Assorted News and Tips

US Justice Department and FTC looking into Apple's new subscription policy

2011-02-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

Apple unveiled its new app store subscriptions earlier this week with a decent amount of controversy and even an official statement from Rhapsody saying it would not comply with the new regulations. The new policy requires any company offering subscription services to offer the same service, at the same price (or less) through Apple, with Apple skimming 30 percent off the top. It also no longer allows apps to have links to external sites where purchases can be made. Now, reports the Wall Street Journal, antitrust enforcers in the US are having a preliminary look into the new arrangement. So, what does that mean? Well, these kinds of pre-investigations are pretty common, so it could mean nothing at all. Or, it could lead to a more formal investigation into if the policy violates antitrust laws. When asked for comment on the story, unsurprisingly, no one at Apple, the FTC, or the Justice Department would comment.

[Source: Wall Street Journal via Engadget]

IBM Jepardy Challenge: Finale Summary

2011-02-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

Ken Jennings was thirsty for blood (silicon?) tonight. After struggling to buzz in faster than Watson during in the first match, Jennings was noticeably quicker in this match, buzzing in first and thinking about the correct response after. As a result, he finished with over 18,200 going into Final Jeopardy, just a few thousand dollars behind Watson's 23,440. Rutter meanwhile, was mostly invisible during this round much like Jennings was last round. But he still managed to rack up 5,600.

As for Watson, it may not have been quite as dominant as last round, but seemed less confused by questions this time around, only providing nonsensical answers a couple of times. But Watson proved it was the best contestant out there. If they played 10 rounds of Jeopardy, I'd be surprised if Watson lost any more than one time.

And you know what was disappointing? The interview segment of the show. Always a source of entertainment for conversations which are nothing short of AWKWARD, Watson never got his time to shine. Alex asked Jennings and Rutter about the charities they were donating half their winnings to, but not Watson. Instead of carrying out an exchange with Alex or rattling off a pre-determined message in is creepily lifeless voice, know what we got? Some WASP-y IBM stiff who was easily 100 (maybe even 101) times less interesting than Watson.

But whatever. Unlike last night, there was actually a bit of intrigue going into Double Jeopardy. Jennings earned enough in this round that if he put his entire total for the night on the line and guessed correct, he could possibly eek out a victory against Watson. The category was 19th century authors and the clue was this:
Jennings correctly answered Bram Stoker. But his wager?

What Does This Mean?

Watson's victory is a pretty significant moment for machines. But don't get too carried away and start questioning the meaning of life while searching for a leather-clad savior to deliver us from our impending doom. I mean, the thing thinks Toronto is a U.S. city for God's sake.

That said, Watson is proof that we're closer than ever to having machines which interact with us as effortlessly and intuitively as humans do. Its voice recognition skills aren't there yet, and it's roughly the size of 1.5 Steve Ballmers (pretty big!), but we shouldn't be discouraged. Think about the computers that were around 60 years ago—or even 30 years ago—that took up entire rooms and what they were capable of. Now, most of our smartphones are more powerful (or nearly more powerful) than that.

So in many of our lifetimes, it's likely that we'll get to experience machines more powerful than Watson, which will fit into our hands, or be integrated into our homes, cars, hospitals, androids, etc. We talk. It listens and replies. It might even be smarter than us, as IBM suggests.

This, people, is an exciting possibility.

[Source: Gizmodo]

Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac OS goes gold, hits the App Store

2011-02-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

It's been available since October in beta form, but Microsoft has just turned its Windows Phone 7 Connector product to a shiny shade of gold, giving Mac owners a solid (if not Zune-free) option for hooking up their Windows Phones without firing up Boot Camp. We're told there aren't any new features in the latest build worth noting, so you'll get the same options as before: media synchronization, iTunes compatibility, and support for Windows Phone firmware updates.

[Source: Engadget]

The Entire Criterion Collection Is Coming to Hulu Plus

2011-02-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Good news for the handful of you that subscribe to Hulu Plus (and live in the U.S.): there are now over 150 pristinely-restored, culturally-important Criterion films now available on the subscription service, with over 800 titles—everything in Criterion's library—slated to appear in the next few months. That's actually pretty damn incredible.

