Jord's Computer Geek Life...

Modern Warfare 2 Release Date

2009-09-03T15:53:00.001+09:30

Infinity Ward has announced that the next Call of Duty, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, will be released on November 10^th 2009.

Good news is, that it's available to pre-order, and that Nov 10 is my birthday!

iPhone OS 3.0 Officially out Tomorrow

2009-06-17T19:41:00.002+09:30

The next software upgrade for the iPod Touch and iPhone, the iPhone OS 3.0, is coming out on the 18th of June 2009 (Tomorrow). It is free from Apple to download for iPhone users, however iPod Touch users will have to pay $9.95 for it.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Full Trailer

2009-05-25T18:31:00.002+09:30

Full Trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that premiered during the NBA Finals Conference G3 at 5:30pm on 24th May (25th in Australia) 2009.

Modern Warfare 2 is the next game in the CoD series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lel_phQGuIQ

LightScribe - Disc Labelling of the Future?

2009-02-11T08:11:00.003+10:30

I now know what LightScribe is, and it may, just may, be the disc labelling future.

It is where the CD/DVD Drive with LightScribe on it can use lasers to imprint an image onto the disc, making colourful labels as well.

Could this be the end of ink labels?

You Lucky Little...

2009-02-11T08:06:00.002+10:30

I was in TeamSpeak the other day when I get this message from my school friend on Steam who was yelling at me. After a few seconds, it came to me that my friend, school friend, one of my best friends, had won the PCPP (PC Power Play) Alienware Competition, winning a $8200 Alienware Computer!

How LUCKY is that?...

PC Upgrade

2009-02-04T21:52:00.003+10:30

My PC has been Upgraded so I can handle the latest games at great quality and so I can write more reviews. I have upgraded my CPU and my HDD capacity. I will hopefully soon be getting a new PC case, Antec 900.

So PC stands at this:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (3Ghz per core)
Vista Ultimate
610GB HDDs (3 HDDs)
XFX GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
2GB RAM DDR2

So thats my Gaming Rig ;)

Windows 7 Beta now Pubicly Released and Available to Download from Microsoft!

2009-02-04T21:48:00.002+10:30

After waiting for a long time, Microsoft has publicly released the Windows 7 Beta. It is available to download from the Microsoft website in both 32 and 64 bit.

Activision Announces Infinity Ward is Publishing Call of Duty 6

2009-02-04T21:43:00.005+10:30

If you havn't heard the news, Activision has announced that Infinity Ward will be publishing Call of Duty 6. It will be based on "Modern Warfare 2". It is all Activision has said about CoD6, but they said the game to be released some time in 2009. Stay tuned for more info.

Finally! Windows 7 Preview!

2008-11-13T19:07:00.014+10:30

After the last few days of mucking around with Windows 7, it is now time to write my preview for all those curious and anxious people out there. It's been a long time since I promised everyone about my preview, and I am going to deliver it to you right now. So, before starting, go grab a cup of coffee, clean your glasses, and make yourself, you are about to witness my first Windows preview (with screenshots!)

Firstly, I must point out that this is a Pre-Beta version, or as you may also call it the 'Alpha' version. The public beta will not be released until December 2008, but still, isn't far away from now. And because it is a beta version, there will be many bugs, and a few glitches that Microsoft has to fix. My version of the Pre-Beta has been hacked for educational perposes and to show all you people out there what some of the features that have been locked in the Pre-Beta. I do not recommend anyone hacking their Operating Systems, as you can get caught and put to gaol if needed. So, Microsoft, you cannot get me, as I am educating these people out there in the Wide World about your progress on the next version of Windows.

Ok, to start off, I want to talk about the installation of Windows 7. If you have Windows Vista, then you will be more aware of the fact that Microsoft has changed the installation look and feel, with no more of that 'pixelly' background on Windows XP. And, in 7, the look and feel is exactly the same as a Windows Vista installation. The only major difference is the background, and the background is the same throughout the whole installation.

To me, the installation really needs to differ itself from Vista, because since I downloaded this from Torrent (Leaked!), I did not know if I was getting my money's worth of downloading, weather it was 7 or Vista. But thankfully, it was

Everything else in the installation was the same, the borders of the window, the progress bar, and the same steps in installing. If Microsoft want to be different, they have to change this. I hope this version will not reflect on it's previous version, just like Windows 95 and 98 unfortunately did. Somehow, the installation was somewhat quicker than Vista, but I don't know if that was because I already had Vista on it and doing a custom new install still kept some files or not. Speaking of speed, Microsoft also promised to aim at computers booting up with Windows 7 in 15 seconds or less. Good luck with this, Microsoft.

Once it installed, I was again greeted with the same first time use setup used in Vista. Once again, with the different background.

It's quite funny how Microsoft put their own watermark on the OS saying that it's for testing use only. I laugh quite a lot at this, thinking as if that I'm going to use it for testing only!

