In order to pay some homage to my original Computer Engineering background, I have to share this great article by ArsTechnica on how robots think – Ars Technica article

While taking an example on DARPA mobile robots (which further relates personally to me as my final project in college was a robo-mouse), the article evolve on the nitty gritty detail on sensory input processing and its relation to the reaction. It also dwelve deeper into the logic algorithm of decision making process (probabilities and chance elimination formulas) as well as decision-action processing (that is, what exactly and how does one executes one’s decision); spiced with a little of marginal error correction logic.

I guess what intrigues me most is relating how a visual and other sensory inputs are treated by an artificial intelligence, with human reaction to similar inputs. Felt like we’re so close to inventing an AI as advanced as the soul, yet so far. Charming, really.

So in the follow-up of their highly succesfull OS (Win7 did pass with flying colours no matter which OS you’re coming from – at least according to the sales record), Microsoft decided to throw in a mobile OS as well. Updating their fairly infamous (in a negative way) WinMobile6 series (6.5 and 6.1 seems to be the most common used on smartphones) one version higher.

But with all the hype of iPhone, Android, and their manufacturer adopters, can Microsoft really (yet again) land a big, warm, and fluffy surprise?

Apparently, it looks like it can. Endgadget Article

The link above entails a few pictures and a very impressive video on a sample smartphone running WinMo7. But the biggest news is? WinPhone Marketplace. If you have an iPhone, think of this as iTunes. Yes, that’s right. This is where future WinMo7 users will be downloading user-developed applications, games, musics, and whatnots.

Only time will tell how succesful the Marketplace can be, but trust me, it will be the make-it-or-break-it point for WinMo7. Afterall, such is the case for the iPhone.

Oh yes, that is a Netflix application.

Update March 16th, 2010:

Of course, who am I kidding? After reading a little more into another WinMo7 article focused on its Enterprise functionalities, it’s obvious even the latest incarnation of Windows Mobile can’t compete to the professional requirements of an enterprise – leaving that (rather large) consumer market wedge (still) dominated by the Blackberry family.

Of course, that being said, there are still people who uses Blackberries yet never touch the email nor BBM functions…

Little tips and tricks for this morning is how to clean you hard-drive. For whatever reason.

For so many years, most majority of computer-users believe (fervently) that deleting a file from Recycle Bin in Windows (or pretty much any other Operating Systems I know) will forever obliterate that data to the furthest edge of the universe and beyond.

Until I showed them how easy it is to retrieve it under 5 minutes.

In a nutshell, the fact is when you delete a file in Windows, it only deletes the pointer of that file. But it leaves the actual data intact – until that exact space is either re-utilized or cleared. To fully understand that, you need to know the basic idea how file works. When you save a file in your drive, it creates a header/pointer where it stores all the information of that file – including where and how big that data of that file is being stored. When you delete a file, the system would simply either rewrite the header to say that the area where the data resided is now empty and free for the taking of any new files, or, delete the header completely. Neither, actually deletes the data. Thus, when you do feel the send a file into oblivion, there are extra steps you must follow and understand.

Due to the various type of hard-drives and operating systems out there, here are Gizmodo’s full article with more details on which tools and guides: Gizmodo article

On a different topic, BBC has shown how new format of drives may be working against Windows XP users. So if you’re on XP, and looking into adding extra storage to your computer, read up: BBC article

While Ars Technica goes into a little more in-depth regarding this issue: Ars Technica article

Interesting article by Wired. The layout alone is definitely one heck of a trip down memory lane for most people who remember those days.

Wired Article: 10 Years After

In other words; antivirus phish; a.k.a. virus (usually trojans) who disguised themselves as antivirus and urge you to install them by creating (usually) fake threats in your computer. For more info, read up here: Wikipedia 

The latest current threats for this type of attack are found online through your web-browser by mimicking an antivirus scanning page or your explorer window – making them looking completely legit and trick you to use them. For the latest updated list of these “bad-websites”, this is one of source I use and updates: MalwareURL 

Some example screenshot pictures are; 

Antivirus 2009 - a notorious rogue program malware

 How to avoid them? Basic rule of thumb: don’t just click and/or run anything you see that you don’t recognize. Especially in the Internet. I know that some of these scam attacks may look like something you would recognize, so just being extra careful wouldn’t hurt.

Install a good, reliable antivirus. Microsoft Security Essential is free and a fairly solid solution, although it may not be as complete as other. AVG antivirus has a free version that’s quite robust. McAfee, a well-known antivirus solution, has some free tools you can use. Last but not least, TrendMicro has a free tool called HijackThis (don’t worry, it’s a real antivirus!) that you can use to scan your computer online securely and on-the-fly. Very handy! 

