"This is the first day of my life . . ."

Conor Oberst, the man of the hour

The video for "First Day of My Life," from Bright Eyes' latest full length record "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning," has been released to major success. Saddle Creek Records is reporting it's the number one video on MTV's Hot Five Videos.

Watch the video here.

MOOX: Firefox Builds

If you're still using old, tired, insecure Internet Explorer, it's time you switched over to the darker side. While Mozilla Firefox is nothing new, it's a movement that is rapidly gaining on the market share of the ubiquitous IE. Firefox is one of the first serious competitors to the staus quo in web browsers. Firefox is open source which is a major plus - when exploits and vulnerabilities are found they are fixed exponentially faster then any response Microsoft would release. Firefox is supported by a wide range of developers constantly changing and optimizing the code, leading some third party developers to offer optimized accelerated builds.

While the standard Firefox is well and good, for those more adventurous there are customized tweaked builds. The most popular distributor is MOOX - who offers performance enhanced versions of other Mozilla products like the Outlook killer, Thunderbird. The best part about the Firefox builds are the various releases, each corresponding to CPU architecture.

There are four tweaked versions of the current stable trunk (nightly builds) and the current official point releases. The four versions of each release are specifically tailored for hardware. The first release, M0 is a performance enchanced version of Firefox requiring no special hardware - meaning it can run on any computer. The second release, M1, is optimized for CPU's supporting MMX technology - old, but still relevant. The M2 build is optimized for processors that support SSE technology like the Athlon XP and Intel Pentium 3 lines. The final build, the M3, is designed to support the latest hardware and technology - think Pentium 4 and AMD FX.

Give these builds a try, they will outperform Internet Explorer without a doubt. If you are feeling uneasy about downloading tweaked and technically unsupported software then give the standard Mozilla release a try. The extensions and themes should keep you pretty happy for awhile, but it's the tabbed windows that will change the way you think about browsing the internet.

Make the switch today.

Rock The Dreamcast, Literally

Hackaday has just posted one of the coolest hacks of their short history. The hack you ask? Modifying a Sega Dreamcast into a functional guitar amp! How fucking cool is that? While this specific tutorial demolishes the Dreamcast, it would be possible, with a little work, to make a functional Dreamcast and a working guitar amp. Check it out.

A New Case For Some Old Hardware

Enermax Sea Hawk
Originally uploaded by discordinoffice.

I'll try not to make a habit of writing about things I've just purchased, but this is cool and I thought I'd show it off.

I just bought this case last night because my giant blue case has broken, the front gate has broken off and no longer stays in place. The new case lacks a gate, so I guess there won't be any problems with my knees bashing it into disrepair...

This new case comes with a fan control knob and temperature display, as well as front accessable USB ports and FireWire ports - which as anybody with iPods or printers know, are quite handy. It was cheap - probably because it didn't come with a power supply - but it is going to be pretty cool when it finally arrives.

I thought about purchasing some other things, since my computer is somewhat outdated, but new technology is still far too expensive. Video cards that would significantly make a difference to quality from my current GeForce FX 5600 are in the $200 range. Motherboard and CPU bundles of the AMD 64 socket 939 persuassion are still on average above $300. They rarely include motherboards which are good quality, and many lack some of the new cutting edge interfaces and features - like PCI Express and Gigabit Lan.

Once the new 512 mb cards are relased by Nvidia and ATI a price drop in video cards is sure to occur, and the way AMD and Intel are putting out processors I can only imagine more significant drops to come. Maybe this summer I'll be able to update the hardware again, because my P4 2.8 ghz machine is garbage for gaming and is highly unstable. While this is probably more of a device driver problem, I like blaming it on my motherboard and Intel, since my AMD XP 2600 never gave me any problems. If I updated, I could then have three running machines, which may sound insane, but it's a definite plus because they would each serve a purpose.