Anyway, once installing, I was, once again, greeted with the Vista Taskbar, and the Vista background. Everything is too vista-like! When reading up about 7, I noticed a new document organization that's only in your account folder. For me, it's in Jordan. This feature is 'Libraries', and they are catagories that are used only in my Jordan folder instead of the Documents folder, Pictures folder, etc. They 4 'Libraries' are Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Downloads. Already I am using the downloads, pictures and documents quite regularly.

As soon as I got it, I created a System Restore Point, incase any of my hacking goes wrong, and I could restore my system back using the Windows 7 Installation DVD. When this was done, and still no change from Vista, I started to hack.

Thanks to a popular Windows 7 site, I was able to hack the Operating System and 'Unlock' the Locked Features in Windows 7 Pre-Beta. Once doing this successfully, just restarting the computer would make it hacked.

Once I hacked it, I hacked the activation. Using a website that I found after hours of endlessly searching for, I was able to make Microsoft pick up my OS as Genuine and Activated, so I continued on to my normal ways...

With the hack, I was able to unlock the 'SuperBar', which was the replacement for the Vista Taskbar. Microsoft have put a lot of thought into this, and it is almost the same as Apple's Mac OS X's Dock, only better! However, I was unable to use the Windows Aero theme due to my Graphics Card, but still, normal is fine. Adding onto the Aero theme, you can also use Aero Shake (which suprisingly works in the Windows 7 Basic theme aswell), which is where you shake the window of a program to hide all the other open programs, and shake it again to open them up again. I don't use it often, but it can be useful most times.

Another new program is Windows Media Player 12. Bundled in with Windows 7, you could call it a more 'compact' version of Media Player 11. My experience with it was alright, but it was hard to navigate to different views, and it seems to me that they have trashed the Visualizations, and made it more like Windows Media Centre. This means it is more stable, with no more laggy Media Player, at least I hope...

Just to give you a background on Windows 7, it was really what Windows Vista was supposed to be. In other words, Vista was released too early. Also, the system requirements for Windows 7 are very much the same to Vista, if not, less demanding.

And Microsoft Paint finally got a visual repair job done to it. So did Windows Explorer and most of Vista. Everything looks more like the Ribbon-Style bars you see in Microsoft Office 2007. You may ask why this. Well basicly, the employees that designed the shell for the Office 2007 Bar, also got the job to design the shell extension for Windows 7, so expect a ribbon looking feel to everything now.

Summarising, Windows 7 still has a little way to go, but Microsoft have thought diferently about this version. They are trying to make it more candy visual effects, but also with good performance, and they are taking stpes in that quite progessively. So far I'm impressed with my experience of Windows 7, and who knows what we will get in the Public-Beta and the actual release. Until then, this is my preview on Microsoft's Windows 7. Remember to post your comments about this preview and I'll take all feedback. So, keep pushing hard Microsoft, you are progressing well with your new Operating System.

Coming Up Next: Preview of Windows 7

2008-11-02T16:30:00.006+10:30

With the release of the Pre-Beta to Torrent Sites only days after it's private release to developers, I will provide a preview of Windows 7 soon after downloading and installing it on my Test Laptop. I will give you pictures about it and compare it to Windows Vista. So stay tuned!

The new Call Of Duty:World at War. Is it worth buying it?

2008-10-30T07:40:00.003+10:30

The new Call of Duty game is raising everyone's expectations after it's last success with Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. However, is CoD4's predecessor just as good as we thought it might be?

I have had the luck of testing out the BETA version of CoD:WW thanks to http://www.callofduty.com. To try the beta, go to http://www.callofduty.com/beta. Since I was a registered member, I had an offer to play the BETA, until it runs out on the 11th of November, which is 1 day after my birthday and 1 day before the release. But beware, all you cheats. Even though you can download it from FilePlanet and CustomCoD, you will need a Beta key, which is given out to all registered members. The keys are given out in a order. First, all members of CharlieOscarDelta.com, then CallofDuty.com, then finally new members. I, was lucky enough to sign up 4 days before the Beta, and also get the Xbox 360 Beta, but I don't have an Xbox.

Anyway, when I downloaded the Beta, I installed the game after school. The file size is only about 800Mb, and takes up about 1GB according to the Beta Instruction manual.

After putting my key in, the game started to install. In the Beta version, you get to play online (but not LAN, so they say) and play on a choice of 3 maps: Castle, Makin, and Roundhouse.
Once the game has installed, it doesn't display a message about successful installation or anything, you have to find the .exe file in the C: drive.

Anyway, I ran the game, and also added it to my Steam games, so I can use the Steam In-Game community feature. When the game loaded up, it asks for a profile to log-in. I just simply created a profile, and I was on.

What I noticed straight away is that the Menu screen is similar to the CoD4 menu screen, which suggests that it still runs on the CoD4 engine. This is also backed up by the game's console engine, which is exactly the same as CoD4's. However, they have changed it. Since CoD:WW is based around WWII, it has the old looking style, and the font was nice and old, and I liked it. The background picture is far better than the one in CoD4, as it displays some of it's greatest features, the tanks. Also, the font is the same font throughout the whole game, even in-game.

