The future for the Wii

It’s been a few months since Nintendo has released the all new Wii U upon the world. Replacing it’s old console flagship, the Wii in the process. While it remains to be seen what the long tern future holds for the Wii U. It seems to be doing well enough at the moment.

But for now, lets focus on the Wii. Over six years ago, Nintendo released this unique console upon the world. They chose not to compete on power, but instead chose to try something innovative. For better or worse, that decision worked really well for Nintendo. But here we are now, the Wii U has been released. Thus finally making the Wii obsolete. (Although one could argue it was obsolete since day one.)

What does the future hold for the Wii now?

Where I, and my website stand in regards to SOPA

Greeting readers, sorry for not keeping this place up to date. I’ve been busy school and my new job. I haven’t had much time to my self recently.

But I felt I needed to give my stance on the bill H.R. 3261. Which is commonly known as SOPA, or Stop Online Piracy Act.

I’ve read the bill some myself, heard from others, and watched a stream of one of the earlier hearings on the bill. And I have to agree with what has been said so far about the bill.

While the bill has some good intentions. The means of which this bill purposes to deal with the issues currently. Are not only problematic, but possibly even ineffective. Not to mention, it’s very broad on what could be problematic content. To the point it could lead to some abuse of the bill if not careful.

As for the technical concerns, I can see that they are well founded.

In the regard to the IP blocking. It fails to compensate for the fact that not all IP addresses are static. (Static meaning they stay in one place). But some are in fact dynamic, so they move from one place to another.
So it’s possible that a infringing site may be blocked by its IP address one day. But since it used a dynamic IP. It may switch to another site and/or server the next day. And that site/server may contain stuff that are in no violation what so ever. But because that particular dynamic IP assigned that day was blocked. It would by default block access to that site/server. Causing unfortunate and unnecessary downtime for all effected.

There are other technical problems with this bill too. Which even extends into possible freedom of speech infringements. But I don’t feel knowledgeable enough to talk about those issues. And are most likely better explained elsewhere on the web anyways.

Another part of this bill which I have a problem with. Is the unauthorized medication part. I agree it needs to be address, but not in this bill. This should be its own separate bill. Or linked to a bill that deals with similar medical related issues.

In conclusion, I personally think SOPA is a train wreck waiting to happen. It’s too broad to be effective. It’s riddled with poor, uninformed thinking on how the internet currently works from a technological standpoint. And could inadvertently cause freedom of speech issues in the future.

So I, and the Useless Site of Technology are now officially against bill H.R. 3261 (Stop Online Piracy Act or SOPA for short).

Steve Jobs has passed away yesterday

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Yesterday, the world lost a great visionary. And that Visionary was Steve Jobs.

Starting with the humble beginning of making and selling computers for then start up Apple Computers out of a garage. To later buying The Graphics Group from Lucas Films. And turning it into the world renowned Pixar Animation Studios. To his return as CEO of Apple in 1998.

It’s not hard to see what legacies he has left behind. The man was a true visionary, and it shows in his accomplishments. He was not one that was afraid to take chances. Even if they took years to finally succeed for him. (A great example of this would be Pixar.)

I regret that I have never had the chance to meet, or hear Mr. Jobs in person. But I thank him for what he has done.

With all that said in regards of Mr. Jobs. So long, and thanks for all the fish Steve Jobs. You will be missed dearly.

Source: Apple, Wikipedia

Amazon announces the Kindle Touch

Along with announcing the Kindle Fire tablet and the new $79 Kindle at their New York City press event today. Amazon also announced the all new Kindle Touch.

The Kindle Touch sports a IR-based touchscreen system. A totally redesigned interface that uses taps instead of physical buttons. And a new, more advance 6-inch e-Ink screen.

The Kindle Touch will come in Wifi and 3G flavors when it ships on November 21. The ad supported Wifi version will cost $99, or $139 with no ads. And $149 for ad supported 3G version, or $189 with no ads.
Both 3G versions come with free Global 3G roaming included.

Both the Wifi and 3G Kindle Touch’s are up for pre-order right now.

Source: Engadget, Amazon (Kindle Touch Wifi), Amazon (Kindle Touch 3G)

Amazon unveils new $79 Kindle

Hot on the heels of the Kindle Fire. Amazon also announced the a new ad-supported Kindle that cost $79. Which marks the first time a Kindle has been for under $100 at retail. There is also a $109 version that isn’t ad supported that available.

Amazon says that the new Kindle will be available for shipping starting today.
Edit: Here the product page for the new Kindle.

Source: Engadget, Amazon

Amazon unveils the 7-inch Android-based Kindle Fire tablet

Today at a Amazon press event held in New York City. Amazon has announced a new addition to the Kindle line up. The Android based 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet.

The 7-inch tablet lacks cameras and a microphone which are found on some recent tablets. The tablet also lacks 3G, so it’s limited to just Wifi.

The tablet with ship with a heavily customized version of Android 2.1, and will retail for $199. Amazon is also including a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime Membership with each Kindle Fire sold.

I’ll update this when there is more info!

Update: We have some specs for the Kindle Fire:

• 7-inch IPS panel with Gorilla Glass coating
• 1GHz TI OMAP dual-core CPU
• 512MB of RAM
• 8GB of internal storage
• chassis weighs 14.6 ounces

The device also supports connectivity to the Amazon Cloud. Which will allow for theoretical unlimited storage of your purchases.

You can also pre-order the device right now from here. And it will be released on November, 15.

Source: Slashgear, Engadget, Amazon

Mojang officially heading to court in “Scrolls” case

It’s been a while since we first heard about the legal rumbling from both Bethesda Softworks and Mojang. In regards to a possible trademark lawsuit involving Mojang’s upcoming card based game “Scrolls”. In which Bethesda claimed that Mojang’s “Scrolls” infringed on their “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” trademark.

At one point, Mojang Founder Markus Persson (Notch) proposed a game of Quake to settle the case. But apparently Bethesda didn’t care for Perssons’s proposal since the case is now heading to court. According to this recent twitter tweet from Persson:

The Scrolls case is going to court! Weee! :D

Not much else is know about the case. Other than the fact it’s a trademark dispute over the name. And it’s not known when and where the case will take place.

I’ll make sure to update this, or make another when more information comes available in regards to this case.

The wonders of the Internet

The internet, what a strange place it can be. A 2 year old video on youtube can go from a few a few views, to thousands of views in just a few weeks. Or how a simple inactive site can go from having under 50 daily views on average. To having between 700-900 daily views in little under a week.

That whats been going on here recently…..

Site Re-Re-Boot?

Hey again folks, it’s Nightwheel once more. It seems everythime I get it in my head I want to reboot this site. I don’t live up to what I say. Mainly since life starts to get busy. Well it seems I’m going to have a few months of nothing much to do. So I guess I have to to run this site halfway decently. Maybe a few news stories a day perhaps.

We’ll just have to see if I can keep the site going this time around.

Trackmania 2 Announced in France?

Not much is know at the moment. Heck, then isn’t a press release yet. But if this youtube video of the Trackmania 2 announcement I saw is true. And the bits and pieces I have been able to gather from another video. Trackmania 2 is a huge next step for the Trackmania Series. I’ll keep you updated when I get more info about this.

Meanwhile, here is a Video of the Announcement (in French):