tech-intelligence

[tech-intelligence]

Theme Your EEE ASUS Transformer

These are stock themes for the Transformer. READ THE WEBPAGE CAREFULLY. There is a version for the revolver ROM (I’ll post a link to that rom at some point too, no worries) and one for Metamorph, which can be downloaded from the market and ran.  If you haven’t achieved root on your tablet yet, and you want the Revolver ROM, I’ll post a link for that 

[tech-intelligence]

Dead Space for Tablets

Maybe phones too… really not sure since I haven’t tried it on a phone. Hehe.

Anyways, this version has been hacked, so I don’t know how long the link will actually work. Just scroll to the bottom and download it. Cheers

[tech-intelligence]

How To Get Clockwork Mod Recovery on Your Transformer

I got these directions from an outside source, I’ve just tweaked them a bit for your usage :) The bold is my editing, I hope it helps. Cheers.

The full post is located here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_JREpqFkk

 Download the BLOB_V5 here: http://bit.ly/iT2nDF then extract all files inside to c:\sdk\tools 1 - back to the cmd window type: “adb push gingerbreakBB /data/local/” 2 - “adb shell” 3 - “chmod 777 /data/local/gingerbreakBB” 4 - “/data/local/gingerbreakBB”

 5. The 5th step in these directions didn’t work for me, so I hit Ctrl+C and then typed in “su” and it granted me root. This might be because I’ve already rooted my device. If su works for you, you can go to step 6 from here

5 - wait around 10’ if the gingerbreak return for you as the # (compare with the $ before) that mean it’s done. If it’s just return the $ so you must do as below 5a - “rm /data/local/*” 5b - power off the phone and then power on again, boot to Android repeat the step 1-4 again until you got the # (temporary root) 6 - Leave this cmd windows alone, open another cmd windows go to c:\sdk\tools and type in 7 - “adb push CWM_BLOB.V5 /data/local” 8 - “adb pull /data/local/CWM_BLOB.V5 cwmblob_retransfer” Back to the step 6 cmd windows (now with #) 9- “dd if=/data/local/CWM_BLOB.V5 of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p4″ 10- “reboot” when step 9 done

[tech-intelligence]

Google Music goes from Beta to Release!

Dear Music Beta user,

We're excited to announce that Music Beta by Google is officially graduating from beta today! Google Music will remain a free service, and you can continue to store up to 20,000 songs in your personal music library. Please see the revised Terms of Service for this product update.

Google Music also comes with a number of new features. We've launched anew music store on Android Market that works seamlessly with Google Music. Shop on the web or your Android device for millions of tracks andhundreds of free songs for your music library. All of your purchases are automatically stored on Google Music for free (and don't count toward your 20,000 song limit). You can even share a free full play of any purchase with your friends on Google+.

For Google Music users with Android phones and tablets running version 2.2+, you will automatically receive an updated version of Android Market with the music store over the next few days. You should also receive a system notification with the Music app update sometime today, but you can always download it immediately.

For more information on these changes, please check out these links:

Help Center

About Google Music

— The Google Music Team

© 2011 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043

You have received this mandatory service announcement to update you about important changes to your Google Music service or account.

[tech-intelligence]

OpenSceneGraph osgAL

OpenSceneGraph Audio Library (osgAL)

osgAL is a toolkit for handling spatial (3D) sound in the OpenSceneGraph rendering library. It utilizes OpenAL++ which is an portable object oriented toolkit ontop of OpenAL. It has been compiled and tested under Windows (.NET2003) and Linux (gcc3.5).

Documentation

API reference

Dependencies

osgAL depends on OpenAL++ and OpenSceneGraph. It has been compiled with OSG 0.9.9. Download and build OpenAL++ and OSG and install header files and library files where the compiler can find them.

Under Windows, you have to setup the INCLUDE, LIB and PATH path, which can be done with the Environment variables

DOS> set INCLUDE=%INCLUDE%;c:\tools\openalpp\include DOS> set LIB=%LIB%;c:\tools\openalpp\lib DOS> set PATH=%PATH%;c:\tools\openalpp\bin

respectively.

Basic Concepts

There are five main classes:

SoundManager

SoundState

SoundNode

SoundRoot

SoundOccluder

SoundState

A SoundState is a small lightweight class that contains a reference to a osgAL::Sample and the settings for a Sample. This class does nothing more than keeping this Sample and its associated attributes together. It can either have a osgAL::SoundSource (usually a limited resources, 32 or more) associated to it. Sometimes it is necessary to allocate a hardware soundsource to a soundstate, for example looping sounds with ambient sound or music.

