Entries for Paul Smith

DreamScene still months away [DreamScene still months away]

Paul Smith — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:23:13 GMT

"However, the completed version of DreamScene will be some time in coming. Windows client director Jeff Putt told the Australian launch event that the final DreamScene code would be released by the end of Microsoft's fourth quarter, which falls mid-year."

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9036/53/

So much for "WaveZero"?

in reply to DreamScene still months away

Windows Live Writer [Windows Live Writer]

Paul Smith — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:10:27 GMT

Pretty cool... http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!D85741BB5E0BE8AA!174.entry

Not having much luck with it and b2evolution, won't pick up any categories but this is probably an issue with b2evo.

Any interview with the team planned?

in reply to Windows Live Writer

Gotham TV = where Xbox 360 is going? [Gotham TV = where Xbox 360 is going?]

Paul Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:45:14 GMT

Don't know how many people are aware of this, but Microsoft have really made Xbox Live alot more flexible with the Xbox 360.

Gotham TV is a good example of what can be done now, you can see who's online and if they're in a race jump into the race with them and view them, either from inside the car or from cameras around the track. Moving on to actually organised races which can be viewed by thousands of people over Live.

They could really do some stuff with this. Excitement level rising.:D

in reply to Gotham TV = where Xbox 360 is going?

Software Media Center Extender [Software Media Center Extender]

Paul Smith — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 19:41:19 GMT

My TV card has just had it's beta BDA drivers released. So now I'm toying with the idea of buying MCE to check it out. Can't find a trial version tho. :(

Longterm however I'd rather have the MCE box shoved away in the cupboard (as it will no doubt be serving my Xbox 360 too). However. All my TV watching is done on my main monitor sat on my desktop, with my desktop machine.

Is there any such thing as a software extender, so I can extend MCE on the box in my cupboard out to my desktop machine? Is one planned?

in reply to Software Media Center Extender

Podcasting show done with two people remotely [Podcasting show done with two people remotely]

Paul Smith — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:26:55 GMT

I've been thinking about doing a podcast for a while now. But the sticking point is, it won't just be me but probably someone else from half way around the world.

What's the best way to do this?

Free software ideal, but I don't mind paying for something if it's up to scratch.

I've played around with doing voice over MSN Messenger (and then just recording), but it's just not stable enough (I think everyone involved has 256kb/s up), plus I'd like the ability to possibly add extra people in later.

Thanks guys.

in reply to Podcasting show done with two people remotely

Why bother with 32-bit Longhorn? [Why bother with 32-bit Longhorn?]

Paul Smith — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 23:52:25 GMT

I blogged about this a while ago.

Now x64 is out, I've come to realise 3rd party support is a lot less then what I was expecting. Barely anything has improved from 3-6 months ago. The companies supporting it have drivers out, they're not very good quality (still) and those companies that don't care about it are just doing nothing, with drivers and software pencilled in for "later".

With 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Longhorn most likely being much more even than it is at the moment, and with Joe Pubic no doubt buying 64-bit Longhorn on their new PCs, wouldn't it save so much confusion to consumers to simply make Longhorn 64-bit.

A lot of people can barely understand why some of their old games don't run on XP, imagine how confused they're going to get when their friends 32-bit Longhorn can run something, yet their 64-bit machine may have issues with it. Or worse still if they've got a 64-bit application, and they want to give it to their friend on 32-bit.

Sure it will cut down initial sales, I won't be able to upgrade my Tablet, or my other secondary machine (by then I'll no doubt have a second x64 box anyway). But it would make the transistion so much easier, it would be done in one big swoop, all the 3rd parties on the side lines would have to move to support it.

Or may be not go hardcore 64-bit only, but if OEMs want the Longhorn logo on their PC it has to ship with the 64-bit version. That would help a lot.

What do you think?

in reply to Why bother with 32-bit Longhorn?

OurColony (I love bees #2?) [OurColony (I love bees #2?)]

Paul Smith — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 19:26:40 GMT

Anyone following this?

If you remember the viral marketing that was I Love Bees last year for Halo 2 - this is believed to be Microsoft's new answer for Xbox 2.

Already a bunch of screens have been found on it:

http://www.xbox2portal.com/2005/04/14/Screenshots/project-gotham-racing-3-shots.html

I think everyday a new challenge comes up for the team, if you're lucky you might get a snippet of info out of it.

Anyway I've got a team on the go with it, so if you fancy joining up login with the word 'play' on www.ourcolony.net and join an existing team with the password '30410682'.

in reply to OurColony (I love bees #2?)

April Fools gags [April Fools gags]

Paul Smith — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:57:28 GMT

Post some good April Fools links (it is April the 1st for most of the world now).

EA "buy" Oblivion

http://www.oblivionportal.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1112313716&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

Talked about at:

http://forums.gamespot.com/gamespot/show_messages.php?board=314159267&topic=20153485&page=0

http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=334887&page=1&pp=15

http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78627

What other good ones are out there?

in reply to April Fools gags

GDC goodness [GDC goodness]

Paul Smith — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 23:22:16 GMT

The new guide IU thing: http://www.xbox2portal.com/2005/03/09/Screenshots/next-generation-ui.html

Allard keynote:
http://www.xbox2portal.com/2005/03/09/Audio/j-allard-keynote-audio.html

Cool stuff. Having a single UI across all the games will be great. Custom soundtracks in every game now! Awesome!

J says the next Xbox is a "monster" with a teraflop of "targeted" computing power. Roll on May.

in reply to GDC goodness