Monday, June 18, 2012

Top Five Things That Gamers Will Have To Get


Top Five Things That Gamers Will Have To Get

Gamers are a funny lot, they are competitive to the extreme and expect everything to be working at full capacity all of the time, which is why they are probably always feeling let down by everyone else. But we are thinking of the gaming community and as such in this Top Five we have found some of the more interesting items on sale at the moment that would be of great interest to the humble gamer.
The Space Invader design couch
What games room would not look cool with the retro space invader style couch taking pride of place, of course this sort of design does not come cheap and so not every will want to splash out the $8,500 for the privilege, but never the less this is a cool piece of retro style furniture.
These are the main details on this interesting gamer style retro couch;
Product Features:
Limited edition retro gaming-inspired couch
Created by Russian designer Igor Chak
Designed and manufactured in Los Angeles
Fine leather pixellated retro design, low profile and memory foam cushions
Each one handmade to order
Dimensions:
Measures approximately 196 cm (W) x 84 cm (D) x 75.8 cm (H)
Seat depth measures approximately 56 cm
Seat height measures approximately 47 cm
Priced at a massive $8,567
Source [Firebox]
Get some N-Control on the Xbox
Here is a controller designed for the Xbox 360 by N-Control, it’s called the Avenger and you can tell that this is a controller designed to give the gamer the edge. The way that it works is simple, there are cleverly designed levers installed to enable speedy changing of weapons, health and ammo reloads, this is really a controller that could give even a bad gamer the upper hand when to comes to who can pull the trigger first.
These are the specs for the N-Control Avenger for the Xbox 360;
Increase your Xbox gaming skills without cheating with the Avenger Elite
Even further reduced trigger travel and unbelievable lever sensitivity
Avenger Elite re-maps buttons so they are closer to your fingers.
Tuning caps adjust button sensitivity for a quicker response time.
Your thumbs never leave the analogue sticks, which improves your situational awareness and overall gaming experience.
The Avenger Elite extends your reach on the RB button.
A slight lift of the finger to the bendable arms engages three buttons for a faster reaction time!
New wire with alloys made in America with nano technology
Additional Military precision hair trigger kit
Priced at around $60
Source [Engadget]
Angry Birds now come in speakers
Here is something for the gamers who cannot get enough of those Angry Birds, Rovio have a lot to answer for, but never the less you cannot fault their development of the Angry Brand. It seems that we have not seen the end of the Angry Birds and with these speakers, they might even find their way into the work place too.
These are the specs and details for the great looking Angry Birds Speakers;
Portable speakers for fans of Rovio’s Angry Birds
2:1 speaker, 30 watts
Set the perfect level with volume and bass controls
Includes a stand for your phone, mp3 player, or tablet
Choose:
Red Bird: For all devices that can use headphones
Black Bird: For iPod, iPad, and iPhone only
Helmet Pig: For iPod and iPhone only
Compatibility:
iPhone, iPhone 3G/S, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
iPod mini, iPod Classic, iPod with video, iPod Nano (1st-5th), iPod Touch (1st-4th)
iPad, iPad 2 (Red Bird and Black Bird only)
Officially licensed Angry Birds collectible
Priced from $45 to $55 depending on the version chosen.
Source [Think Geek]
This one is for guitar heroes
It is funny to think of a guitar being a tool used by a lot of gamers, but it is and this storage tower has been designed with those gamers in mind. It stores games, consoles, guitars and just about anything else that the gamers needs all in one handy place.
Here is what the Level Up Zig-Zag Storage Tower has to offer the guitar playing gamer;
The Zig Zag Storage Tower can hold: 13 Games, 4 Xbox 360 controllers, 2 guitars and an Xbox 360 console. (Pictured games, guitars, console and controllers not included). The Zig Zag Storage Tower Dimensions: Length: 62.9 cm, Width: 32.6 cm and Height: 29.3 cm
Priced at $108
Source [Gameseek]
Mini retro style games machine for the iPad
Here is the chance to get your hands on what appears to be a classic arcade games cabinet, but as it uses the power of the iPad, you get an idea of its size. You get a hundred classic style games and these are played in the way that they were originally designed for, that is buttons and toggle levers, it really does not get any better than this.
These are the details and features for the iCADE – iPad Arcade Cabinet;
FREE Atari Greatest Hits app with one free game (downloads via App Store)
Play Atari classics like Asteroids, Centipede, and Battlezone (sold separately)
Classic wooden cabinet perfectly sized for iPad
Authentic, full-sized controls for a genuine arcade experience
High-quality iPad-cradle specifically designed for a safe, secure fit
Retro cabinet design that is fun, nostalgic and great-looking
Priced at around $100
Source [Ion Audio]