SoundNode

SoundSource is derived from osg::Node and can be inserted into the scenegraph wherever one wants it to be. During update traversal it will calculate its world position and position the associated SoundState to right orientation and position. No culling is done currently.

SoundManager

The SoundManager is responsible for handling queued SoundStates (for sound events described below) and to store all SoundStates to make it possible to find them later on.

SoundRoot

A node that during cull traversal updates the SoundManager and updates the transformation for the current listener from the current modelView matrix. This could be done manually, but this node makes it all happen automatically during the cull traversal, which reduces the need of inserting code in the viewer run loop.

OccludeCallback

This is a callback class, called during the update of the transformation of the SoundNode. If enabled this callback will shoot a ray from the listener to this SoundNode. If this ray is unoccluded nothing will happen. But if this ray is occluded by some geometry, the gain of the SoundState associated to this node will be reduced by some amount. The functionality of this callback can be extended by inheriting from OccludeCallback and attaching it to the SoundNode.

Sound Events

There is a concept that I call event, for example an explosion is a typical event where a short sound is played once. Another example is the contact sound generated from two colliding objects. When using for example rigid body dynamics, there can be a lot of sound events when objects collides, therefore, the osgAL::SoundManager has a method called pushSoundEvent(osgAL::SoundState *, int priority)

This method takes a SoundState as argument. By making a copy of this SoundState (it uses an internal flyweight pattern to avoid creating new SoundStates on the fly) it builds up a queue of SoundStates. Theese SoundStates are played one by one by the SoundManager during its update() call. This makes it possible to have a lot of SoundStates "playing" when there is a real shortage of hardware sound sources (usually 32 or so).

IO Support

Thanks to a great contribution of Alberto Jaspe, videaLAB, University of La Coruña (jaspe@udc.es), osgAL now also support IO. This is easily tested by running one of the sample application, (i.e. osgal) and press 'o' to save the current scene to a file named saved_model.osg. The file saved_model.osg will then also contain the information from osgAL regarding soundnodes, soundstates etc...

This means that scenes containing sound can also be authored through the .osg file format. The best documentation for the file format is to look into an existing file, in the /data subdirectory there are a few sample scenes.

Example

osgal.cpp - Code for testapplication.

osgalmultiple.cpp - Shows dynamic allocation/deallocation of samples.

osgalocclude.cpp - Demonstrates a simple sound occlusion example.

To run the examples:

Change directory to the data sub-directory that contains the bee.wav sample file (data). Start the test application with osgal (make sure you have the path to the dynamic libraries (OSG, Producer, OpenThreads, OpenAL++ and osgAL).

Keybindings

space - Pushes a SoundState as an Event (non-looping). Results in a sound that plays once at the position of the listener. Pressing it repeatedly will add even more SoundStates...

The examples demonstrates the basic functionality of the OSGAL toolkit:

Creating an osgal::Sample (which holds the .wav sample file)

Creating an osgAL::SoundState (which holds a Sample and settings)

Creating an osgAL::SoundNode (which holds a SoundState) and attaching it to a transformation node to make it move.

Creating an osgAL::SoundRoot (which updates the SoundManager and the transformation of the listener according to the modelViewMatrix).

Accessing the osgAL::SoundManager to add SoundStates and pushing SoundStates as events.

Handling occlusions of geometry in the scene

Comments

Direct your comments, bug reports to andersb@cs.umu.se

[tech-intelligence]

Installing OpenSceneGraph and Visual Studio 2010

 Prerequisites:

Download and install MSVS2010 (Express or professional)

Download and install MSVS2010 SP1

Download and install SlikSVN

Download and install CMake

Instructions

Open command window (with administrator priveleges). Type: chdir C:\

svn co http://www.openscenegraph.org/svn/osg/OpenSceneGraph/tags/OpenSceneGraph-3.0.1 OpenSceneGraph

Open CMake gui (with administrator priveleges).

In source box type: C:\OpenSceneGraph3.0.1

In build box type: C:\OpenSceneGraph3.0.1\build

Click Configure (most things will likely go red. it just means they are potential options)

If it goes red, click Configure again.

Click configure until generate button becomes available

You will be asked what IDE tool chain you want to use. Choose Visual Studio 10.

Click Generate

Once everything has been generated exit CMake.