The Criterion Collection, for those who aren't familiar, is an ever-expanding set of films both old and new, lovingly restored to the most pristine condition possible and presented with rich supplementary material. Basically: it's the best movies ever, presented in the best quality. The DVDs—gorgeous objects that they are—aren't cheap, and gaining access to masterpieces from cinematic luminaries like Kurosawa, Bergman, and Hitchcock to contemporary greats like Linklater, Fassbinder, and Cassavetes for just $8 a month is a staggering value. Just scroll through this list and let your eyes glaze over. Criterion says that supplementary materials will be coming to Hulu soon, and at this point, thanks to sponsors, all ads are up front so you can enjoy the movie without interruptions. It's sounding pretty sweet, and it might be just the content Hulu needs to stay relavent.

A year ago, say, when people were devouring episodes 30 Rock and the Daily Show like sumo wrestlers at an all you can eat buffet, Hulu seemed like an inevitably major player in the future of digital video. The prospect of a glorious, all-encompassing Hulu subscription service hung in the horizon. They had that funny superbowl commercial with Alec Baldwin. Times were good.

But since then Hulu's faltered a bit. Some favorite titles were yanked from the offerings. The subscription service was too expensive and not expansive enough. And all the while, Netflix doggedly expanded their Instant Watch library, quietly but significantly restructuring themselves as a streaming video powerhouse who also would mail you a DVD or Blu-ray if you wanted them to.

For people who love movies, though, the complete Criterion Collection is reason enough to reconsider Hulu. It's a gamble—it remains to be seen if the draw of some 800 cinematic masterpieces is enough to get people to join on—but in terms of bringing great works of art into the digital age, it's certainly an admirable start.

[ Source: Criterion via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Rally Ball demo shows Windows Phone 7, Kinect, Xbox Live living in perfect harmony

2011-02-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Though it's billed strictly as a technology demo -- not something we'll necessarily see in any imminent over-the-air update -- Microsoft showed off a pretty cool demo of how Windows Phone 7's Xbox Live integration could take advantage of Kinect down the road at Steve Ballmer's MWC keynote today. How, you ask? Using the Rally Ball game, a Windows Phone user was shown tossing balls to an on-screen character that's controlled by someone else on an Xbox using a Kinect. Simple, yes -- but perhaps as interesting as the Kinect aspect is the viability of real-time cross-platform gaming that Microsoft seems to be throwing its support behind.

[Source: Engadget]

Borders headed for bankruptcy filing

2011-02-13T06:07:00.000-08:00

Crysis 2 Leaked Online, Creators ‘Deeply Disappointed’

2011-02-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

Crysis 2 won't be released officially for another month, but a playable version of Crytek's ambitious PC shooter has already made its way online, much to the disappointment of its creators.

According to those who have played it—we first heard about the leak via the Facepunch forums—that leaked build of Crysis 2 comes complete with multiplayer and the master keys to the game's piracy protection. It is allegedly playable from start to finish, a seemingly near-complete beta version of its campaign.
We contacted EA and Crytek for comment. Here's what they had to say.
"Crytek has been alerted that an early incomplete, unfinished build of Crysis 2 has appeared on Torrent sites," reads EA's response to Kotaku on the matter. "Crytek and EA are deeply disappointed by the news. We encourage fans to support the game and the development team by waiting and purchasing the final, polished game on March 22."
"Crysis 2 is still in development and promises to be the ultimate action blockbuster as the series' signature Nanosuit lets you be the weapon as you defend NYC from an alien invasion. Piracy continues to damage the PC packaged goods market and the PC development community."
The game is scheduled to be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC on March 22 in North America.
[Source: Kotaku]

Here is a link to all the screenshots that have been posted so far.

Cave Story Being Remade for the 3DS

2011-02-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Cave Story, an indie PC game released over six years ago, is still winning new fans today following subsequent releases on the Wii and DS. Now it's being remade, in 3D, for Nintendo's newest handheld.
Cave Story 3D is a complete remake of the original platformer, with every character and every level transformed from its humble 2D, pixellated origins into "2.5D", which is a two-dimensional game giving the illusion of three dimensional space.

[Source: Kotaku]

Personally, I think a lot of the charm of the game came from the 2D graphics and changing it seems like more of a cash in. The creator of the game seems behind it though, so I guess it's what he wants.

Here's two screens showing the before and the proposed after:

On a final note, is there any games you think are a classic and should not be remade?