Awesome case Mods


World’s Most Awesome/Crazy DIY PC Case Mods!

PC modders have been very creative and a bit *crazy* ever since birth of desktop computers back in the 80s.  Here’s a collection of world’s most “awesome” PC case mods you won’t want to miss.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/images/woodcase/woodcase12.jpg
1. We will start with a rather modest PC Case mod, completely made out of wood.  This could accent your home’s wooden furniture well plus you can even make something more stylish such as seen below:
http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/pc-furniture-case-2.jpg
(The Wooden PC Case mod from a modder in South Korea.)
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/2/_microwave_PC_Case.jpg
2. The Microwave PC Mod is actually rather cool with the door of the microwave converted into LCD display while microwave controls function as PC power buttons and whatnot.  This could be the perfect computer for your stylish, modern kitchen, all the while disguising the fact there’s actually a computer underneath.  Of course, it would be super cool if you can actually use the microwave too.  I bet there’s a way to do that, anyone up for the challenge?
http://metku.net/mods/passive/kuva26.jpg
3. Next up is the Passively-cooled PC Mod, basically a PC case surrounded with cooling fans all-over.  I find this would be great way to build your next overclocking project PC where you need to cool the CPU down drastically.  There’s other methods of cooling too but this one certainly brings style out there while keepin’ it all cool.
http://images.tweaktown.com/content/1/5/1568_62.jpg
4. The Suitcase PC Case mod is probably one of the easiest to carry as it’s embedded in a hard-cover case with a sturdy handle.  If I am traveling a lot and I need the power of Intel Core i7s for rendering 1080P HD videos, I will certainly build myself one of these.  Even if I am not, this could be the ultimate gamer’s travel PC case when laptops just can’t cut it.
http://pcgamingcenter.ugo.com/images/case-modding/whisky-pc-1.jpg
5. What if you could fit a whole PC in your favorite bottle of alcohol?  Check out this Whiskey PC which does exactly that in a bottle of Ballantines.
http://www.envador.com/cases/ToiletPC/ToiletPC_at_QuakeCon2001.JPG
6. Next up is the Toilet PC Case mod featuring a PC fitted inside a real toilet.   Of course, it’s too bad you can’t actually use the toilet itself to poop anymore but this could be a great mod for those of you who poop a lot.
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2006/05/wmd_part2_g-gnome_case_mod/733.jpg
7. The WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) PC case mod is probably not a good thing to carry around in public as it might actually be regarded as exactly that but it certainly is one of the most creative PC case mods we have seen.
http://www.envador.com/cases/Cyberpumpkin/P1010057.JPG
8. The Wind Turbine PC case mod reminds me of another powerful weapon of some sort with its crazy glowing LEDs.   It’s supposed to be a “cycber pumpkin” and it certainly does look like one.
http://www.casemodgod.com/ModProjectLogs/BatmobileTumbler/BatmobilePCDarkfront3-4.jpg
9. The Batmobile Tumbler PC case mod is certainly a must-do for any die-hard Batman fans like myself.  Now, if the PC could power itself with a battery and the wheels were operational, that’d be somethin’.
http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lego-pc-computer.jpg
10. The Lego PC case mod featured here is a must-see as it’s super-clean, could be a great resource of insight and inspiration to lego lovers/addicts out there.
http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/pyramid-pc.jpg
11. The Pyramid PC case mod is lovely, with see-through surfaces so you can always tell if your hardware is working right.  Plus, this pyramid PC case mod will certainly brighten up your desk and room, just don’t start a pyramid-scam by selling these.
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/2/_wii_mod_1kd8.jpg
12. The Wii PC case mod is one of my favorites and could go well as your entertainment/media PC near your TV.   Of course, don’t forget ASUS actually sells something similar called EeeBoxes so….