When I set up my game settings and controls, I found a server and joined it. The first map I played was Castle, based around the Jap's emperorish (if it's a word) lifestyle.

Now, if you are afraid of the System specs that are required to play the game, don't be. The system specs needed are: 3Ghz Processor, 512MB RAM (1GB for Vista), 256MB Graphics Card, or I think Nvidia 7600 or better, or Radeon X1600 or better, and about 8GB for the game.

My specs are: Intel(R) Celeron(R) 3.4Ghz, Nvidia GeForce 8800GTS, 2GB RAM, Vista Ultimate, and still got like 100GB free.

So with this, I found out that if you can play CoD4 and you have over 3Ghz, you can play. When I get my Core 2 Duo for my birthday (If I get it..) E7200 with 2.53Ghz per core, I can pwn n00bs :D

Anyway, straight away, I noticed one thing, the loading bar was gone, or it had moved to a bad place which I could not find! I complained in the forums, and others said it was under/above the map name, and yet I still couldn't find it. However, the pictures of the map when loading looks good. It gives the player an idea of what they're expecting.

Anyway, when playing the game, you have to use the default classes, and then when you rank up a few ranks, you unlock Create-A-Class, and you can have up to 10 Classes, unlike CoD4 and having only 5. This is great for me, as I need lots of classes. Also, they have more perks to choose from, and they now have a 'Viechle Perk', for turrets and tanks and stuff.

Anyway, I started off using the Thompson, a single-fire gun. I noticed that the detail in the textures was excellent, and the weapons could improve a little, as they look a bit boxy on curves and such.

Besides that, the gameplay and HUD is set out nicely. When you go to type a message, it comes up big for you, and then reduces down to a smaller size when you post it. Unfortunately, the Beta version has a level cap, which is at 40. This means that we (us) miss out on the great features of the game, like the M4A1, and the Flamethrower...

Besides that, the HUD looks exactly the same to the COD4 HUD. Same points bar, same Key Icons, and same map radar style.

One thing I like about the game is the bonuses for Kill Streaks. As I have already mentioned, it is based on WWII, which means the technology is not as advanced as CoD4, and in real-life today. If you get a 3 Kill Streak without dying, you get a Plane Recon, which sends a plane overhead to show you where your enemy is on the map. Get a 5 Kill Streak, and you get Artillary Strike, which is just like the AirStrike, but lasts longer and more powerful. If you get a 7 Kill Streak, you get to send out Dogs which attack and kill your enemy. Although the dogs can get killed.

Overall, the game needs a little improvement, like bugs and stuff, but I like it. It is a lot different to CoD4, and can't wait for the official release of the game. It is worth the wait, and with some of the features locked because of the level cap, there is a lot more potential the game can produce to make gamers get their money's worth.

Get Mac on Intel + AMD Computers!

2008-09-17T17:01:00.000+09:30

Most people love Mac, but it is a pain when you can't get it on your Intel computer, isn't it? Well, there is a solution, Thanks to Project Osx86!

Project Osx86 is an organization that lets people download their ISO files and burn them to a DVD, that are specifically designed to install and run on Intel + AMD Computers. Within about a month of every Mac OS X Release, there is a Release of that kind for Intel and AMD Computers.

Of course, there is a list of requirements your computer needs. For example, most (if not, all) of the Osx86 Releases need a SSE2 or SSE3 CPU. You will also need a compatible Hard Drive, such as SATA. Some ATA's will work, some will not.

It is also recommended to have at least 512MB of RAM. It may be possible to have less, but expect Mac to run sluggish.

A link to their site is here: http://www.osx86project.org

NOTE: I am not held responsible for any illegal actions you take through this. I do not recommend it, but it is out there for all those illegal people to try. It is not my fault if you get busted by the Police, and you can not blame me for it. Also, I am not held responsible for any data lost on your computer. It is YOUR risk that you are taking, not mine. Not my problem, and really, I don't care if you get busted.

How to access a forgotten Admin Password in Mac

2008-09-17T16:03:00.000+09:30

Ever lost a password on your mac that accesses your account? Have no fear, there is a neat little trick you can do to get it back, or at least make a new account and keep your old files!

Note: I know this works for Mac Tiger 10.4.x, but don't know if it will work on previous or after versions, but I think it does :)

Firstly, Start up your Mac and Enter Single User mode. To do this, when the Apple logo comes up (Before the loading circle at the bottom appears) Hold down Command + S. It then should make a whole lot of writing go on the screen. When it has finished, type the following commands in.

Note: Press enter after every line

mount -uw /

rm -rf /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

reboot

Once you have done this, the computer will reboot. What this command is telling the computer to do is to restart the computer, with the Apple Setup Complete window appearing. Keep following the instructions on the screen, and when you are done, you would have created a new administrator account!