The Screen Savers 09-10-2004 (Part 6of7)
(Part 6of7)PREMIERE DATE: 9/10/2004Creating Atari 2600 Homebrew GamesWho says the Atari 2600 is dead? Not when you can create your own games for this classic console. We also show you how to convert streaming audio into local files on your PC, use your cell phone's minute plan with your regular home phone, and turn an antique phone into a Bluetooth Wireless headset.Tech TopicsWell, the main topic to lead off the show wasn't exactly ripped from today's headlines, but it was notable nevertheless: Kevin got in trouble with Google.com. Yes, when he gave away 4,000 free beta accounts to Google's new Gmail on his Website (that's kevinrose.com, by the way), it apparently flooded Google's servers. "I have to say, 'I'm sorry, Google,'" Kevin declared."Wait a sec, isn't Google a huge company?" demanded Alex. "Couldn't they handle it?" Alex therefore announced that he would contribute his own computer to aid Google's servers the next time Kevin gave away any Gmail accounts -- whereupon Kevin accused him of probably owning a cutting-edge machine like a Packard-Bell. "A Packard-Bell?" Alex asked, brow furrowed. "That name sounds weird just coming out of my mouth..."Nevertheless, the guys promise to alert Google before they try any future Gmail giveaways.TSS Live CallsCall #1: "CT" of Leawood, Kansas wants to replace the old DVD drive in his Xbox. How can he do it?It's not difficult at all, according to Kevin and Alex -- but if your Xbox is still under warranty, you can kiss your coverage good-bye. But if your warranty's already run out, then you have several new DVD drive options that can improve upon the speed of the original Xbox unit. LG and Samsung offer drives that will fit, and you can even shop on eBay for drives rigged especially for the Xbox. Putting them in is fairly simple: Just remove the torque screws under the rubber pads on the bottom of the Xbox, open the case, and unplug the drive unit."You also have to remove this warning label," Alex said. "Labels don't mean anything!" scoffed Kevin. "Remember: Don't do this at home—it's bad!" Alex added for good measure.Call #2: Wade from Edmonton AB keeps losing bandwidth on his wi-fi connection when people jump on his network. What can he do about it?The first place to start is by turning on your security measures, which may seem obvious but some users aren't always aware of them. According to Kevin and Alex, the basics include changing the default administrator passwords, using mandatory WEP encryption (newer routers use WPA encryption), and registering your devices' MAC addresses.For detailed instructions on securing your wi-fi network, read these articles:Windows IT ProTom's NetworkingWhere It All Began: The Atari 2600While many gamers are already yearning for the Playstation 3 or Xbox Next, Paul Slocum prefers to take a different path -- a journey into the primordial ooze of console gaming, the Atari 2600. But he isn't just a nostalgia-wracked collector -- Paul is actually a 2600 programmer, creating new games for the nearly 30-year-old console. He actually started designing games for the system in elementary school, and is now part of a community of programmers who homebrew their own games."I really did love it as a kid," Slocum said. "It's a really interesting machine to program for. It's really flexible—it doesn't have any video hardware, so it's all done in software.""Can you fix a game like E.T.?" asked Alex."Somebody actually did -- they made the holes not as deep so you could get around easier," said Slocum.Alex fired up one of Slocum's creations, Marble Craze, which he said was the first two-player game for the 2600. Slocum also demonstrated the 2600's abilities as a video-effect machine while inputting music from his own band, Treewave.For more info on Paul Slocum's projects as well as the Atari 2600, visit these sites:qotile.netatariage.comTreewave.comStreamripping Made EasyAlthough the guys made Dan stay late at TSS HQ to rip some radio streams overnight (causing some rather erratic behavior due to sleep deprivation), streamripping is actually an easy process these days. According to Kevin, you previously couldn't even capture Internet radio streams onto your hard drive. But now there's software that can automatically identify when streamed songs start and stop, thus creating individual MP3s -- which means free music. (Even if Dan has a predilection for the songs of Hillary Duff.)"Believe it or not, this is still legal to do!" said Kevin.Yoshi Mods His Bluetooth Headset to Look Bulky and OldSarah's Review: Cell Socket
Author: TTVRewind
Keywords: TSS The Screen Savers Techtv Tech TV zdnet Kevin Rose Alex Albrecht Sarah Lane Yoshi DeHerrera Dan Huard Robert Heron
Added: April 13, 2008
