AMD AND ATI BECOME LOVERS AFTER ALL

Rumors for the past couple of weeks have been flying about a possible merger between AMD and ATI.

Well, it seems our rumors have become truth as AMD and ATI joined hands in a coalition against Intel on July 24, 2006 at a cost of 5.4 billion dollars.

To most people this is viewed as a despiration move for AMD as they don't seem to have a new chip to compete with the new Intel Core 2 chips.

Though the real reason may never be know to us AMD and ATI seem to think the reall reason is integrating their processor and graphics chips to create a new chip.

This is an interesting move for AMD as nVidia has been making a fairly good chipset for AMD for a long time called nForce.

We'll see how long this lasts and whether or not this merger will really give AMD what it needs to beat Intel.

FINAL FANTASY BACK ON AOL RADIO

Final Fantasy fans were saddened when Final Fantasy Radio was taken off of AOL Radio. This made it quite hard to get Final Fantasy music to listen to (until iTunes started releasing it - though you still can't purshase Final Fantasy music in Canada as of yet) and now AOL has brought back the popular radio station thanks to popular demand.

I am a Final Fantasy fan myself and I always loved this station. Like I said above you can't purchase Final Fantasy music on the Canadian iTunes music store. You can only find it on eBay and some select other small resources.

If you are interested in listening into the radio station please click on the title or go to aolradio.com.

NEW TECHNOBABBLE LOGOS

You'll notice we've updated the logo for technobabbleonline.com. We'll see if this is the one we'll keep.

If you have any ideas for the logo submit it to us.

Enjoy.

MICROSOFT ANNOUCES 3 PART SERMON

Microsoft has announced "Windows Principles" that include twelve tenets. Apparently this is to encourage competition.

I will breifly state the points below, if you need clarification please click on the title above:

PRINCIPLE I: CHOICE FOR COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS AND CUSTOMERS

1. Installation of any software
2. Easy access.
3. Defaults.
4. Exclusive promotion of non-Microsoft programs.
5. Business terms.

PRINCIPLE II: OPPORTUITIES FOR DEVELOPERS

6. APIs.
7. Internet services.
8. Open internet access.
9. No exclusivity.

PRINCIPLE III: INTEROPERABILITY FOR USERS

10. Communications protocols.
11. Availability of Microsoft patents.
12. Standards.

[all of the above was a direct quote from the statement you can view by clicking on the title]

There are just a few points that I would like to turn on then I will let you all go home. If you could turn to "Principle I", chapter three (Defaults), I would like to point out some interesting facts about the new way Windows is going to work. Microsoft is stating here that Windows will no longer default to any if it's pre-installed programs such as Internet Explorer or Outlook Express (whether or not then decide to include Outlook Express in the new version I don't know). Now that's nothing new to what is happening now however this opens up the topic of whether or not Microsoft is still going to require you to use Internet Explorer for certain things.

Now if you could turn with me to "Principle II" chapter seven (Internet services). There is also something here to point out as well. Microsoft is clearly stating that Windows Live services will with come bundled with your computer that you buy or not. It sounds like you have the option somehow during the first boot I would imagine. Basically they are not forcing their software on you and that is a big thing. However, I have to say the Windows Live services are pretty good and I would still suggest to anyone to check them out.

My last point I would like to tell you about is in "Principle III" chapter ten (Communications protocols). Microsoft states here that all of ot proprietary communication protocols will be made available to anyone who is willing to purchase the documentation from them. However they're obviously still working on the documentation because the point states, "Microsoft will document protocols supported in Windows as part of the product design process".

In any case It seems that Microsoft is trying to move away from it's big bully character and try to become a little more friendly with everyone. It looks like they'll be doing a little open source work as well which is great. They're also going to try to get Windows to interoperate with "others" in the industry (ad hoc style0. What does that mean? I'll give a little push to Microsoft trying to work with another computer and operating system company with a fruit as its logo and leave it at that.

That concludes the sermon. Leave in Peace.