Open Visual Studio

Open the OpenSceneGraph.sln file that CMake has created for you in the c:\OpenSceneGraph3.0.1\build directory

Choose configuration as Debug or Release (the whole procedure should be repeated for both)

Click build

The first time will take about half an hour to an hour to build the project

Once everything has finished building right click on the INSTALL project (about half way down the list) and build that

This will build and write all the correct files to the install directory specified during the CMake stage (we didnt change it in this tutorial so it will be C:\OpenSceneGraph. You can change it before using generate in CMake)

Now add the following enviroment variables at the command prompt

setx OSG_ROOT “c:\OpenSceneGraph”

setx OSG_BIN_PATH  %OSG_ROOT%"\bin"

setx OSG_INCLUDE_PATH %OSG_ROOT%"\include"

setx OSG_LIB_PATH %OSG_ROOT%"\lib"

setx OSG_SAMPLES_PATH %OSG_ROOT%"\share\OpenSceneGraph\bin"

setx PATH  "%PATH%”;”%OSG_BIN_PATH%”;”%OSG_SAMPLES_PATH%"

Notes

If I have made a mistake here then set the variables by right clicking on Computer and going to Properties/Advanced System Settings/ Environment Variables. Add the Variables to the system variables and then change the existing path to include OSG_BIN_PATH and OSG_SAMPLES_PATH

You are now ready to build a project or run an example

Dont forget to add C:\Program files\OpenSceneGraph\include and C:\Program files\OpenSceneGraph\lib when setting your project settings for a new project

The full OSG tutorial upon which all this is based is here.

[tech-intelligence]

Motorola Droid 3 - Coming July 14

Red-eye alert, all ye Droid faithful! A leaked screenshot over at Droid Attic shows Motorola's worst kept secret -- the Droid 3 -- supposedly hitting Best Buy's shelves on July 14th. With all the unofficial leakswe've seen in the past few months, we have a pretty good idea of what this successor's got running under its QWERTY slider. Favoring a dual-core OMAP 4430 processor, a rear-facing 8 megapixel cam capturing video at 1080p, and baked with latest Gingerbread update, this black block of does shouldn't disappoint. Make note, VZW's new plans go into effect one week prior to this, so if you're clinging to that grandfathered plan, you can still pick this one up on-contract, and cross your toes it gets an LTE surprise.

[tech-intelligence]

designersof:

— posted by designers of tumblr

submit your work here!

[tech-intelligence]

Gadgetize Me, Cap'n

[tech-intelligence]

I've Just Downloaded Liberty Gingerbread for Droid 2

That's right mofo's. More gingerbread goodness for my Motorola Droid 2 (also available for the Droid X). Want some for yourself? Open up the Android Market and download the Donate version of Liberty Toolbox. Either that, or follow the click-through link to get it yourself. Cheers. :)

[tech-intelligence]

[tech-intelligence]

Zombie Stomped

Oh Yes. And it's exactly what it sounds like. Zombie Stomped Custom ROM

Not a game, not even a program. This is the newest Gingerbread based ROM released for Motorola Droid 2 rooted users, such as myself, and it is absolutely beautiful. I shall be running some tests on it myself shortly and will be more than happy to provide a review. 10 minutes left on my download. Can we say... excited?

ZombieStomped 1.7 is based off of the .595 DX leak. This build seems to run better than the rest. You may have noticed my new customizer script in the previews, and they are finally here! All of the kernel tweaks are still done by default, the only difference is that the install now is a 2 parter. The first zip installs the system files(the rom), the next installs the data files(the customizer goodies). ZombieStomped 1.71: Changelog: -Media gallery/Video Player bug fixed -HDMI removed -Both of those were at the cost of DLNA :/ -Keyboard fix included ZombieStomped 1.7: Changelog: -.595 DX leak based -Data throttling removed -LED fixed DLNA is back! -Customizer (how-to instructions below) ^customizer is the big part of this update!^ -New 2.3.4 gapps, including the new gtalk with video and voice chat (with the hack allowing voice and video chat over 3g)  -InteractiveX Governor by default (Thank you Imoseyon!) InteractiveX is an interactive governor that clocks itself to 300mhz in sleep mode on it's own. No need for profiles!

[tech-intelligence]

I may be the dumbest genius ever. At least, that’s how I feel after playing Portal 2’s fantastic single-player campaign. Many puzzles in the last third of the eight to 10 hours (perhaps less, depending on how clever you are) of its brain-bending puzzle “test chambers” had me convinced at one point or another that they were completely unsolvable, and that some bug or sadist game designer placed the exit just out of reach. I’d let out exasperated sighs as every attempt met with a dead end. I’d grimace in disapproval as I plummeted to my death for the tenth time. I’d consider surrender.

Then, through either sudden revelation, divine inspiration, or total accident, it would come to me: use the orange Propulsion Gel to reach the energy bridge, then catapult across the chasm and shift my blue portal to the inclined surface (in mid-air, mind you) to launch me up to the ledge, grab the refraction cube and redirect the laser beam to wipe out the turrets and activate the switch! It’s so simple, I can’t believe I didn’t see it until now. One half of Portal 2’s brilliance is making me kick myself for not thinking of the impossible; the other is making me feel immensely satisfied with myself when I finally do, again and again.