IBM's Mira supercomputer does ten petaflops with ease, inches us closer to exascale-class computing

2011-02-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

[Source: IBM via Engadget]

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 "spied" in the swirly en route to Geneva

2011-02-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Click for larger version

Typically, when an automaker is preparing to unveil a new car, we get a look at the styling and then the technical details. But Lamborghini is used to doing things backwards. It was, after all, one of the first automakers to build a mid-engine sportscar, and was also the one that got its start reverse-engineering Ferraris with tractor parts. And the backwards tradition continues with the highly anticipated Murciélago successor.

Though Sant'Agata has been gradually releasing details of the supercar's mechanicals – including the pushrod suspension, 6.5-liter V12 and ISR transmission – glimpses at the car's design have been few and far between. This swirly job "spy shot", ostensibly leaked from the factory, has been circulating the internet like a viral video, and gives us one of our best looks yet at the car's shape.

Though the camouflage does a good job of breaking up the body's lines, you can still discern a healthy dose of Reventón-like fighter jet-inspired design cues in the beast expected to be called the Aventador LP700-4. With less than a month to go before it makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, there'll undoubtedly be more to come soon, so watch this space.

[Source: Autoblog ]

Internet, Software, Mobile Software Last.fm radio app goes 'premium' on home and mobile devices, web and desktop streaming remain free

2011-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

Last.fm has decided to tweak its offering on the app front, where it is now introducing a new subscription requirement for most mobile and home entertainment devices. From here on out, you'll have to pay for the privilege of streaming music through the company's software on devices like the iPhone and Squeezebox, though the blow is nicely cushioned by the news that there won't be any ads to dilute your aural pleasure. Windows Phone 7 won't be subject to the new fee for the remainder of 2011 in the US and UK, while Sonos devices will continue to stream freely until this summer, but eventually it seems like all these apps will cost a little bit of cash to use. And "little" is the operative word here, as Last.fm is asking for only $3 / €3 / £3 per month. If you really can't stomach the outlay, however, just stream via the web or desktop application.

[Source: Lastfm via Engadget]

Robots TiaLinx's Cougar20-H surveillance robot can peer through walls, see you breathe

2011-02-07T14:16:00.000-08:00

You may be able to outrun it, but you probably won't be able to hide from TiaLinx's new Cougar20-H surveillance robot. While it might not look like much, the bot packs an impressive RF array that's not only able to detect movement within a building (though concrete walls, no less), but is even able to detect a person breathing inside a building at "long standoff distances." Perhaps not surprisingly, complete details are largely being kept under wraps (the bot was developed with some help from the U.S. Army), but this isn't simply a prototype -- it'll be rolling out next month and is expected to be put to use byvarious law enforcement and government agencies.

[Source: CNET via Engadget]

Taquitos

2011-02-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

My girlfriend made some taquitos last night and they were fantastic. She made the refried beans from scratch and everything. Here's a copy of the recipe she used. Hope you enjoy.

1 (16 ounce) refried beans
1 1/2 tablespoons Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
24 small corn tortillas (the thin ones work best if you can find them)
1 cup peanut oil or 1 cup corn oil or 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying

Guacamole

3 ripe avocados
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 lime, juice of
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
3 tablespoons minced onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
3 tablespoons sour cream

Directions:

Prep Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 45 mins

Make guacamole first by combining all ingredients except sour cream.
Mash and stir until only small lumps of avocado remain.
Garnish with sour cream piled in the center and refrigerate until ready to use.
Combine beans, Tabasco, cumin, corriander, salt and cheese stirring well.
Microwave tortillas between 2 paper towels, 3 at a time on high for 30 seconds.
Work with one tortilla at a time, keeping the others covered in paper towels so they stay warm and moist.
Place 1 tablespoon of filling at the center edge of tortilla closest to you and roll tightly away from you like skinny cigar.
Keep filling away from the edges, as it may leak out when frying and cause the oil to spatter.
Put seam side down on a paper towel or wax paper and repeat the process until you've made all 24 taquitos.
Using medium-thick cotton string, toothpicks, or bamboo skewers secure the center seam of each taquito (if you omit this part, they will pop open during frying and make a big mess).
Heat oil in medium frying pan on medium-high (about 325F) and cook taquitos 4 at a time turning frequently until golden brown on all sides.
Drain on cooling rack on top of paper towels (this ensures the oil drains away and the taquitos stay crispy).
Serve hot with guacamole.

Ford opens its archive of images to the world

2011-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

The Ford GT-40

The year 2011 marks Ford's 108th year in business. Over the course of its long history, the automaker has collected millions of images. Most of these images are stored in boxes, away from prying eyes... but that is about to change. Ford is launching a brand new site that will give users access to thousands of these archival images.