SONY DSC-W30

I recently purchased a Sony Cybershot DSC-W30 to review. This is my first digital camera however, I have had a chance to work with many in the past.

Many people don't consider Sony to be the best digital camera at this level and I am not about to spout my allegiance to Sony.

This camera was purchased first off to take pictures of Cee at her graduation and I can tell you switching from film to digital takes a little more than a sitting to get used to.

This digital camera has a quick startup time which is helpful when you try to get a shot really quick. However to get the high-quality shot you need the subject to be standin still. The save time for the camera is quite slow and if you want muliple pictures at the same time the only way to do that is with the Mulit-burst mode available with the camera.

The DSC-W30 is a 6 MegaPixel, 3x zoom (9x digital), and quite a large display on the back. The controls are fairly easy to use but I have to say the actual zoom switch feels a little flimsy.

This camera uses a proprietary Li-Ion battery and the Sony MemoryStick Pro Duo for memory. I purchased a Lexar 512MB memory card. The camera comes with outputs to USB and A/V for your television.

This camera will also do video just like other digital cameras however a unique feature to this camera, which other digital cameras have started to incorporated, and that is it can record not just 15 or 30 second bursts but as long as the memory card will record. This is really cool because the 512MB stick can hold over 22 minutes of video. It records in MP4 format.

I can't say this is the best camera in the world however this is a great choice for the price tag of $299 CAN.

My favourite part of this camera is how small it is. Without the camera pouch that I bought to go with it the camera would very comfortable fit in your pocket and leaver enough room for your iPod and cellphone (that is if you want to use the same pocket and you carry all those things with you at the same time).

MOVIES ON MEMORY STICK

Sony is reportedly in talks with the movie industry to distribute movies on Sony Memory Stick Pro Duos special for the PSP.

By the report that I read there will be four movies contained on a installation disc that comes with your memory stick purchase. You would then choose one of them and unlock them with a special unlock code provided.

This however is no indication that the UMD media is over and done with but it does show the ability of the memory stick media.

The only question now is how long until they put whole games on the memory sticks?

Send us your comments.

EBIBLE.COM

eBible.com is a cool site even if you are not religious in any aspect or are just exploring whats out there.

eBible is a great resource. On this website you can search for words that are in the Bible. You can also search for books of the Bible.

This site contains multiple translations of the Bible and when I asked if they would be including the New Internation Version (NIV - probably the most widely used in churches today) of the Bible eBible.com replied that they were looking into licensing for the version.

I will inform you all when the service is out of beta. If you are interested in an invite I will send you one but its first come first serve (I only have 3 invites).

BELL GLOBEMEDIA TO BUYOUT CHUM

Word comes today that one of Canada's biggest communications companies is to purchase CHUM, another one of Canada's big entertainment companies.

Bell Globemedia is on the way to purchasing CHUM and with it some if the biggest television channels on cable and satellite television. Bell owns the CTV networks as well as Discovery Channel. This buyout will give Bell Globemedia the CityTV channels as well as a network of other channels. This also include a bunch of radio stations.

This will give Bell the monopoly in Canada for entertainment.

A purchase of this magnatude has to be approved by the CRTC. Bell claims that they will sell of the smaller stations and keep the CityTV channels in Toronto.

Whatever the case, this will kill the entertainment in Canada. We will have to see the Bell Globemedia all the time and the programming will go to crap just like on all the other Bell channels.

THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR

This one is especially for those who love their surround sound! The 115 lb, sued appolstered Multimedia Chair from Hammacher Schlemmer (www.hammacher.com) allows those seated in it to experience every movie, video game, or sports game as if it were in the cinema. Two 50-watt speakers blast sound into your ears from the headrest as you feel the crashes and battles through the chair's tactile sound technology - which is used in theme park rides and flight simulators to feel like you're really in the action. A 300-watt amp is in the base of the chair as well as a side panel to control both volume and vibration. Also, a headphone jack is in the side panel in case your girlfriend/boyfriend gets irritated with the noise from your chair.