Monday, June 11, 2012

ifixipodsfast.com iPod How To Video Tutorials - iPod Mini

ifixipodsfast.com iPod How To Video Tutorials - iPod Mini

iPod Battery Replacement

http://www.ipodhowtovideo.com/

Hacking the iPad

pod2g and Chronic Dev team has just released Absinthe 2.0 - iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak.
In this guide, we will take you through the step by step procedure to jailbreak iPad running iOS 5.1.1 using Absinthe for both Mac and Windows users.
Here are some important points to note before you proceed.
  • This guide is meant for iPad users. iPhone users can check out this step-by-step guide, while iPod touch users can check out this guide.
  • Absinthe 2.0 performs an untethered jailbreak
  • Absinthe 2.0 supports iPad 1, iPad 2 and iPad 3 (the new iPad).
  • Please do not forget to backup your iPad to iCloud or iTunes before you proceed.
  • Please ensure you've updated iTunes to the latest version.
  • Absinthe 2.0 is compatible with only iOS 5.1.1, so if you're on iOS 5.1 or lower (Settings -> General -> About - Version), then you should update your iPad to iOS 5.1.1 either using iTunes or using the OTA software update before proceeding further.
  • Please note that jailbreaking your iPad may void your warranty and hence proceed with caution and at your own risk.
  • Please do not jailbreak your iPad to pirate apps from the App Store
Step 1: Download Absinthe for Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6, 10.7 from this link and Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Vista from this link and save the application in a folder named "Absinthe" on your desktop.
Step 2: Double click the Absinthe zip file and extract the application to the Absinthe folder (Windows users). Navigate back to the Absinthe folder and launch the Absinthe application.
Windows users: Please launch the application as an Administrator. Right Click on the Absinthe exe and select the "Run as Administrator" option.
Step 3: After launching Absinthe, you will be prompted to connect your iPad.
Step 4: Please disable the passcode as the jailbreak may fail, if the passcode is enabled (Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock On -> Turn Passcode Off).
Step 5: After the passcode is disabled, connect your iPad to the computer. Absinthe should detect your iPad and also mention the iOS firmware that is running on it. Click on the Jailbreak button.
After clicking on the Jailbreak button the tool will give a progress update on the various stages of the jailbreak process such as:
"Beginning jailbreak, this may take a while …"
"Sending initial jailbreak data. This may also take a while…" 
"Sending initial jailbreak data.Your device will appear to be restoring a backup, this may take a while…"
"Waiting for reboot … not done yet, don't unplug your device yet!"
"Waiting for process to complete… "
Step 6: In the end you'll be prompted with the message informing you "Done Enjoy". You can now close the Absinthe 2.0 application. The process should take 5 to 10 minutes.
That's it, your iPad should be successfully jailbroken and you should see the Cydia icon on the Home screen (it may not be on the first page so search for it to locate it).
Update 1:
If you're having problems jailbreaking your iPhone then following these steps, which will involve erasing all content and Settings.
  • Make a backup of your iPhone in iTunes by right clicking on your iPhone's name under the ‘Devices’ menu and click ‘Back Up’.
  • Once your backup is complete return to your device and go to Settings –> General –> Reset –> Erase all Content and Settings.
  • Follow the instructions mentioned above from step 1 to step 6.
  • Once jailbroken return to iTunes and restore your backup from earlier. Right click on your device name under the ‘Devices’ menu in the left panel of iTunes and click ‘Restore from Back Up…’ then select the latest backup you created before to restore your Settings, apps, photos etc.
Update 2:
  • If the solution in Update 1 doesn't work then take a backup of your iPad in iTunes and try to do a full restore and then use Absinthe.
  • Once jailbroken return to iTunes and restore your backup from earlier. Right click on your device name under the ‘Devices’ menu in the left panel of iTunes and click ‘Restore from Back Up…’ then select the latest backup you created before to restore your Settings, apps, photos etc.
Update 3:
Chronic Dev Team has released Absinthe 2.0.1, which includes fix for some minor bugs. So we've also updated the download links.
Update 4:
GSM iPhone 4 users if you're having trouble jailbreaking after restoring your iOS device then check out this post for more details.
Update 5:
Chronic Dev team has released Absinthe 2.0.2, which includes support for revised iOS 5.1.1 (9B208) that was released for GSM iPhone 4 users. So we've also updated the download links.
Update 6:
You can follow these simple steps to find out if you own an iPad2,4:
  • Download the linpack - the free benchmarking app from the App Store (direct iTunes link)
  • Launch the app and on the Home screen, it should display your iPad's model number as seen below:
Update 7:
You can check out this post for the latest update on jailbreak for iPad2,4 model.
Update 8:
Chronic Dev team has released Absinthe 2.0.4, which includes support for iPad2,4 model. So we've also updated the download links.
After the jailbreaking process is complete, do not forget to checkout our article on tips to keep your iPad secure.
If you're new to the jailbreaking world and wondering what to do after jailbreaking your iPad, checkout our jailbreak apps category page to find out the apps you can install on your iPad using the Cydia app.
Hope this helped. Please don't forget to let us know how it goes in the comments and drop us a line if you hit any issues.
If you want to show your appreciation for iOS 5.1.1 Jailbreak team's hard work, then don't forget to give them a donation via PayPal using this link.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Install Laptop Memory, how to install memory (RAM) in your laptop or notebook