Note: while we’ve made every effort to avoid spoilers in this review, you cannot review a game without discussing what it does well and what it doesn’t. Be aware that reading any review is going to take some of the surprise out of it.

[tech-intelligence]

Have you been looking for the definitive review of Windows Phone 7? Well, look no further. Microsoft's next (and perhaps final) opportunity to break back into the smartphone race has officially begun, and Engadget has been cranking on a variety of launch devices across several continents to see if the platform holds water. Back in July we took a deep dive on Windows Phone 7 using a developer device that Microsoft handed out to journalists, and now we're back for the full review. What we realized going into this process was that really very little had changed between the summertime preview and the new OS' fall launch. Even though there have been tweaks and fixes in Microsoft's mobile experience, there hasn't been any addition so large that we felt the software required a completely fresh look. Instead, what we needed to do was go back to the observations made during our initial experience with the OS, compare it to the final product, and figure out where the company improved (or diminished) specific facets of the operating system. And of course, we finally had a real chance to use Xbox Live and third party applications -- two of the crucial elements of this OS. So, below is our re-edited, refreshed take on Windows Phone 7, complete with real answers to nagging questions, and our definitive score of Microsoft's great smartphone hope at version 1.0. Read on for the full story!

[tech-intelligence]

The PlayStation Phone. We've had quite the intimate history with this gamepad-equipped slider, learning of its secretive existence way back in August and then handling a prototype unit in January, so you'll forgive us for feeling sentimental and still entertaining our pet name for it. The Sony Ericsson marketing gurus renamed it the Xperia Play when it finally went official at MWC this year, but the PlayStation connection remains as strong as ever. Aside from the D-pad, iconic game keys, and two touchpads, this device comes with a little app named PlayStation Pocket, which will be serving up dollops of classic PlayStation One gaming to all those with a taste for it. Yes, the Sony influence is strong with this one, and the Android Market will be joining the fun with Xperia Play-optimized titles from third-party developers. So all we really need to know now is whether the Android smartphone underpinning this smash-bang fusion of old and new school entertainment happens to be any good. Shall we get Started?

[tech-intelligence]

Microsoft's acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion becomes official

It was pretty much known about since last night, but Microsoft and Skype have now obliterated any lingering doubt in the matter: the Redmond-based software giant will acquire the internet telephony company for a cool $8.5 billion in cash. Xbox and Kinect support are explicitly mentioned in the announcement of this definitive agreement, as is Windows Phone integration -- both the gaming and mobile aspects being presumably key incentives for Microsoft to acquire Skype. Importantly, this purchase shouldn't affect Skypers outside of the Microsoft ecosystem, as Steve Ballmer's team promises to continue "to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms." Skype was first sold for a relative bargain at $2.5b to eBay in 2005, who in turn sold most of it off to Silver Lake in 2009 at an overall valuation of $2.75b, and now Redmond is concluding proceedings by tripling those earlier prices and offering Skype a permanent home. A new Microsoft Skype Division will now be opened up to accommodate the newcomers, with current Skype CEO Tony Bates becoming president of that operation and reporting directly to Ballmer. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year and you can read Microskype's full announcement after the break.

[tech-intelligence]

Google Music to stream 20,000 songs for free, launches at I/O later today

It's not quite official but there's little doubt that Google will launch its Google Music service at its big I/O event later today. While the Wall Street Journal couldn't get a Google spokesman to admit it, Peter Kafka over at All Things D got Jamie Rosenberg, Director of Android Product Management, to spill the details a bit early. Google's service will essentially mimic the music locker functionality of Amazon's Cloud service, albeit without the ability to sell songs direct to consumers. Ouch. Unfortunately, Google's plans to launch a more feature-complete service were derailed when discussions with the labels broke down. According to Rosenberg, "A couple of the major labels were less focused on the innovative vision that we put forward, and more interested in an unreasonable and unsustainable set of business terms." So, rather than putting the service on hold, Google will launch its music service with the ability to store up to 20,000 of your own uploaded songs for free which you can then stream over the web to your desktop or Android phone or tablet -- any device that supports Flash (don't worry iOS users, your time will come). Amazon's service, by comparison, offers just 5GB of free storage for about 1,200 songs stored at a mediocre bit rate. Google will also best Amazon with a feature that automatically creates playlists. Google expects to roll out the service to its US users within "weeks" with Music Beta invites going out later today to Verizon Xoom owners (others will be able to sign up at music.google.com). Keep it right here because we'll be bringing you the announcement live.