To acquire this chair fit for the captain of any spaceship, you'll have to fork out $799.95(US).
Scotty, beam me up!

THIS WAS WRITTEN AND POSTED BY CEE

WINDOWS 98 AND 2000 NO LONGER SUPPORTED

Microsoft has been warning consumers who still run Windows 98, ME, or 2000 on their computers to upgrade or ship-out (well, not quite like that) because Microsoft is not going to be supporting those versions of Windows any longer.

Microsoft has also ended support of Windows 2000. This is worrying IT specialists inside corporations all around the world as they are hurrying up their testing and deployment of Windows XP on their networks.

As of today, July 11, 2006 Microsoft will not support either of these operating systems.

As soon as this was reported there are now reports that Microsoft is soon to chop Windows XP SP1. This cannot be confirmed at this moment, however XP SP1 will, of course, not be supported some time in the future.

A few weeks before the deadline there was a critical security flaw found in Windows dating from XP SP2 all the way back to 98. As soon as this flaw was discovered Microsoft announced that the flaws in 98 and 2000 were not going to be fixed because they would have to re-write a lot of the operating system code.

There is a fundamental problem with the decision that Microsoft made to not support 98 and 2000 any longer. There are a lot of people that still use these operating systems and especially 98. People that still have the computers connected to the internet are now vulnerable to all the viruses out there on the web and if these computers are not removed from the internet all other computers that run windows are still vulnerable.

A suggestion to all users of 98 or 2000: if you can afford buying an OEM copy if Window XP Home ($120 CAN online) and your computer meets the requirements (and if just barely) you should upgrade until you can afford a new PC. Even a new computer can cost as low as $399 CAN (Acer has a few of these as well as Dell).

If you still use Windows 98, ME, or 2000 please email us by clicking on the link to the right or leave a comment by clicking on the comment link below.

AND YOU THOUGHT ONLY SUPERMAN COULD SEE THROUGH WALLS

There are only two things I know of that can see through walls: Superman and the Griffin AirClick Remote Control for Mac and PC. This remote is a regular USB with "supermachanic" powers. All you have to do to tap into this power is to put the reciever into your USB port. The remote uses RF signals that will go through any wall up to 60 feet away. This makes listening to your music on iTunes while sitting on your couch alot easier(but is usefull for many other things as well). The five button remote allows you to play/pause, go to the next track, return to the previous track, and raise or lower the volume. Also a hold button and clip so your little brother doesn't switch the song on you while you're air-guitaring!
This power will cost you $44 US or $49 CAN.

Do you have the power in the palm or your hand?

THIS WAS WRITTEN AND POSTED BY CEE

WHO NEEDS BUSINESS CARDS ANYWAY?

Another of those interesting gadgets that gadget lovers must have. This one is the Kensington PocketScan Portable Business Card Scanner. This little diddy allows you to not have to take that ever-so-wanted business card and enter all the information into your contact database on your computer manually. Instead you can scan that business card, with the help of the Kensington PocketScan Portable Business Card Scanner, and all the information will magically appear in your contact database.

The features of this 2 year warrentied, handy-dandy scanner are:
• Multi-language support: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch
• ‘Multi-Scan’ and ‘Double-Side Scan’ ensures a card with two sides can be scanned
• ‘Automatic Filed Identifier’ ensures that data is stored by the property of each field
• ‘Export Card Information’ allows card data to be directly exported to Outlook, Outlook Express, Palm, Win CE and most other PIM’s
• ‘Infrared Transmission’ allows card data to be exported to mobile phones and PDAs
• Requires no external power supply

This business card scanner costs £75.99 which is $140 US or $158 CAN.

THIS WAS WRITTEN AND POSTED BY CEE

TECHNOBABBLE PODCAST EPISODE 9 - JONES SODA

Episode 9 is now ready for download. We talk about Jones Soda (we are not in anyway supported or affiliated with Jones Soda, but it's good stuff) and the games we've lately reviewed on the website.

