Things that make you go “woohoo, I want it”. And no, that’s not a euphemism. It’s all about toys, gadgets, games and software
Apple has released the latest version of its browser (Safari 3.1), which is jam-packed with new features and a bunch of security updates and fixes.
Apple says page load times in Safari 3.1 are 1.9 times faster than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 and 1.7 times faster than Mozilla’s Firefox 2.
However, along with all the new goodies and super speediness there are a few wee vulnerabilities, mainly involving cross-site scripting flaws.
(This is the Online column, written for The Southland Times)
I realise this will probably prompt an e-mail or two from readers telling me the thousands of ways they feel Apple and/or Linux are superior to Windows, but I don’t care: I adore Windows XP.
There, I said it. Do your worst gentle readers, but you won’t change my mind. It’s an incredibly stable, user-friendly operating system that plays nicely with all my other software and ticks away in the background, quietly doing everything it should. What more could I ask for?
There’s just one little problem with XP: Microsoft wants to kill it. The operating system, launched back in 2001, is being pulled from shop shelves in June and Microsoft plans to phase out support for it in the future.
This is, of course, aimed at pushing the not-so-popular Vista, launched amid much excitement from Microsoft and not quite so much excitement from reviewers around the world in January last year.
I had a play with Vista when it first appeared and found it was pretty good but not great. As expected with any new software, there were a few issues with stability and compatibility.
These problem are usually sorted in a timely fashion but in the case of Vista, things seem to have come to a standstill.
Another problem is just how well Vista performs speed-wise because the hardware required to run it is still fairly grunty and outside the range of a lot of home users.
Sure it has some nice interfaces and does pretty things with graphics, but most computer users simply want it to work. Reliably. And fast. Without crashing. And with their other software.
Unfortunately, Vista doesn’t quite manage this. On the other hand, XP does.
Both my desktop machines are running XP Professional and my laptop chugs along quite nicely with XP Home Edition. I don’t want to change to Vista and I don’t think I should have to.
XP fans are rallying in support of their beloved operating system, with technology journalist Galen Gruman managing to collect more than 100,000 virtual signatures in an online petition since January. Lots of staunch XP fans have also taken the opportunity to leave comments when signing the petition, including many who say if the move goes ahead they will quit Windows in favour of Apple or even tech-freebie poster child Linux.
I guess a few will follow through with their threats but I doubt the numbers will be high: most of us will stick with what we know. However, that doesn’t alter the fact that Microsoft is managing to rattle the cages and ignore the wants of its most important commodity: its customers.
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ROBOQUAD, from Wowwee; RRP $209:
This little critter is all fun, all the time.
He’s a four-legged robot who scuttles around your house entertaining the cat, waving at anything that takes his fancy, dancing to his own tune and freaking out the occasional overly sensitive soul who claims he looks like a spider and shrieks every time he comes near.
Now that’s entertainment.
You can get Roboquad to do all that and more via his remote control, which has four different levels of use, including 72 preprogrammed functions.
You can change his awareness, activity or aggression at each level of control to give a huge range of reactions and behaviours. It’s like the little beastie has his own personality.
The full-on aggressive mode is stacks of fun, with him shaping up to anyone who gets in his way by roaring, attacking or a combination of the two. The cat wasn’t so fond of that part.
If you select the autonomy button, he’ll even take it upon himself to wander around checking out his environment.
His smart scan function means he reacts if anything changes, and that reaction varies according to aggression and activity levels you’ve selected for him.
He’ll even go into escape mode, heading for the largest open space he can spot as fast as his four little legs will carry him.
Make sure you have a good stock of batteries (four C-size and three AAA) because you’ll be spending plenty of time bonding with your new toy.
UNCHARTED: DRAKE’S FORTUNE, for PlayStation 3. RRP $119.95, rating: R16:
If you’re getting a PlayStation 3 for Christmas, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, would be a great game to kick off your PS3 collection.
Game studio Naughty Dog — the company behind huge hits such as Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter — has produced another winner in this highly anticipated fast-paced action game.
The story goes like this: Modern-day fortune-hunter Nathan Drake embarks on a search for the fabled treasure of El Dorado after a clue is found in the coffin of Sir Francis Drake.
That search leads to a forgotten Pacific Ocean island, where Nathan ends up stranded.
His day goes from bad to worse: Outnumbered by the mercenaries hunting him, Nathan and his companions have to fight to survive as they unravel the island’s terrible secrets.
Right, that’s the plot. Now for the game.
It’s a blast — the graphics are sharp, the gameplay is awesome and the sound amazing. You’ll feel like you really are there in the middle of all the action as you battle your way around the island.
This is one of those games that will keep you entertained for a long time, with its engaging story and challenging situations.
Kiwi gamers were the first in the world to get their hands on the latest chapter in the most popular Xbox game.
The hugely anticipated Halo 3 was finally launched at 12.01 yesterday morning.
Harvey Norman Invercargill computer proprietor Rachel Bryce said at least 45 people turned up at midnight for the release, and the game sold ” very, very quickly”.
“We had a few people come back this morning, to pick up their orders, who looked like they’d been playing all night.”
One customer managed to complete the game in seven hours without a break, Mrs Bryce said.
Harvey Norman sales specialist Matt Murray said there was a lot of positive comment from customers about the quality of the graphics, which many said were a big improvement on previous versions.
Customers also liked that up to four players could now play at the game at the same time, which allowed people to team up with other players, Mr Murray said.
Tauranga gamers Nicole Sinclair and Ryan Marsden, both 19, were the first people in the world to receive a copy of it at the worldwide premiere launch event held in Auckland, where celebrity fans including Dave Fane, Dai Henwood, PNC, Frontline, Savage and Ben Boyce (Pulp Sport’s Bill & Ben) got hands-on with the game.
Stores across the country also opened their doors at midnight to meet demand from gamers.
The Auckland launch featured a 1-tonne block of ice with 50 discs frozen inside it.
From 6am yesterday, members of the public got to play a game dubbed the Halo 3 Ice Block Buster to try to free the discs as the ice melted, aided by water pistols.
Prizes included Samsung LCD TVs, Xbox 360 games consoles and Halo 3 games.
Instant messaging is coming to Xbox 360. From the week beginning May 7, Xbox 360 owners can connect with friends and family, connecting and chatting directly from their televisions using Windows Live Messenger, a network of more than 260 million active accounts.
The Xbox 360 Autumn Update will let Xbox 360 owners worldwide access Windows Live Messenger features, broadening the communication options on the Xbox LIVE social network. The full service is accessible for both Gold and Silver members, meaning all New Zealand Xbox LIVE gamers will be able to enjoy the full benefits of video, voice and text chat with their Messenger contacts.
Microsoft also plans to launch a QWERTY text-input device, an accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging. Xbox 360 Windows Live Messenger-users will also be able to text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console.
Apart from instant messaging, the Autumn Update includes hundreds of new features and enhancements including updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade that let owners quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing and faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
The Autumn Update is free and is available from May 7 through Xbox LIVE or on www.xbox.com.
Xbox fans with a few spare dollars burning a hole in their pocket have a new toy to consider.
Microsoft yesterday unveiled the much anticipated Xbox 360 Elite console. It features a sleek black finish and joins the 360 and Core consoles in the Xbox lineup.
It will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE headset.
It has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and 1000 songs, as well as the downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies that will be available soon on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 console owners more flexibility.
Other Elite accessories, such as the black wireless controller, will also be available separately.
The console will be available in New Zealand in limited supply from winter, and Microsoft is advising potential buyers to pre-order.
