General Articles | Fire Boy and Water Girl Play

Lucille Wood
August 10, 2022
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The Best Gaming Console: Wii, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3?

Gaming consoles are more popular these days than ever before. They have come a long way since the time of Sega Mega Drive; modern 7th generation consoles have amazing graphics, great controllers and offer lots of awesome games to choose from. The most popular video game consoles in the world right now are Xbox 360 from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 from Sony, and Wii from Nintendo. Which is the best out of the three?

The short answer is: they’re all good. But that’s not what you’re here for, is it? So, let’s look at the Wii first. This gaming console was released in 2006, and as of December 31, 2010 has sold 84.64 million units worldwide. In other words, it’s the leader in terms of sales when comparing Xbox 360 vs PS3 vs Wii. This is largely thanks to its innovative motion controller which allows players to interact with the game by using not only buttons, but gestures as well.

Wii is probably the most unique of the three consoles reviewed here: its graphics capabilities are definitely the weakest, but the control system is the most innovative, and the target audience is different as well. While Xbox 360 and PS3 cater to hardcore gamer crowd, Wii draws in casual gamers, and people who never played video games before. They offer lots of easy, fun and family-friendly games. If you are a casual gamer, this console might just be the thing you’re looking for.

Second, we have the Xbox 360 from Microsoft. It is the second console in terms of sales (50 million units worldwide as of Jan 5, 2011), which is just a little bit ahead of the PS3. Unlike Wii, it supports HD-quality video output and has quite powerful CPU and graphics system (although perhaps not as powerful as the one in PS3). Xbox 360 has several highly popular games that are exclusive to the platform, such as the Halo series. One of the strongest sides of Xbox 360 is online multiplayer and other services offered through the Xbox Live network. In my opinion, Xbox Live is the best online console community, definitely beating PlayStation’s PSN. If you are into online gaming, I think Xbox 360 is a great choice.

When talking about Xbox 360, Kinect should be mentioned as well. It’s an add-on for the console that was released back in 2009. Kinect allows players to play using gestures and spoken commands, without using any controller at all. You could call it Microsoft’s answer to PlayStation Move and Wii MotionPlus systems.

Finally, we have the PlayStation 3 console from Sony. With 47.9 million units sold worldwide, it’s just a little bit behind Xbox 360 in terms of popularity. PS3 has probably the most powerful graphics and CPU system, although not all multiplatform games can make full use of it; as such, PlayStation 3 graphics are usually on par with those of Xbox 360. It is also the only seventh generation console that has a Blu-ray player on it, which adds even more to the technological superiority of PlayStation 3. If you want to have Blu-ray and play PS3-exclusive games like LittleBigPlanet, then this console is for you.

The console offers free online play via the PlayStation Network (PSN), although it probably loses to Xbox Live in some regards. It also has two motion-based add-ons: PlayStation Eye (digital camera, similar to Kinect) and PlayStation Move (motion controller, similar to the Wiimote).

Hopefully this article was useful in helping you make the choice of which console to buy. If you still need more information, visit Wikipedia for a more detailed comparison of Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii.…

Lucille Wood
August 8, 2022
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Avoid a Kitchen Gift Mistake for Mom

You have to be careful when it comes to purchasing kitchen gifts for your mother. This is because for some women, the last thing they want on their birthday or a holiday is to be thinking about being stuck in the kitchen. If your mom is one of those people who believes food preparation is best left to the live-in chef (and that person is not her), then by all means avoid the deadly mistake of thinking a cooking item would be a good gift.

On the other hand, if your mother is one of those who enjoys nurturing and caring for the family with food, a kitchen gift may be the perfect choice.

Here are a few ideas for you to get the wheels of your mind turning and thinking about options:

A rice cooker is practical and fun to use. Particularly for families trying to save some bucks, a good volume of rice is affordable and cheap.

Consider an immersion hand blender if mom loves the froth of a smoothie or coffee being whipped fresh.

If you have the money and want to go all out, a food grinder lets the gourmet cook make homemade sausage and meat dishes.

When you see mom frustrated trying to find the proper tool in the kitchen, it may be appropriate to consider a holding container for kitchen tools and gadgets. If you are the one shopping for this online, the selection is broad, and you can find a variety of colors and materials.

