Nate's blog » Hardware http://naterocks.com OMG! Its a blog! Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:17:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 New Zune 4.0 Software http://naterocks.com/2009/09/15/new-zune-4-0-software/ http://naterocks.com/2009/09/15/new-zune-4-0-software/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:25:09 +0000 Nathan Schloss http://naterocks.com/?p=321 Read the Rest...
]]> zunebig

Today Zune realised the new Zune 4.0 software. Here are my initial impressions…. (this is by no means a full review)

I like:

zunemini

  • The new Zune mini player (Zune 1.0 had one and it was one of the best things about the program, but for some reason they got rid of it in Zune 2.o, I am happy that its back)

zunebar

  • The new Zune mini bar. (If you mouse over it you get a display a lot a lot like the mini player)
  • The Smart DJ feature. (Its a feature that’s really neat and is original to Zune)

What I do not like:

  • Movie rental. (The fact that some movies can only be rented. The fact that you can not rent them and play them on your Xbox + PC and the fact that older Zunes cannot play them.)
  • The new app store. (Not clear how individuals can submit stuff and only new Zunes are supported.)

My overall impression:

The software got some much needed improvements and took some of the best things about Zune 1.0 and put them back into the software. But something that I think that Zune got really wrong is the fact that they got rid a lot of the support for older Zunes. Even thought the Zune HD is dramatically different I am sure that old Zunes would be able to play movies and certain apps just fine. The fact that older Zunes were so well supported was something that separated Zune from Apple and made them way better.

]]> http://naterocks.com/2009/09/15/new-zune-4-0-software/feed/ 0 Hal Microsoft’s Project Natal http://naterocks.com/2009/06/01/hal-microsofts-project-natal/ http://naterocks.com/2009/06/01/hal-microsofts-project-natal/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:31:23 +0000 Nathan Schloss http://naterocks.com/?p=279 Read the Rest...
]]> Hal 9000(Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic Computer)…Microsoft’s Project Natal
They both track your body movements and use your voice. They both even can reconogise you… scary.

]]> http://naterocks.com/2009/06/01/hal-microsofts-project-natal/feed/ 0 Xbox 360 http://naterocks.com/2008/12/08/xbox-360/ http://naterocks.com/2008/12/08/xbox-360/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:10:15 +0000 Nathan Schloss http://naterocks.com/?p=236 Read the Rest...
]]> During the past few days you may have been thinking, “Why has Nate not made any new posts”. Well dear readers, I recently made the mistake of buying an Xbox 360 have spend much of my free time on it. Below is my gamer card.

]]> http://naterocks.com/2008/12/08/xbox-360/feed/ 1 My new computer http://naterocks.com/2008/10/28/my-new-computer/ http://naterocks.com/2008/10/28/my-new-computer/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:54:38 +0000 Nathan Schloss http://naterocks.com/?p=210 Read the Rest...
]]> About 3 weeks ago I got around to bulding a new computer for myself. I have yet to post its specs… that is until now:

More details about my computer  
Component Details Subscore Base score
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz 5.6
5.6
  Determined by lowest subscore
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 5.7
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 5.9
Gaming graphics 1917 MB Total available graphics memory 5.9
Primary hard disk 332GB Free (466GB Total) 5.7
Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate
System  

  Manufacturer INTEL_
  Model DP35DP__
  Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
  System type 32-bit operating system
  Number of processor cores 2
  64-bit capable Yes
Storage  

  Total size of hard disk(s) 656 GB
  Disk partition (C:) 332 GB Free (466 GB Total)
  Disk partition (D:) 188 GB Free (190 GB Total)
  Media drive (E:) CD/DVD
  Media drive (F:) CD/DVDCD/DVD
Graphics  

  Display adapter type NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
  Total available graphics memory 1917 MB
        Dedicated graphics memory 512 MB
        Dedicated system memory 0 MB
        Shared system memory 1405 MB
  Display adapter driver version 7.15.11.7813
  Primary monitor resolution 1280×1024
  DirectX version DirectX 10
Network  

  Network Adapter Intel(R) 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network Connection
  Network Adapter Microsoft Tun Miniport Adapter
]]> http://naterocks.com/2008/10/28/my-new-computer/feed/ 0 Funny keyboard short cuts http://naterocks.com/2008/10/09/funny-keyboard-short-cuts/ http://naterocks.com/2008/10/09/funny-keyboard-short-cuts/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:18:39 +0000 Nathan Schloss http://naterocks.com/?p=177 Read the Rest...
]]> Update: See the new version of this post!

Want to piss off your friends? Here is my list of the top five keyboard shortcuts to use on people. (these will only work on Windows computers)

1) Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow — This key-command will rotate your monitor 180 degrees, it can be very funny to watch someone go to login to a computer and find the screen facing the wrong direction. Unfortunately this will only work on computers with Intel graphics chipsets.

2) left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN — This shortcut will turn on the high contrast visibility setting on any given computer. This is a good way to confuse and piss of people.

3) Alt+F4 — This command is very well know and won’t always work, but if you can find a newbie doing something important having their program close on them can be very entertaining.

4) Windows Key+M — If Alt+F4 fails this command may still be able to do a similar job, instead of closing the active program this command minimizes all open programs.

5) Windows Key+ D then Alt+F4 then Enter — This can be very funny and get you seriously hurt, but it will do a good job of shutting down any version of windows.

Update: See the new version of this post!

]]> http://naterocks.com/2008/10/09/funny-keyboard-short-cuts/feed/ 7