GeekwithEnvy

Technology

The World’s Most Portable Gaming System Reveals UI

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The world’s most portable gaming system, GameStick, is now showing off it’s UI in a developer kit video that has recently been released. GameStick has been pushed into a reality thanks to it’s successful Kickstarter campaign and it’s really nice to see how things are coming together. Now, it’s time to get these devices into the hands of developers so they can start cranking out some great content for the new device.

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GameStick Console

The console itself is quite amazing as it’s basically a controller and a USB stick. The console is Android based and really quite unique and actually has quite a bit of power behind it. GameStick plugs straight into your TV’s HDMI slot and connects to the controller via Bluetooth 4.0. It even supports additional memory through the use of a microSD slot.

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GameStick Controller and Wireless Charging Dock

GameStick’s simplicity is what makes it stand out in a gaming world that still seems to be stuck on big clunky hardware. It may not be the next-gen PS4 or Xbox but it’s a pretty awesome way to bring the world of Android and gaming to your big screen TV in 1080p.

Here are the System Specs:

  • Processor – Amlogic 8726-MXS
  • Memory – 1GB DDR3 / 8GB FLASH
  • Content Download Manager w/ cloud storage for games.
  • WiFi – 802.11 b/g/n
  • Bluetooth – 4.0
  • O/S – Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
  • Controller – Bluetooth 3.0
  • Full 1080p HD video decoding
  • Upgrade memory via microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
  • Support for iOS and Android mobile devices to be used as controllers
  • Support for XBMC.

How To Put Your iPhone in Field Test Mode

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iphoneFieldServiceSS

Field Test mode can be handy if you’re knowledgeable about cell phone technology but it can also help you get a clearer picture of what your cell phone reception is like in a given area or perhaps you’re just somebody who just likes to tinker with things, either way here’s how it’s done.

If you’re iPhone has a recent version of iOS on it (4.1 and up), which covers most phones, then you should be able to access the Field Test Mode with most carriers.

To Access Field Test Mode:

Dial *3001#12345#* 

This will allow you to look at lot’s of otherwise hidden information about your phone and it’s connection to the network. For the average user, the most notable feature is the ability to look at your overall connection to the network.

The number is in dBm and is much more precise than just looking at a set of bars. As a general guideline anything below -100 is starting to get pretty bad, the lower the number the better and -35 or -40 is about as good as it gets.

 

 

New Zelda Preorder Shows Up at Walmart Among Others

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WalmartEarlyPreorderNintendo

Nintendo has many projects in development right now and they are hard at work trying to get them finished and out to Wii U owners. Obviously, none of these titles have official names and many are not even set to be released any time soon.

Walmart, however, has decided that it’s time to get those pre-orders up on their site and they have done so with some names that leave little to the imagination while others are a bit more ambiguous. Either way it definitely helps build excitement and anticipation for new and upcoming Wii U titles, which the console desperately needs. I put together an article recently discussing Nintendo’s interpretation of the rather dismal launch of the Wii U.

Here are some of the titles that Walmart has put up pre-orders for:

  • Zelda 2 RPG Wii U
  • Mario 3D Wii U
  • Mario Kart Wii U

Why Pac Man Stops Working After Level 255

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PacManKS

Very rarely do people play Pac Man and reach levels in the 200’s but if you happen to hang in there long enough, something rather odd occurs after you get past level 255.

You reach what is referred to as a “kill screen”. This kill screen essentially renders the game unplayable and you start to see some really strange stuff going on. This isn’t just exclusive to Pac Man either, other arcade classics such as Donkey Kong and Dig Dug also have kill screens.

So what’s behind all of this? Why isn’t there some type of formal ending? Well, the folks behind Numberphile have put together a great video that explains exactly why this happens.

 

Ready for Windows Blue? It Could Be Here Very Soon

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Windows 8 Logo

The rumors continue as more talk about Windows Blue is popping up around the web. Sources say that Windows Blue is not going to be Windows 9 but rather a series improvements upon Windows 8. We could see a public preview of Microsoft’s latest software as early as a few months from now with Microsoft supposedly planning on a summer release of the overhaul.

Sources also say that Windows Blue will include Internet Explorer 11 and improved search functionality. The refresh may also include support for 7 and 8 inch mobile devices. This sounds like a good plan for Microsoft as I feel Windows 8 is still largely unpolished. Overall, my impression of Windows 8 is more positive as of late and I’m hoping that Windows Blue will address some my remaining issues. As we hear more about Windows Blue, we will keep you in the loop.