FordImages.com currently has over 5,000 images available to be licensed. The site adds hundreds more every week and is shooting to have 10,000 available by January of 2012. The seemingly endless galleries of images cover everything from key products and personnel to historic motorsports shots and all Ford vehicles through the ages.

The site offers more than just images, however, with a wide range of signs and artwork also offered. Limited-edition photos of cars like the Ford GT and Shelby GT500 are available and signed by Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby respectively.

If you're a Blue Oval fan, this may become your new favorite web site. There's enough material here to decorate your office, home and garage. All those boxes of stored photos mean there's plenty more where these came from.

[Source: Autoblog]

Hardware Chart

2011-02-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

I do a good bit of tech support for people these days for a little bit of extra income. So a few months ago I made up a kinda of tech-emergency-kit. It's sort of like a first-aid kit, but for computers and such. It's still changing depending on what I need, but so far it really hasn't needed much more for any of the situations that I've come across. Some of the items here you can do without, pretty much all of it is cheap and I'll provide some links for as many as I can.

Storage containers:
This is really up to your discretion. I use a tackle box and a regular toolbox to hold everything in and twist-ties to keep things tidy.

List of items and their use:
* 4GB-8GB USB Drives x 2 = Any brand is fine, the cheaper the better. I always have two different brands just in case a computer won't read it or one messes up
* 120GB or larger USB Drive = This is essential if someone computer is so bad off it needs to be wiped clean. Use this to make a backup of everything that needs to be
* VGA to RCA converter = I personally use this instead of carrying around a seperate monitor. It's main purpose is for people that don't have an HDTV with a VGA hookup.
* USB/PS2 Keyboard = For backwards compatibility
* USB/PS2 Mouse = For backwards compatibility
* USB Hub = For using the Keyboard/Mouse
* Wireless Router = Check Woot if you decide to carry one, I got my spare one on there for just under $20
* Outlet Strip = Handy if there is a lack of plugs
* Lots of cables = Have at least two of each of the following:
7' Ethernet, RCA 3.5mm splitter, 12' RCA 3.5mm, 12-25' RCA 2 cable, RCA splitter x 4, KVM cable, Phone cable, Power cables 1 2 3, HDMI to DVI, HDMI, 6' Component, 6' Composite, 6' Svideo, 6' VGA, Universal USB cable, Univesal Laptop power cable
* Electrical tape
* Boot CD's of Ubuntu, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Ophcrack
* A couple of spare CDs and DVDs

You'll need a few handtools as well (screwdrivers mainly), but none that you shouldn't be able to improvise with. Most everything on here I got for free from different places and people. Just take your time building it up, starting with the Boot CD's and USB drives, everything else is extra. With all this stuff you should be able to fix just about any computer or home theater.

Chevy Volt vs Nissan Leaf - January Numbers

2011-02-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

So, how are the first two mainstream plug-in vehicles in the U.S. selling? Both the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf had their first deliveries in December, which means January of 2011 was the first full month of sales for each. Without further ado, the numbers are:

Volt: 321 (plus 326 in December, for a total of 647)
Leaf: 87 (plus 19 in December, 106 total)

While some reports are saying that the issue is mainly a supply related one, I personally think it really comes down to the fact that the Volt has an on-board generator to increase it's range beyond the 73miles of the Leaf. Still, in order to do this, the generator requires premium gasoline. Maybe scientists should be looking at a synthetic gasoline instead of alternate forms of energy.

[Source: Green Car Reports via Autoblog]

Virtual Art Galleries

2011-02-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

I found this to be pretty cool, especially for those that don't live near these places or similar buildings.

http://www.googleartproject.com/museums/moma

Obviously it's not as good as the real thing, and some of the paintings are blurred out, but for places you aren't able to go to, definitely worth checking out. Be wary of errors though, I had quite a few when browsing.