The Screen Savers 09-10-2004 (Part 5of7)
(Part 5of7)PREMIERE DATE: 9/10/2004Creating Atari 2600 Homebrew GamesWho says the Atari 2600 is dead? Not when you can create your own games for this classic console. We also show you how to convert streaming audio into local files on your PC, use your cell phone's minute plan with your regular home phone, and turn an antique phone into a Bluetooth Wireless headset.Tech TopicsWell, the main topic to lead off the show wasn't exactly ripped from today's headlines, but it was notable nevertheless: Kevin got in trouble with Google.com. Yes, when he gave away 4,000 free beta accounts to Google's new Gmail on his Website (that's kevinrose.com, by the way), it apparently flooded Google's servers. "I have to say, 'I'm sorry, Google,'" Kevin declared."Wait a sec, isn't Google a huge company?" demanded Alex. "Couldn't they handle it?" Alex therefore announced that he would contribute his own computer to aid Google's servers the next time Kevin gave away any Gmail accounts -- whereupon Kevin accused him of probably owning a cutting-edge machine like a Packard-Bell. "A Packard-Bell?" Alex asked, brow furrowed. "That name sounds weird just coming out of my mouth..."Nevertheless, the guys promise to alert Google before they try any future Gmail giveaways.TSS Live CallsCall #1: "CT" of Leawood, Kansas wants to replace the old DVD drive in his Xbox. How can he do it?It's not difficult at all, according to Kevin and Alex -- but if your Xbox is still under warranty, you can kiss your coverage good-bye. But if your warranty's already run out, then you have several new DVD drive options that can improve upon the speed of the original Xbox unit. LG and Samsung offer drives that will fit, and you can even shop on eBay for drives rigged especially for the Xbox. Putting them in is fairly simple: Just remove the torque screws under the rubber pads on the bottom of the Xbox, open the case, and unplug the drive unit."You also have to remove this warning label," Alex said. "Labels don't mean anything!" scoffed Kevin. "Remember: Don't do this at home—it's bad!" Alex added for good measure.Call #2: Wade from Edmonton AB keeps losing bandwidth on his wi-fi connection when people jump on his network. What can he do about it?The first place to start is by turning on your security measures, which may seem obvious but some users aren't always aware of them. According to Kevin and Alex, the basics include changing the default administrator passwords, using mandatory WEP encryption (newer routers use WPA encryption), and registering your devices' MAC addresses.For detailed instructions on securing your wi-fi network, read these articles:Windows IT ProTom's NetworkingWhere It All Began: The Atari 2600While many gamers are already yearning for the Playstation 3 or Xbox Next, Paul Slocum prefers to take a different path -- a journey into the primordial ooze of console gaming, the Atari 2600. But he isn't just a nostalgia-wracked collector -- Paul is actually a 2600 programmer, creating new games for the nearly 30-year-old console. He actually started designing games for the system in elementary school, and is now part of a community of programmers who homebrew their own games."I really did love it as a kid," Slocum said. "It's a really interesting machine to program for. It's really flexible—it doesn't have any video hardware, so it's all done in software.""Can you fix a game like E.T.?" asked Alex."Somebody actually did -- they made the holes not as deep so you could get around easier," said Slocum.Alex fired up one of Slocum's creations, Marble Craze, which he said was the first two-player game for the 2600. Slocum also demonstrated the 2600's abilities as a video-effect machine while inputting music from his own band, Treewave.For more info on Paul Slocum's projects as well as the Atari 2600, visit these sites:qotile.netatariage.comTreewave.comStreamripping Made EasyAlthough the guys made Dan stay late at TSS HQ to rip some radio streams overnight (causing some rather erratic behavior due to sleep deprivation), streamripping is actually an easy process these days. According to Kevin, you previously couldn't even capture Internet radio streams onto your hard drive. But now there's software that can automatically identify when streamed songs start and stop, thus creating individual MP3s -- which means free music. (Even if Dan has a predilection for the songs of Hillary Duff.)"Believe it or not, this is still legal to do!" said Kevin.Yoshi Mods His Bluetooth Headset to Look Bulky and OldSarah's Review: Cell Socket
Author: TTVRewind
Keywords: TSS The Screen Savers Techtv Tech TV zdnet Kevin Rose Alex Albrecht Sarah Lane Yoshi DeHerrera Dan Huard Robert Heron
Added: April 13, 2008