We have discontinued the contest due to lack of interest. We'll try again in the future.

We will be posting the podcast up on Podcast Alley soon and we are up on Podcast Pickle. I don't like to promote the pocast through bugging the listeners to vote but if you could do just that we would really appreciate it. Word of mouth is really good as well. If you refer them to the podcast please refer them to the website as well.

If you have any suggestions for the podcast email us by clicking on the link to the left.

Thanks for sticking with us. Enjoy!

NINTENDO DS LITE FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I have finally gotten my hands on a Nintedo DS Lite and boy am I happy that I got it.

Nintendo released the Nintendo DS in late 2004 to beat out the upcoming release of the Sony PSP.

Immediately the mobile console was a hit and sold out in Japan and sold many units in North America as well.

Nintendo has continued the tradition of updating their products and in May released an update the the Nintendo DS call the DS Lite.

The DS Lite decreases in size physically but still keeps all the power of the original DS. The Lite sports brighter back-lit displays, better buttons and shorter, thicker stylus as well as integrated wi-fi (that only works up to 20 metres)

The DS Lite also still supports the GameBoy Advance cartriges but I was sad to see there was no legacy support for the old GameBoy Colour and GameBoy games (so I still have to hang on to my GameBoy Advance SP).

The DS Lite is only available in a polished white colour here in North America. This colour may in fact remind you of a little company in California that has a fruit for its name.

The cartriges for the DS system are so small. They are just a little bigger than an Canadian "loonie" in size and only a fraction of the size of a GameBoy cartridge.

The DS Lite is a great system and is highly interactive.

I also purchased the New Super Mario Bros game and Konami's Lost in Blue. Both these games use all of the DS's features, even the mic.

The DS is a big seller in stores and has put Sony's PSP on the backburner.

The DS Lite will most likely sell out the PSP and will win the portable battle. The sheer simplicity of the DS just makes it a more fun handheld. To be fair though the PSP is not just a gaminig machine and also contains a processor capable of over 300MHz making it very capable.

It's up to you. If all you want to do is play games then there is no reasong to pay $70 (CAN) more for a Sony PSP but if you want to watch movies, listen to music and browse the web then the PSP is the best way to go.

TECHNOBABBLE PODCAST EPISODE 8

I hope all the Canadians out there had a great Canada Day on the 1st and the Americans that read and listen to the podcast has a great Independence Day on the 4th.

Episode 8 is now available for download by going directly to switchpod by clicking on the Podcast link to the right or by going to iTunes and searching podcasts for "techno_babble".

We talked about news and briefly on some technology developments in the gaming sector.

Episode 9 is going to be a game review podcast and hopefully Cee, Kevin, and I (Jeff) will be there for the whole podcast.

As always send us your email by clicking the Email link the right. We want to hear from you about anything you want to say about our website and our podcast.

ENJOY!!!

THE BOND OF ALL PENS

Something for all gadget lovers out there. This new toy is pact full of sweet buttons and pull-outs so the gadget happy won't get tired of it. This pen from usb.brando.com.hk is complete with mp3, fm radio, built in mircrophone for voice recording, data storage- usb port, LED indicator, shockproof and electromagnetic wave protection (!), and supports Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP, Linux or Mac Os. Cool, ain't it? Some of the other specifications are: 240mAh Li-Ion battery, 512MB stores up to 32 hours of voice recordings, and maximum playback time of 7 hours.

This nifty, little pen comes with:

USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder

Earphone

Driver CD

AC adapter

USB extended cable

User's Manual

The cost for a 512MB is US $48.00 and for a 1G is US$68.00

I've seen a few pens with a few gadgets added to them but never one that's shockproof and has electromagnet wave protection. I wonder what the holders of this pen are really hiding in the 512MB of storage that they don't want erased? Perhaps the location of that stolen helicopter, eh Bond?

THIS WAS WRITTEN AND POSTED BY CEE