Install Laptop Memory, how to install memory (RAM) in your laptop or notebook

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Our guide to installing laptop RAM modules.
It's not difficult to install memory into your laptop. In fact, it is a fairly straightforward process.
Using a screwdriver and a little care you can speed your laptop or notebook up significantly.

To install your laptop memory you will need:
  • Compatible Laptop SODIMM memory module/s.
  • Anti-Static Wrist-strap (if available).
  • A Screwdriver suitable for your laptop's memory cover.
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Removing the memory compartment cover


Disconnect the power cable, remove battery and ensure the laptop is off!
The memory compartment on your laptop can be found on the underside of the machine. See your laptop's manual if you can't locate it.

Using a suitable screwdriver, undo the holding screw and gently remove the cover. Some covers have small lugs that help hold the cover in place, always check the manufacturer's instructions if in doubt.
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Overview of Laptop Memory Slots

In fig 1.2 on the right are some typical laptop memory slots.

In this example there is one free memory slot. Depending on the configuration of your laptop, you may have two memory modules already installed.

We have pointed out two parts of interest.

Ejectors clips.
These are used to hold the memory firmly in place.

Slot key.
This is used to align the memory module correctly.
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Removing Laptop Memory (RAM)

If you don't have a free slot available, then you will have to remove one (or both) of the existing modules.
To remove an existing memory module:
  • if you have an anti-static wrist strap then put it on before touching the module.
  • release the ejector clips by gently pulling them out of the sides of the module. Gently pulling both clips at the same time will release the memory module.
  • the module should pop up into more or less the position shown in fig 1.3.
  • hold the module by the edges and gently slide it out of the slot (see fig 1.4)
  • the memory module should then be placed in an anti-static bag for storage.

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Installing the Laptop Memory (RAM)

Laptop memory overview
In fig 1.5 on the right is a 144-pin SODIMM RAM module. This type of module is very common in modern laptops.

You can see we have pointed out the notches.
  • Ejector clip notches (A in fig 1.5)
    • These are used to allow the ejector clips to hold the laptop memory in place.
  • Slot Key notch (B in fig 1.5)
    • This notch should be lined up with the Slot Key (see fig 1.2)
Holding the module by the corner edges (see fig 1.6), line up the Slot Key Notch (B in see fig 1.5) with the Slot Key (see fig 1.2).

Once the module is lined up with the slot key, slide it into the slot ensuring the module is well seated.

When you are happy with the position of the memory module, gently push it down into position (see fig 1.7).

Once the memory module is in its final position, the ejector clips should lock onto it and hold it in place.