The P4 Prescott is my current desktop computer, and while it operates fine for the most part it has been known to cause random, unexplainable, errors. The AMD XP 2600 is functioning as a file server to the computers and Xbox on my LAN, it is also running an FTP server. I have recently started doing some video editing, which requires a powerful CPU and a lot of RAM. That seems to be the only thing my P4 is good at. If I updated my system, I could have a cutting edge gaming machine, a relatively cutting edge video editing and multimedia machine, and the old file server - which doesn't require any serious power for my general purposes.

Now if only those prices would drop . . .

"They are supposedly very intelligent, although I've never seen any evidence of it"

Ever wanted to talk to dolphins? Now you can! MAKE:Blog, a division of the new MAKE magazine published by O'Reily, are reporting a group of developers have created an instant message program to talk to sea creatures called Seadragon.

If you want to give it a try download it here.

Saving Earth On A Cellphone Can Be Hell on Earth For The Developer

Joystiq is reporting that John Carmack, co-owner of id Software and developer of the Doom 3 engine, is working on a cell phone based title of Doom. The game is tentatively titled "DoomRPG."

While the prospects of a Doom title on a mobile phone developed by Carmack (not a third party) are exciting, his thoughts on the limitations of cellphone development are much more interesting. He suggests that the primary limitations of cellphone development are the type of software which is most supported - Java over alternatives like BREW which support C/C++ - and the current sophistication and power of mobile hardware.

The problem with the hardware is a result primarily of the widespread inclusion of Java. The ubiquity of Java severly limits the potential of mobile phones. While Java is a wonderful solution for desktop environments primarly because of portability and the hardware technology - which are typically much faster and advanced when compared to mobile technologies - it proves to be the Achilles Heel of development for mobile phones. This is because Java is an interpretive langauge. In other words, the Java bytecode is interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine and then processed by the operating system. C/C++ and assembly language run directly on the operating system without the need of a mediary interpretor slowing the execution of the code. Java intrinsically operates slower then C/C++ which is a huge problem for game developers. The interpretive nature can cause problems in the way programs behave on other cell phone platforms as well.

Developing games in Java for cellphones often requires builds created for a specific model of phone. The reason is that each cellphone handles the bytecode differently, which can have undesired results at run time. If developers could write code which would directly interface with the hardware instead of running through an interpreter, there would be no need to tailor builds to specific phones (unless a version of the game was designed specifically to implement hardware features of a phone not available in other phone models).

Java limits the sophistication of games that can be developed. While it may be a great tool to develop simple games or become familiar with development on wireless environments, Qualcomm's Binary Runtime for Wireless Environments, or BREW, offers a developer a greater level of complexity and freedom and should become a major player in the mobile market. There is a place for Java, but the inclusion of alternatives will only progress what can be done with cellphones. It's time for manufacturers to embrace change.

You can read more about John Carmack's ideas for mobile development and his thoughts on change at his blog.

The Gates of Hell . . .

The Xbox port of the latest incarnation of Doom - Doom 3, for all those who've lost track - was leaked to the internet today. The game isn't scheduled to be released until April 3, but found it's way onto the internet a week early.

This game should breath some life into the Xbox console with the new co-op play, designed specifically for Xbox Live. The capability to play online missions with a friend, or anybody, is a wonderful addition that hopefully more game developers will add - especially Bungie. Id has tailored the co-op game so that the gaming experience is designed with two players in mind, that is, it's not exactly the same as the single player missions. A specific example of the change in dynamic is, in the PC game a player can't fire a gun and shine a flashlight at the same time, meaning that both players can't run and gun. One player will have to light the way. This may not seem too important, but the PC version is notoriously dark. That flashlight is essential, and will probably play the same role in the Xbox port.

Doom 3 for the Xbox should become a model for game developers to follow. Id and Vicarious Visions have made a great PC game an even better console title, adding a feature that is sure to establish a paradigm for game developers in the years to come.

Dinosaur Bones

Slashdot is reporting that inside a broken Tyrannasaur bone, blood vessels and bone cells were still intact! How long before we have the entire Tyrannasaurus Rex genome mapped? How long before we have living dinasaurs in zoos?

This is amazing stuff . . .

"Multiplayer Map Pack" : Should we have to pay?

According to Team-Xbox, an expansion pack to the smash hit Halo 2 has been confirmed by Electronics Boutique. The pack will be distributed through disc (maybe even Xbox Live) which means it will have some kind of cost. The "Multiplayer Map Pack," as it has been called, will include nine additional maps and "non-playable content."

Is it just me or is this ridiculous?

Why should we have to pay an additional fee for nine maps and some "non-playable content" (which was probably ripped from the Limited Edition supplement disc)? Didn't we already pay $50 dollars for a copy of the sequel to the only game worth playing on Xbox? Should the consumer, who waited years for the game, after countless delays, be forced to buy nine new maps, some of which may not be new at all (an article in EGM displayed pictures of revamped Halo levels like "Hang 'Em High" which were not included in the release)?

PC game creators like Valve, developers of the infamous Half-Life series, provide Deathmatch maps and new weapons for FREE. Why doesn't Bungie and Microsoft follow suit? Updates and expansion via XBL (Xbox Live) are not new by any means, games like Ninja Gaiden have made groundbreaking gameplay alterations and provided the updates FREE of charge to subscribers of XBL. Ubisoft, the creators of Rainbow Six 3, offered a FREE patch that created weapon balance and fixed ranking issues. These are significant updates to the way the games play and they were provided free of charge. So, then, why can't a measly nine maps and some extremely questionable "non-playable content" be offered for free through XBL?

The answer is ubiquity. Halo 2 is owned by millions of people in the United States alone, providing a giant established user base. Because the target marget is so large, this expansion can be sold at a "reasonable" price to the millions of people who are sick of the few redundant maps provided at launch. The map pack can also be used to create incentive for those without the title to purchase a copy. The Halo franchise IS the Xbox. Therefore, Microsoft can inflate the price of Halo franchise titles because it will sell - and in great numbers. This is Microsoft's prerogative, but is it reasonable for an "update" this paltry?

If the new pack contained a patch to balance gameplay, add new maps, add new modes, and non-playable content, then it would be understandable and justifiable to charge money for the product. But, this is not the case and will probably never be the case. The "Mulitplayer Map Pack" will be released, consumed, and enjoyed by nearly every Halo 2 owner no matter the cost. This further empowers Microsoft into the perpetuation of weak game updates for cost, instead of for free. If there is a tangible and visible demand, why provide the service for free? There's no incentive for Microsoft to provide free updates because then they lose out, the consumer is the winner. But, why can't there be a balance in power?

I don't advocate the abolition of updates and expansions which cost money to acquire, I instead advocate the abolition of updates and expansions which are extremely limited and nominal which cost money to aquire. These kind of updates and expansions should be free, but until we stop buying them, they won't stop selling them. It is important that studios and publishers make money for their work, but it's also important that consumers be treated with some respect and dignity. If the updates are significant, instead of superficial, then charge the consumer. When it's a laughable nine maps and some movies of "behind the scenes development" it warrants no cost.

Update: Joystiq provides more information and a price, $19.99

Update: Joystiq confirms cost, and distrubtion method

Update: Microsoft's official press release

Upcoming.org

Last year when I was searching for the Half Life 2 source, I stumbled upon my favorite - and admittedly my first - blog. That blog is Waxy.Org, and the famous Waxy Links. Although I love those two blogs, it's Andy Baio's Upcoming.Org that has me intrigued.

Upcoming.Org is an online calendar system for various events in major metropolitan areas across the United States and the world. Users can add local venues and events into a database and watch events that interest them. I find this system extremely useful because I tend to forget what's happening around Dallas and Seattle. Having an RSS feed for your events is brilliant. The only downside, in my opinion, is the lack of users. If you're interested , join up and start posting events.

Spread the word.