Sure, the best use of a $400 next-gen gaming console may not be to play ye old Burger Time, but someone has realized that, using the power of the Windows Media Center Extender, you can play old Nintendo games on your Xbox 360. Since anything you can get into Media Center, can then be streamed over to a 360, that means that, if you can get it to run in a web browser, you can probably stream it.
In this case, someone hacked together a Java-based emulator into a web browser, ran it in Media Center, and streamed it to his 360. Screenshots at Xbox 360 Fanboy show Super Mario Bros. 3, and reports that Zelda 1 and 2, Excitebike and TecmoBowl all work. Performance isn’t great, but if that’s your problem, buy a Nintendo Revolution when you get the chance.
(via Digg)
April 13th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Xbox 360, Xbox, General |
no comments
The TabletKiosk eo Ultra Mobile PC v7110 is available for pre-order, with expected late April shipping. There are four variants. The base specs:
- VIA C7M NaNo 1.0GHz processor
- 7-inch touchscreen (native resolution: 800×480; supports also 800×600 and 1024×768)
- Joystick cursor
- Wireless: Wi-fi (b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0
The four versions:
- 256 MB RAM, 30 GB Hard drive, in black, for $899
- 256 MB RAM, 30 GB Hard drive, in white, for $899
- 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard drive, in black, for $999
- 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard drive, in white, for $999
I wonder if there will be even a single launch unit near the $500-600 price Microsoft initially announced?
(via jkOnTheRun)
April 13th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Tablet PC, General |
no comments
Techdirt posted on this Microsoft patent filing for displaying notifications on your television when you change the channel or perform certain other actions. Basically, it would allow cable or satellite providers to put a pop-up on your screen under certain circumstances, acting as a notification system.
One example given was notifying the viewer that his cable bill was due, and the later the bill was due, the larger the pop-up would be. The filing ackowledges that the notification would have to be ensured that it was being seen by a person, and not just the screen, or else it would get missed, and could even wind up getting recorded over a program a person was trying to DVR.
Other uses could include letting a person know that a free preview of a premium channel is available.
While its a very solid idea (imagine tuning in late to a movie and getting a pop-up letting you know you can watch it from the beginning on another channel), its also rife with opportunity for abuse. Ever get a computer with a notification system from the manufacturer? (I’m looking at you, Dell) Well, they just can’t resist letting you know that there’s a six-percent off sale, a free jar of mayonnaise with every plasma screen purchased.
If we get pop-ups on our TV, first they’ll just have a simple “Pay your bill” and “HBO is free today”. Then they’ll have “Sign up for Vonage!” and “Get 400 free hours of AOL”. Then they’ll say “Bob’s used apples is selling bushles for only a dollar! Today, only at the Tulsa flea market!”
Then, when the hackers realize they can send a signal over your cable internet that can show up on your TV…
It’s all over, baby.
Oh, and what happens when it says:
Your bill is overdue $6.75 for your purchase of Beach Butt Bongos Bonanza IX on the Penthouse Network
… while your kid is watching Sesame Street. Oops.
April 13th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
General |
one comment
The first thing many people think when they hear about Microsoft and Amazon taking pictures of city streets to include in local search is, “Where are they? I want to be in the picture!” Problem is, most of us wouldn’t even know what to look for. Is it a truck? A van? An SUV? Is there a big camera array, or a hole in the side, or some sort of periscope device? Should I be looking for a big antenna?
I’ve gotten a few emails from people thinking they saw the trucks. Its not like the trucks say on them, “Smile! You’re on Windows Live Local!”
Hmm… Maybe they should. Create a buzz, ya know?
Anyway, Microsoft’s inadvertantly helped us out, with an honest-to-god picture of the van. How? The van took a picture of itself, reflected in a store window! Nice.
Check it out at Rick Hallihan’s blog.
April 13th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Local, Live, Windows, General |
no comments