Whether you are a large family or small, a warm doughnut machine can create fun and drama in the kitchen. The anticipation will build as they are growing and cooking in the machine. Add some powdered sugar when they come out and you have the perfect dessert or snack.…

Lucille Wood
August 7, 2022
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Custom Covert Surveillance Ideas

Looking for the perfect hidden spy gadget for your home or business? Can’t seem to find a good pre-made fit for your application? With the mini security cameras available in the marketplace and a little ingenuity; why not make your own covert camera?

Its Been Done Before

The various covert cameras available today all have come out of necessity. From teddy bear cameras being used as nanny cams, to pen cameras being used for covert spy operations; they have all evolved to fit a variety of covert surveillance needs. In fact one of the first covert camera designs was a pocket watch camera used by undercover officers and private eyes in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

Mini Security Cameras Galore

With all the miniature security cameras available in the marketplace it’s quite easy to make and customize your own covert gadget. By using cameras such as the KPC-DNR700 or the CG35 you can easily mount a small security camera into a variety of fixtures, appliances, or other household objects and turn them into covert surveillance equipment.

Covert Camera Ideas

Plant Camera

Take a miniature security camera and mount it into a well positioned and leafy plant for a great covert solution.

Book Camera

These are already available in pre-assembled form; however if you wish to save a little time and have a little creative fun; you can make them yourself. All you need to do is cut out a portion of the interior pages to form a box to hold the camera and then drill a small hole through the side for the camera to see out of.

Light Fixture Camera

Have a light fixture with some breathing room? How about mounting a camera inside? Just make sure you don’t have lens flare of a sub par picture from the light and voila you have a covert camera solution.

Lawn Ornaments (Garden Gnome?)

Lawn ornaments such as garden gnomes or other statues can make great camera housings for a covert application. It may require a little drilling and setup, but what a versatile and excellent solution with partial weather protection for your camera.

Think Outside The Box

Maybe you have a collection of teddy bears, pop bottles, ornamental signs, etc… Could a camera be hidden in them? Start looking around your house and thinking about the various knickknacks and appliances that go unnoticed and might serve well as a camera housing.

Ultimately it comes down to a little creativity and can do attitude to come up with a wide variety of different custom covert camera applications, and the sky is the limit. Furthermore if you’re looking for ideas, it never hurts to call up your local surveillance provider and have a chat. Who knows maybe you’ll come up with the next teddy bear camera and be able to make a living off your covert designs.…

Lucille Wood
August 6, 2022
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Game Console Repair – Fix Game Consoles For Profit

The gaming industry is worth approximately 20 billion dollars and is growing all the time with thousands of consoles being purchased every week throughout the world.

Unfortunately each console has its own specific problems and can break down with sometimes disastrous consequences, you will have to send your console to be repaired and it could take between 2 – 6 weeks to get it returned or to be told you need a new one you could also end up paying about $150 for the privilege of being told that your pride and joy cannot be repaired.

Why not try and repair it yourself? I am not suggesting you attack your Xbox with a pair of pliers but you can purchase a guide online with all the information to repair all common issues. You can get an online repair guide for about $30 and they cover all major consoles. You could fix the xbox red ring of death, or the PlayStation 3 blinking yellow light problem, so not only could you fix your own console within an hour you could also save yourself the best part of $100 to spend on more games for your beloved console.

Now imagine this, with the amount of consoles in the world today and the amount of broken consoles about why not use your new skills to repair pre-owned game consoles and sell them on for a generous profit. Pre-owned consoles that require fixing are readily available on eBay and other similar places you could buy them up cheap and fix them and sell them back on eBay. So what started as a hobby could turn into a business and you could get your share of the 20 billion dollars.…

Lucille Wood
August 2, 2022
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Fixing PS3 YLOD – Try These 5 Ideas

When your PlayStation 3 breaks down and display the yellow light of death it can be very frustrating. You may have been planning to play the latest release with your mates or wanting to settle in for a movie with your partner. Either way you can’t and it ticks you off. Never fear though you could have it working again in no time at all by just trying these five simple YLOD fixes.

1. Obviously you could send your machine back to Sony for repair. If it is under warranty they will fix it for free, however if it isn’t it can costing the region of $ 150 to fix. If you do decide to send it off then you can expect not to see your console for around six weeks. A majority of times the hard drive is wiped and you can lose all your game data, saves and other information.