Keep an eye out for non-recognizable/out of place layout in your computer. This means; when you see a windows explorer window, make sure the address bar actually points to the current view. Ie. when you see My Computer content on the viewing panel, it should say My Computer on the address bar – unlike the second screenshot example above where it says http://scan1.antivirus….
Another example is when you see a scanning antivirus program running, it shouldn’t have an Internet Explorer bar on the top – this could means it’s actually a website designed to look like an antivirus program. 

Don’t simply click Yes/OK/Next on messages that suddenly pops up on your screen, or notification to install any kind of program. Take the time to review it,  read about it, and/or ask around. Remember, it’s always better NOT to install a program you don’t know rather than installing a program that you THINK you know. 

A website designed to look completely like My Computer browser

On a more personal notes, this type of malware – rogue software – has claimed at least 3 PC securely located behind a firewall and numerous more outside the last few weeks. It’s on the rise, no surprise to their fairly high success rate. Some would even employ a real-life tech-support representative that infected user can chat with! Other reports show that affiliated companies of these rogue program developers can be paid for thousands of real dollars for distributing the programs and hosting them. Damages by infection are ranging from simple Windows error loop to whole systems being disabled to file corruption (deleted, and scrambled, so you can’t recover it). 

So when you think you’re safe and sound in the Internet… think again. Be safe!

is awesome…

Ok, so there’s nothing groundbreaking with the gameplay or graphic or technology…  but Fist of The North Star!!! If you don’t know this title (Hokuto Musou!!!) then you can skip the whole post, really.

But for all of you that do know, and enjoy the comic (or even Anime, yikes!), you owe it to yourself to play this extremely over the top fighting game……… Man I love those comics.

Ken: you feel lucky, punk?
punk1: huuuuuh?
punk2: and who the **** are you, eeeeeh?
Ken: YATATATATATATATATA!!!!
*punks’ heads start to get swollen*
punk1&2: what the? thats the best you can do?? hahahah…errrk* 
*heads exploded*

It’s like a trip down memory lane… while riding on a bike, swinging spiked chains, running over evil punks, blowing their heads off with your punches.

I was never big on reading other people’s blog (so sue me… ) but the few I’ve read, they latched on me for life a long time.

Here’s a good example. A mathmetician’s blog with puzzles: http://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/

On another news, I’m still waiting for a chance to stop by EBgames to get a copy of Battlefield: Bad Company 2. I was a huge BF2 maniac (and a wee bit of BF2142) and been missing a solid online FPS frag fest (no, Call of Duty is not one of them – solid Single Player, sure… but kiddies MP). Hopefully this game can finally cure it. Well the following video helped….

Sure, us gamers on the east side of the Pacific Ocean can get excited over Yakuza 3 game. But over across the pond, them Japs are getting ready for Yakuza 4.

Check out the link for the super-awesome game trailer LOL

http://kotaku.com/5476999/yakuza-4-will-pick-up-a-scooter-and-smash-you-in-the-face

Funny how both CTRLALTDEL and PennyArcade had similar comic today… maybe I missed some big announcement…. hmmm…

Happy Weekend!

There are lots of those, (I specifically love onemanga.com for Japanese comics) such as Penny Arcade and Ctrl-Alt-Del. But XKCD should not be forgotten as well.

I recently found a new favourite… explaining web-addicts.

Solar-powered cellphone? Yes please…

http://www.gsmarena.com/puma_phone_roars_at_the_mwc_sportsminded_and_eco_friendly-news-1459.php

http://pumaphone.com/

By giving away 1Gbps Fiber internet to about 500-thousands lucky Americans, Google is only one step away from becoming Skynet. Great.

In all seriousness, they are planning to become an ISP by providing Fiber connectivity at competitive prices. Theoritically, this will lay the foundation of next generation bandwidth speed and internet development, according to Google; which will pave the way into high speed connectivity to the rest of the world.

But seriously… 1Giga bit per second? Holy %^!$, I wish I live in America…. video and link below

Endgadget Article

Gizmodo Article

Update: Apparently the news got caught up by CBC as well. As shown in this article: CBC article.

Although I found a disturbing fact on that article; quoted:

Google likely has dark fibre in Canada to serve its capacity needs here, but any attempt to provide telecommunications services would run into legal problems. Restrictions require any infrastructure-owning telecom service provider to be majority Canadian owned and controlled.

Damn you Robbers, Bhell, and Failus!

This is probably how Online Parent Control software should work. Click the link and watch the video. Warning: NSFW!

http://www.worktobejudged.com/strippause/peca.html

Awesome artist. Definitely worth checking out if you have the slightest interest on design, graphic, or photography.

Walee

Example pic: