scattered technology news

Hurricane Katrina Satellite Images 1

Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3 | Image 4 | Image 5 | Image 6

The images above are high resolution images of Hurricane Katrina. Click on the thumbnails to get enlarged images. To save images right-click and click on “save as.” There are seven satellite images displaying different stages of the storm and two before / after shots of New Orleans. Some of these images came from MODIS and DigitalGlobe. If you have any other good images please post some links to them in the comments. Update: (09/01/05) I just added in 3 new satellite images of New Orleans. Looks like theres a ton of damage, looks very similar to the damage caused by the Tsunami in Asia. Update: (09/02/05) lots of traffic thanks to Digg and Google. Update: (09/03/05) Google Maps has updated their satellite imagery (08/31/05) for New Orleans. (Better quality with Google Earth)

Link: MODIS | Digital Globe
Related: Google Earth
Donations: RedCross

Site Stats: 100,000 Unique Hits! 0

As of August 27, 2005 this site has had over 100,000 unique vistors. I recieve about 1000 visitors a day, who uses over 1GB of bandwith a day. It took 6 months for my site to reach 50k, but has grown faster, which has gain another 50k in only 2 months. To this day about 90% of my visitors are using some version of Windows and the rest is a mix of Mac, Linux, ect… Then for browsers Internet Explorer dominates by accounting for about 45% while Firefox is about 40%. The remainder consists of Opera, Netscape, Safari, and others.

Link: www.sahaskatta.com | blogger.sahaskatta.com
Related: And thats 50,000

NeWs Up^2-DaTe (23) 0

1) TiVo Desktop v2.2 and TiVo Series 2 v7.2 – After updating both you TiVo and your desktop client you will be able to do PC -> TiVo transfers. (if they follow the codec requirements). To get the v7.2 for your unit you will either need to wait a while until the update reaches you or enter your TiVo Service ID # into their Priority Request form to recieve it faster.
Link: TiVo Desktop | TiVo Priority Request Form

2) “Google Talk” – Google is getting ready to launch a IM (w/ Voice) client, which is going to compete with AIM, Yahoo, and MSN. This will also compete with Skype, a free voice over IP clietnt, which Yahoo! is already at war with. Some people have found that Google is already running a Jabber Server, which is an OpenSource IM protocol. Keep looking because there is a good chance that this is more likley to happen than the “Google OS Project.” (P.S. Many major news sites are reporting that this might be launched on 08/24/05!)
Link: BetaNews | DownloadSquad | eWeek | PC MAG

3) Google launches Desktop Search v2.0 w/ a Sidebar – This new feature creates a side bar on you desktop where you can view News, RSS Feeds, Notes, Weather, Photos, Stocks, Email (gmail/outlook), and WebLinks. It also allows you to search your desktop as you type either from the taskbar or the sidebar. v2.0 also supports search chat logs in AIM, Yahoo, & MSN.
Link: Google Desktop Search v2.0 w/ Sidebar
Related: Google Earth | Google Firefox Toolbar | Picasa

4) PSP Firmware v2.0 should be out soon! – v2.0 was launched in Japan on July 27, 2005, then was suppost to be launched in the US (North American Version – NA) on August 12, which was soon pushed back to the 15th. A few days later a Sony announcement stated that it would be released sometime during the week of August 22nd. The file appeared on a Sony page, but soon disapeared. To keep you PSP safe do not update it with any firmwares found on any site, but the US Playstation Site. Or just wait and do the WiFi update!

5) Apple Mighty Mouse – Apple’s latest accessory is a $50 mouse that includes features that standard Apple mouses didn’t include. Some are a scroll button and left and right hand click.
Link: Apple Mighty Mouse | Product Review

6) AllOfMp3 gets a new theme! – This now makes it look more like a professional music store. There is no word whether the service is legal or not, but they WON some lawsuits and are still running. It may be legal in Russia, but isn’t in the U.S. (as seen on TechTv, works great and no one there 2 catch you!)
Link: AllofMp3

Other:
EBgames PreOrder Xbox 360
Knoppix 4.0 DVD
DVD Shrink Gone 4 Good
Skype Update v1.3.0.60
Google News gets RSS
Yahoo! Messenger 7.0 is OUT!
QuickTime 7.0 Windows Preview 3
Free Windows Vista Icon Set
Gaim v1.5.0 Now Available

Recent Media:
CommandN 11 | CommandN 10
DiggNation 8 | DiggNation 7
TWiT 19 | TWiT 18
FTS Box 5.0 | Systm 3

Multiplayer PSP Hack Video 61

In April 2005, I wrote the “PSP Multiplayer With One Game” article. It was an extreme hit, which drew over 30,000 views. The article simple explained the step-by-step procedure to play a multiplayer game on a PSP when only one copy of the game is available. (link provided below) Recently, many have claimed that the procedure written is no longer applicable to firmware v1.52., and that players can no longer see eachother in the game. This isn’t true it’s still possible and this video will demonstrate it. To make this easier for everyone I have created a 3-minute long video which goes through the process. The video demonstrates how to perform this “hack” with Twisted Metal. Please feel free to download this video and spread it as you would like. A summarized procedure is at the bottom of this post.

Download: PSPMultiPlayerHack.wmv
Mirror 1 | Mirror 2 (USE MIRROR 2 Only if 1 Does Not Work!)
(Note: Right-Click Save Link As… )
Update: Now On Google Video
Update: Now On Yahoo! Video

Format: Windows Media Video (WMV)
Size: ~25MB
Resolution: 640×480
Copyright: Creative Commons Liscense

Step-By-Step Procedure: (Twisted Metal w/ 2 PSPs)

1) Startup both PSPs and place the game into PSP #1.
2) Start an Ad Hoc game, create a server, and choose your settings.
3) Set time limit to unlimited (recommended), only because it takes a while to load the game in to PSPs since we only have 1 copy of the game.
4) Choose your car, but don’t start the game.
5) Remove the UMD & say no to quitting game.
6) Start the game in PSP #2 and go to multiplayer.
7) Enter the Ad Hoc mode and enter the server created by PSP #1.
8) Choose your car, but don’t start the game.
9) Remove the UMD & say not 2 exit game.
10) Place it back into PSP #1 and enter game
11) Once loaded take it out & and say no 2 quitting.
12) Put it back into PSP #2 and enter the game.
13) You should now be able to play eachother.

Link: Original PSP Multiplayer With One Game Article

Notice: If this for some reason does happen to damage or brick your PSP, Skatter Tech is not responsible. As always follow this guide at your own risk. From our experience we use this method all the time and have never had any issues. No complains received yet either.

Result Of MSN Copying Google 2

If you search for the phrase “desktop search” in Google’s search engine it brings up Google Desktop Search as the first result. Then if you search for it in Yahoo’s engine it brings up Yahoo! Desktop Search as their first result. (both as expected) They both advertise their products properly (prioritizing their own), but also provide results for competitor products after theirs. This is completely normal. But when you try out MSN’s Search you will see that Google’s Desktop Search hilariously appears at the top of this list. This is even above their over their own product. Let me know if im wrong, but if you have a product competing with another major company, wouldn’t you advertise it. I’m guessing, but this is what happens when MSN copies Google’s results. If MSN wants people to use their product then they should be advertising it over competitor products.

Link: MSN Search | Google Search | Yahoo! Search

Sony Announces USA PSP Fimware v2.0 Date 1

Sony has apparently released the offical date for the USA PSP Firmware v2.0 launch date. There are no sites except IGN that has posted this as an offical announcement from Sony at the momment. The only other place that this “offical announcement” was found was on a few Sony USA Playstation Message Boards. So we do not know if this is 100% legit. The “offical” message is below (as is):

This summer, the PSP, (PlayStation Portable) is redefining entertainment on the go, with a truly portable movie, music, and gaming experience. That entertainment experience is going to get better! on August 12, consumers in North America will be able to download a new update which includes a Web browser enabling them to read news, search for information and check their Internet-based e-mail accounts through an available Wi-Fi network.. In addition to the Web browser, the PSP firmware upgrade 2.0 includes other cool features such as enhanced video and audio playback, photo sharing options, broader network connectivity, and a customizable interface to suit each user’s personal style. This upgrade is part of the long-term strategy for bringing consumers the only truly integrated entertainment platform on the go through PSP.
As you may have noticed, this week, Sony Computer Entertainment made this PSP 2.0 firmware upgrade available for download for the Japanese market. Many North American consumers have downloaded the upgrade onto their North American PSPs, however, we recommend that they download the version that will be made available in mid-August, which has been fully tested and authorized for use with North American PSPs. Downloading unauthorized software will void the PSP’s warranty. The PSP firmware 2.0 update will be available for download directly to PSP units using any 802.11b Wi-Fi connection (and the Network Update feature) or from a PC at http://us.playstation.com/psp using a USB 2.0 connection. The Web browser will also be available in select PSP games coming out this fall.

New features that will be available in the PSP Firmware 2.0 update include:
Portable Internet
Bringing the Internet with you is easier than ever with the new PSP 2.0 Firmware upgrade. A new Cross Media Bar (XMBâ„¢) icon will be added to your PSP. That new globe-shaped icon will be called [Network] and will feature easy, one-button access to the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection. With all of the elements you’d normally expect with an Internet browser such as bookmarks, Forward button, Back, button, Refresh, Home, History, and active cursors, consumers will have the Internet at their fingertips.
Personalize Your PSP
One of the coolest new features that comes with the upgrade is Wallpaper, which will allow people to customize and create their own backgrounds on the PSP’s much talked about 16:9 TFT LCD widescreen display. Users can take any image such as a favorite sports car, celebrity, family member or game character that will be the first thing seen when firing up PSP or scrolling through entertainment options. PSP owners can use their favorite personal picture or image from their favorite Web sites just like if there were on a home PC!
Video:
Home movies become widescreen cinema quality experiences as the new upgrade supports the codec known as “AVC” will allow users to view their video files through the PSP video player. AVC is the same open standard, high resolution, widescreen format used in UMD Video.
New video features makes viewing UMD movies even easier. A new “Go To” function will allow users to skip to any part of the movie by the second, minute, or even hour. This feature would be especially useful when searching for a specific part of a clip within a movie or video.
Rather than having to play straight through a UMD video, a new A-B Repeat function will allow users to continuously loop during a select time period.
4:3 Screen mode will be added as a saved video data playback feature to provide more options for viewing stored videos.
Expanded audio options will be added as a saved video data playback feature.
Audio:
MP4 (AAC) and WAV (LPCM) formats will be supported by the PSP music player.
Image:
Image transfer between two PSP will be made easier via a new infrared feature. PSP owners will have the ability to easily share their digital images without the use of wires or swapping their Memory Stick PRO Duoâ„¢ media.
PSP will support additional formats including TIFF, PNG, GIF and BMP enabling users to view a variety of images through the PSP image viewer.
Network:
New icon added to the XMB will enable users to connect to Wi-Fi networks (including those that employ a WPA-PSK (TKIP) security mechanism) for Internet browsing.
Setting up a Network Connection will become easier due to improved navigation and controls and a redesigned look and feel.
Language Support:
Additional language support includes a Character Set that will be added to support display and recognition of character for each system language. Korean will be added as an optional system language, and input modes will be added to the On-screen Keyboard allowing users to activate special characters for certain languages.

Link: IGN | (+) digg
Related: Download PSP Firmware

Update: IGN claims that if you have already updated the U.S. PSP to v2.0 w/ the Japanese Firmware, you will still be able to install the USA v2.0 Firmware when it comes out. So if some of you can’t wait a few days then update to the Japanese version until the 12th.