If this doesn’t sound like a good option for you then carry on Reading as I have a few more tricks for you to try out.

2. Dis-connect the console from the mains power supply and check that all cables are securely in place. Also check the condition of the cables. Once checked over turn the console back on.

3. Check your console see if it is unusually hot anywhere, overheating is a major cause of the yellow light of death. Take a peek at the vents on the side of the console to see if it is blocked with dust or something else. If there is clean the vent with a dry clean cloth. Also check the surrounding area to see if there is enough room around your ps3 to allow for good air circulation, not to close to lots of other equipment which all produces heat.

4. If you have had no success by now then you should try removing the hard drive from the PlayStation 3. Don’t look so scared it is really a simple procedure. If you are not sure how to carry the procedure out then I suggest checking out the numerous tutorials online before you begin. Try this couple of times to solve the problem.

If you are still not enjoying a game of the latest call of duty at the moment it is probably something wrong with the motherboard. Stay with me though as I have one more suggestion for you.

5. Fix it yourself. Yes you read it right. It is possible to fix PlayStation problems including motherboard errors at home. While I don’t suggest taking a couple of screwdrivers to your console without knowing what you are doing you should take a look at a PlayStation 3 repair guide. There is a really good one written by Rob Sheffield, he has been fixing ps3s for over four years and uses the same methods that Sony use, so he knows what he is doing. The guide itself is really easy to follow and the use of videos only make the task of repairing your game console that much easier. Good luck with whatever method you decide to fix your PS3 YLOD.…

Lucille Wood
July 31, 2022
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The Easiest Way to Copy Playstation 3 Games

There are a lot of ways found on the internet to copy games, however not all of these ways are foolproof and not all the sites that advertise or turn up in a Google search are actually genuine. A lot of people who have PS3 game collections usually have misgivings when playing the games for fear of damaging the Blu-ray disc. And with PlayStation 3 games costing around twenty to sixty dollars, wear and tear on a PlayStation 3 Blu-ray disc is definitely something to worry about. And it is basically for this reason that a backup copy of the game is more convenient. Some people have found ways to copy PlayStation 3 games straight from the Blu-ray disc to your computer’s hard drive.

So what is the easiest way to copy it straight from the Blu-ray disc they are on? The ways and procedures are actually numerous; however the important question would be for what purpose would you have to copy it? In order to be safe from any legal actions from Sony and the game developers and publishers, the person who wants to copy the PlayStation 3 game should also be the owner of the game. This then leads to one of the reasons why it is hard to copy PlayStation 3 games as opposed to copying XBOX 360 or Nintendo games. The copyright protection software on the PS3 Blu-ray disc is said to be the hardest to crack.

So for most gamers, in order to copy games for PS3, they actually download PS3 game copy software that can bypass the copyright protection software on most games and enable anybody with any computer sense to be able to copy a PlayStation 3 game to his or her computer. This method is best for beginners who don’t want to void the warranty of their PlayStation 3 consoles by doing the next method, which is hardmodding and firmware rooting. Hardmodding requires changing the hardware configuration of the PS3, and as such voiding the consoles warranty in the process, much the same way as rooting the firmware of the PS3 to play older PS2 and PSX games also voids the warranty of the console. Whichever method you would choose one thing to always remember is to do it at your own risk.…

Lucille Wood
July 27, 2022
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PlayStation Update: Brand New System Software and Features

Last October 18, 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment has released the latest system software for PlayStation 3: the PlayStation 3 system software version 3.37. This latest version of PS3 system software includes some new and revised items such as the latest security patches, settings, features, and others.

The 3.37 version of PS3 system software adds the (TV/Video Services) icon as a category to PlayStation 3’s XMB (XrossMediaBar) menu. The icon will only be seen when you use services on your PS3. Besides, you will also notice that there will be a video streaming services option which appears under the (TV/Video Services) icon. In previous versions, the icon was placed under the (Video) icon. While some services are directly available, some other might require you to download and install specific application in order to be able to operate. You also need Internet connection for updating services and information of your peripheral system. The icons on this latest updated version of PS3 system software might be displayed differently; all depending on your country or region and the availability of services.

New update on this 3.37 version also includes the Auto-Upload Saved Data. This feature enables you to automatically store new and recently updated saved data for PS3 format software in online storage regularly. To access this feature, you need to have a PlayStation Network account and become the member of the PlayStation Plus.

Besides the new (TV/Video Services) and Auto-Upload Saved Data features, the PlayStation 3’s latest version of system software also includes the improvement of the playback quality during the use of some PS3 format software, the display of the MPO (Multi-Picture format) files for 3D photos and multi-angle photos under the (Photo) and in the (Photo Gallery) icons, the addition of a feature for sharing the latest info from the PlayStation Store with your Friends, supported 3D playback of Blu-ray Java (“BD-J”) content, supported DTS-HD audio output while playing Blu-ray 3D content, and regular automatic synchronization of trophy information with the server. Like the Auto-Upload Saved Data feature, the latter feature enlisted on the 3.37 version improvement is also exclusively provided for PlayStation Plus members.

You must download and install PS3 system software updates only from the official update data provided online or on disc media by Sony Computer Entertainment. You should also avoid any methods of installation or download which are not appropriate with the system documentation of the PlayStation official website. Any violation on the Sony PlayStation regulation might void the PS3 system warranty and result in you losing the warranty and repair services from Sony Computer Entertainment.…

Lucille Wood
July 25, 2022
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Street Fighter IV Combos – How to Build Your Own Combos

In the early Street Fighter games, combos were rarely seen, and were nearly impossible to execute. Street Fighter IV combos now make up a vital part of the game, and you’ll need to learn a few if you ever want to be considered a true player, or if you want to play to a decent standard and hold your own online.

It’s important to understand how combo damage scaling works when learning the game. This basically means that for each consecutive hit in a combo, that attack will do less damage than it normally would. By the time you get (if you ever do) to your 9th hit in a chain, the move will only be doing around 20% of its potential damage.

Each character has around 7 different combos that the developers have already come up with, and each on can be learnt in challenge mode, with detailed instructions. For that reason, I will avoid simply listing every combo, and focus more on the theory behind them.

For Street Fighter IV combos to be effective, they have to be worthwhile. This means that they have to do enough damage to be worth the effort – otherwise you could just do another, easier move on your opponent.

Most Street Fighter IV combos follow the same basic pattern. They start with an introductory attack – one that is easy to hit with, and won’t push your opponent back to far. These are usually light punches – either crouching or standing, or some kind of an aerial lead-in move. The idea at this stage is not to go for damage, but to get close enough to your opponent so that you can unleash the real moves, whilst temporarily stunning him so he can’t hit back. Next you’ll proceed with a succession of moves, each gaining in power, before finishing off with a special move or an Ultra combo.…

Lucille Wood
July 19, 2022
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Gizmos and Gadgets For You and Your Loved One

Just imagine a life without gifts and gadgets, a life without calculator, a cell phone, a washing machine, a gaming console, a GPS, or a portable music system etc. It seems that the life would be acutely boring and in some cases a hard time to live on. This is how gizmos and gadgets have taken their place in our lives. Be it entertainment, private needs, office needs or simply anything life without these sounds almost incomplete in this technical era. And buying the latest tech gizmo is always a high for a techno savvy person.

With the launch of Apples iPad the 7″ ingenious console that has oodles of feature loaded in it, is the most hyped electronic gadgets that is now ruling the market. Those who love acquiring latest products can go fan at the world’s first dual screen device – the enTourage eDGe. It combines a notepad, notebook, e-reader, and video/audio recorder and player in one Linux with Google Android OS device. On this student friendly, one can surf on the internet, read an ebook, listen to music, watch music and send and receive emails. There is also an e-ink technology that opens a virtual keyboard to take down note and access journal pages.

Apart from all this there is much more that is ruling in this amazing world of electronic devices namely Block clock, Gel spa, Zapcap bottle opener, Universal desktop charging station, Pebble battery, Solar power courtesy lights, Snore stoppers etc. These are low priced gizmos apart from gaming console that find lots of uses in the daily life and still are cheap. Therefore one must take a look and be aware of the latest gizmos and gadget surrounding you and must acquire all that suits you to add more sense in his or her life.…