XBMC - PS3 Remote

2011-02-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years I’ve been looking to setup a dedicated box for XBMC. That day finally came this week since I found a broken laptop here at home. The screen wasn’t working, the harddrive had corrupted sections, the swivel mounts were snapped in half, the power supply cut out frequently; it was in rough shape. I made some minor repairs to get it to a workable state and figured to at least try it out. Here’s the steps I used since some of them aren’t documented so well.
INSTALLING XBMC

This one is pretty simple, just go to http://www.xbmc.org
Click Downloads | Get XBMC
Click on the Live button and it will download a disk image (.iso)
Burn the image using the software of your choice (I used ImgBurn)
Put the CD in your soon-to-be HTPC making sure it has a connection to the internet
Let it set up, use whole disk for partition
When it comes time to put in name, use your name
For computer id use “xbmc” without quotes
For password use “xbmc” without quotes
After that it will boot up, verify everything works okay with the internet and playing videos/music

INSTALLING PS3 REMOTE
This is the tricky section so follow closely.
   1. Hit CTRL+F2 to exit xbmc and go to the command line
   2. Log in using “xbmc” for the user and “xbmc” for the password
   3. Type cd ..
   4. Type cd ..
   5. Type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kitlaan/ppa
   6. Type sudo apt-get purge bluez
   7. Type sudo echo deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kitlaan/ppa/ubuntu maverick main » /etc/apt/sources.list
   8. Type sudo echo deb-src http://ppa.launchpad/kitlaan/ppa/ubuntu maverick main » /etc/apt/sources.list
   9. Type sudo apt-key adv —keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com —recv-keys 6F7177CC
10. Type sudo apt-get update
11. Type sudo apt-get install bluez
12. Type sudo apt-get install bluez-utils python-bluez
13. Type hcitool scan
14. Press and Hold the Start and Enter keys on the PS3 remote
15. You should see something similar to the following:

Scanning …
00:82:7C:B9:14:7A BD Remote Control

16. Write down the sequence before BD Remote Control
17. Type wget http://h00s.net/ps3bdremote.tar.gz
18. Type tar xvzf ps3bdremote.tar.gz
19. Type cd ps3bdremote
20. Type sudo nano ps3bdremote-test.py
21. Look for the line that starts with remote = ps3bdremote.PS3BDRemote and change the sequence to the one you wrote down
22. Save and exit (Hit CTRL+X, then Y, then ENTER)
23. Type sudo apt-get install python-bluetooth
24. Type python ps3bdremote-test.py
25. Press and Hold Start + Enter on the PS3 Remote

It should say Connected and start displaying the buttons you press, if not check to make sure the sequence was entered correctly.
CONFIGURING PS3 REMOTE

Now that everything is connected, the remote needs to be configured to work with XBMC as well as be launched when XBMC starts.

Press CTRL+ALT+F3 to open another command line
Log in with “xbmc” as the user and “xbmc” as the password
Type cd ..
Type cd ..
Type sudo apt-get install blueman
Type sudo modprobe uinput
Type sudo nano /etc/init.d/rc.local
Scroll down to the end of the file
Type sudo modprobe uniput
Save and Exit
Type cd ~
Type wget http://kitlaan.twinaxis.com/holdingcell/ps3pair.tar.gz
Type tar xvfz ps3pair.tar.gz
Type cd ~/ps3pair
Type sudo python ps3_pair.py
Press and Hold Start + Enter on the PS3 remote
Type 1 then ENTER after it connects
Type cd ..
Type cd ..
Type cd ..
Type usr/share/doc/bluez/examples/list-devices
Check to make sure the PS3 Remote shows as connected
Type cd etc
Type cd bluetooth
Type sudo nano input.conf
Replace the file with the following, swaping the sequence with the one you wrote down

# input.conf - kitlaan custom
# Configuration file for the input service

# This section contains options which are not specific to any
# particular interface
[General]

# Set idle timeout (in minutes) before the connection will
# be disconnect (defaults to 0 for no timeout)
#IdleTimeout=30 



# This section contains options that are specific to a device
[00:1E:3D:B6:12:7E]
#
# Set a custom idle timeout (in minutes) for this device
IdleTimeout=1   



