Archive for March, 2008

Remote VLC

Published by Si at 29 March, 2008 in Apps and Tech. 0 Comments

The Mac version of VLC Media Player now has native support for the Apple Remote. W00t. All that’s missing is the ability to customise what each button does. I’m not too sure about the fast forward skip time, whether it gets it from “medium jump length” or just makes it up. I tried changing jump lengths with inconclusive results! Not sure about DVD menus either. Here is a funky diagram I made of the controls.

VLC Apple Remote Controls

R18+ VG rating update

Published by Si at 28 March, 2008 in Games. 1 Comment

So yeah, that R18+ rating we all want. It might happen. Today, the Attorneys General announced they will seek public opinion on the issue before any ruling; basically paving the way for open public debate. I think this is a good thing, and the emerging consensus seems to be that it’s preferrable to allow an official release of these games than have them thrive on the black market.

Read the ABC article.

Amazon, you suck

Published by Si at 24 March, 2008 in Music and Net. 2 Comments

Sometimes Amazon is great. I often use Amazon.co.uk to get DVDs that haven’t come out yet in R4, and the British ones are in PAL. But other times, Amazon just plain suck. My latest order from Amazon.com, for example. It’s a CD by Overseer titled “Wreckage” which I haven’t been able to find anywhere. I ordered it on Feb 24, and after a month they still can’t give me a delivery estimate. So I asked their customer service people what was happening and thankfully they responded within a couple of days… to tell me they still couldn’t give me a delivery estimate.

Then I got an email which said (among other things):

“You have unique (and excellent, of course) taste, and this item is difficult for us to get our hands on.”

Why thankyou, Amazon. Maybe I should just order a distasteful item to get it shipped on time.

Ringtones

Published by Si at 24 March, 2008 in Games and Music. 0 Comments

Here’s a couple of ringtones I created and a message tone. Ph33r my lameness. Warning they might play very loud.

Portal Radio Loop [Download]

Super Mario Bros [Download]

Coin (for SMS) [Download]

What Drinking Culture?

Published by Si at 15 March, 2008 in Tech. 0 Comments

I was just checking out my new Virgin Mobile service, and discovered an intriguing feature called DUI. Yes, it is what you think. Quoth the website:

Don’t dial Under the Influence!

Incoherent calls to exes, bosses and partners could be a thing of the past as Virgin Mobile urges you to get tighter with the right posse.

Dial 333 plus a phone number you don’t want to call when drunk e.g. 333 0431 123456.

Virgin Mobile then stops all calls to that number (e.g. 0431 123456) by blacklisting it until 6am the following morning from your phone.

To undo the action in an emergency dial 333CLEAR (33325327).

When blacklisting the number dial the number exactly as it appears in your mobile contacts book

*hic* Howsz szmany… *hic* numbershzz can I… *hic* blacklist?

But wait, there’s more:

Stuck in a disastrous date? Small talk and uncomfortable silences galore? Wish you were anywhere but there? Don’t want to make a scene? Fear not – now you can dial 767 (SOS) and hang up without saying a word and then Virgin Mobile will call you back a minute later with a perfect excuse to get you out of there. We’ll even talk you through what to say.

The SOS RINGâ„¢ is the perfect excuse to get out of that disastrous date without causing a scene.

These two features are clearly signs of the pending apocalypse.

Kirby 64: Worth $15

Published by Si at 10 March, 2008 in Games. 0 Comments

The above video is kind of neat. It pretty much convinced me to buy Kirby 64 on the Wii VC (1000 points). I played some on the weekend and it’s incredibly addictive. Haven’t finished it yet, and I think my favourite power is a tie between Fire/Fire and Spark/Spark.

In other Wii news, I’m putting Marvel Ultimate Alliance on eBay this Friday.