an animation format for websites called SuperSplash. This was later purchased by Macromedia and renamed Flash. This plug-in for the browser allowed internet surfers to view Flash animations. These simple animations finally brought to the forefront a total multimedia experience for the internet user.
To read more about the creation of Flash, hear the story straight from the inventor. Also, create your own animations with Swish Zone flash animating tools.

Microsoft and Palm Pilot

Though it may be hard to believe, software Goliath Microsoft has been unable to dominate a key computer market segment: the palm-sized PC. Consumers continue to prefer the 3Com Palm Pilot and its clones over the various handheld and palm-sized computers running Microsoft's "mini-me" version of its Windows operating system, Windows CE. The margins aren't even close: Windows CE devices have less than a quarter of the market. Still, as wireless phones, handhelds, and the Internet continue to converge into multipurpose devices that are expected to soar in popularity over the next few years, don't expect Microsoft to quietly pack up and abandon this potentially lucrative market. For those who aren't familiar with Windows CE, it is a small-scale version of the Windows operating system that has been adapted for use with a variety of portable devices, ranging from AutoPC systems in cars to cable TV set-top boxes to handheld and palm-sized computers. Windows CE gets by on relatively little memory, while still offering a familiar interface to Windows users, complete with a Start button and "pocket" versions of programs such as Microsoft Outlook. Companies manufacturing Windows CE handheld and palm computers include, among others, Hewlett-Packard, which makes the HP Jornada line; Compaq, producer of the Aero; and Casio, maker of the Cassiopeia. Another manufacturer, Philips, recently discontinued its Windows CE-based Nino. Although Microsoft has much competition, one can never count Microsoft out of the hunt to control yet another technology industry.

More information can be found HERE.

Is the NSA spying on you?

The initial discovery of an NSA access system within Windows was found two years ago by a British researcher named Dr Nicko van Someren. It may seem like it has been a long time that the findings have stayed quiet, but it was only two weeks ago, that a second researcher found the NSA links to it. Many computer security specialists have been aware of a weird “driver” within the Windows system. The “driver” called ADVAPI.DLL enables and controls certain security features. If any of you use Windows, you can find the file in your c:\windows\system folder. It is pretty unclear as to what exactly this file does, but it works closely with Internet Explorer. According to some researchers, this file will run certain programs associated with the NSA, however they do not know what these programs are or what they do.


At last year’s Crypto 98 conference, Dr Nicko van Someren said that he had dissected the file and found that it contained two separate keys. He said that one was used by Microsoft to control cryptographic functions within Windows. However, he is unsure of what the second key does. According to those present at the Crypto ’99 conference, Windows programmers did not deny that it was linked to the NSA, they just refused to comment about it. Even more research found that this file contained three keys within the Windows2000 operating system. No one is really sure what to think of these “hidden” keys, but they find it a little strange. Are for legitimate US Government use or do they violate privacy laws?



NSA BACKDOOR IN EVERY MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEM"

  • gudda

Has Our New Technology Made Children More Violent Than The Children That Never Had It?

A resent discussion of video game violence and the effect it has on children sparked a thought, does television violence have some effect on our children? Since the data for the video game violence was inconclusive, I decided to see if television violence was also inconclusive.
According to Parenthood.com American children watch an average of three to four hours of tv a day. WOW! Multiple studies of this case have been tested and have shown that tv MAY cause a child to simply get used to violence and horror. The studies have also shown that children MAY think that violence is an appropriate way to solve problems (also stated in the video game violence topic), as well as imitate the violence they see on tv; i have some first hand experience with this situation, my young nephew was so into Power Rangers, every time he finished watching them, he would want to go outside and throw kicks and punches and that kind of thing. I can remember myself watching ninja movies and wanting to go out and mess around with my friends, but i don't think it had any long term effect.
On the web site provided they seem to be convinced that violent behavior comes from the tv(and other things as well). They suggest that you not let your children watch violent tv shows or to limit the time they have to watch it, i dissagree, i think that it doesn't make a difference. You should have more control over how your child thinks than a tv should, hopefully the parent would spend more time teaching non-violence.

Most do not receive as much spam as you.

Do you think that the average person receives an overwhelming amount of e-mail everyday? If your answer is yes, then you are wrong. A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that the average person does not, actually, receive an overwhelming amount of e-mail. In fact, the reason why most people think that everybody gets so much e-mails is because the people who do get a lot of e-mail or more outgoing about it. Those people are more vocal, and complain about getting excess e-mail, while those individuals who do not get and overwhelming amount of e-mail say nothing. Nonetheless, only eleven percent of individuals are overwhelmed by the amount of e-mail they receive per day. Sixty percent of individuals receive ten or fewer pieces of e-mail each day while only six percent receive more than fifty pieces of e-mail each day. The study showed that the three quarters of American employees spend less than one hour checking and sending e-mail while one quarter spends less than fifteen minutes on their e-mail each day. The study also showed that higher-level employees, i.e. managers, spend more time checking their e-mail than the average employee, often up to four hours per day, and even when not during work hours. More can be found at CNN’s website.