# This section is the PS3 Remote keymap.  It is loaded when bluez starts.
# Use 'uinput.h' from bluez sources or '/usr/include/linux/input.h' for
# a list of possible KEY_* values.
#
[PS3 Remote Map]
# When the 'OverlayBuiltin' option is TRUE (the default), the keymap uses
# the built-in keymap as a starting point.  When FALSE, an empty keymap is
# the starting point.
#OverlayBuiltin = TRUE
0x16 = KEY_E              # EJECT
0x64 = KEY_A              # AUDIO
0x65 = KEY_Z              # ANGLE
0x63 = KEY_T              # SUBTITLE
0x0f = KEY_DELETE         # CLEAR
0x28 = KEY_GRAVE          # TIMER
0x00 = KEY_1              # NUM-1
0x01 = KEY_2              # NUM-2
0x02 = KEY_3              # NUM-3
0x03 = KEY_4              # NUM-4
0x04 = KEY_5              # NUM-5
0x05 = KEY_6              # NUM-6
0x06 = KEY_7              # NUM-7
0x07 = KEY_8              # NUM-8
0x08 = KEY_9              # NUM-9
0x09 = KEY_0              # NUM-0
0x81 = KEY_F7             # RED
0x82 = KEY_F8             # GREEN
0x80 = KEY_F9             # BLUE
0x83 = KEY_F10            # YELLOW
0x70 = KEY_I              # DISPLAY
0x1a = KEY_S              # TOP MENU
0x40 = KEY_M              # POP UP/MENU
0x0e = KEY_ESC            # RETURN
0x5c = KEY_C              # TRIANGLE/OPTIONS
0x5d = KEY_BACKSPACE      # CIRCLE/BACK
0x5f = KEY_TAB            # SQUARE/VIEW
0x5e = KEY_SPACE          # CROSS
0x54 = KEY_UP             # UP
0x56 = KEY_DOWN           # DOWN
0x57 = KEY_LEFT           # LEFT
0x55 = KEY_RIGHT          # RIGHT
0x0b = KEY_ENTER          # ENTER
0x5a = KEY_F1             # L1
0x58 = KEY_F2             # L2
0x51 = KEY_F3             # L3
0x5b = KEY_F4             # R1
0x59 = KEY_F5             # R2
0x52 = KEY_F6             # R3
0x43 = KEY_HOMEPAGE       # PS button
0x50 = KEY_INSERT         # SELECT
0x53 = KEY_HOME           # START
0x33 = KEY_R              # SCAN BACK
0x32 = KEY_PLAY           # PLAY
0x34 = KEY_F              # SCAN FORWARD
0x30 = KEY_PAGEUP         # PREVIOUS
0x38 = KEY_STOP           # STOP
0x31 = KEY_PAGEDOWN       # NEXT
0x60 = KEY_COMMA          # SLOW/STEP BACK
0x39 = KEY_PAUSE          # PAUSE
0x61 = KEY_DOT            # SLOW/STEP FORWARD
0xff = KEY_MAX

Check it in XBMC by hitting CTRL+ALT+F7 or F8 to make sure everything is working.
SETTING UP FILE SHARING

Now the only thing left to setup is someway to send the media files that you have on your PC to XBMC and store it on the external drive that is connected. You could just disconnect the drive every time you want to put stuff on, but that ruins the point of having a dedicated box. The tutorial for this is done amazingly indepth by the folks at mini-itx.com. The only change you need to do is when you edit smb.conf put the path as / instead of /home/xbmc. By doing that you’ll be able to go to media and see your external drive. Stop once it starts talking about Windows. That part isn’t needed. Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart the HTPC and everything will be running smooth and trouble free.
Here’s their tutorial
So there’s the whole process in 75 easy-ish steps. Hopefully it’ll save a headache to anyone that’s never used linux before. Good Luck, and if you need any other help, all of this information was culled from the below sources which helped me figure everything out.
Sources:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO_Setup_PS3_BD_Remote
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1389671
http://h00s.net/site/ubuntu/using-ps3-bd-remote-with-ubuntu-linux/
https://launchpad.net/~kitlaan/+archive/ppa
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=50717&page=33
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/xbmc-ion/module/7

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We also may use DART cookies for ad serving through Google’s DoubleClick, which places a cookie on your computer when you are browsing the web and visit a site using DoubleClick advertising (including some Google AdSense advertisements). This cookie is used to serve ads specific to you and your interests (”interest based targeting”). The ads served will be targeted based on your previous browsing history (For example, if you have been viewing sites about visiting Las Vegas, you may see Las Vegas hotel advertisements when viewing a non-related site, such as on a site about hockey). DART uses “non personally identifiable information”. It does NOT track personal information about you, such as your name, email address, physical address, telephone number, social security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers. You can opt-out of this ad serving on all sites using this advertising by visiting http://www.doubleclick.com/privacy/dart_adserving.aspx

You can choose to disable or selectively turn off our cookies or third-party cookies in your browser settings, or by managing preferences in programs such as Norton Internet Security. However, this can affect how you are able to interact with our site as well as other websites. This could include the inability to login to services or programs, such as logging into forums or accounts.

Deleting cookies does not mean you are permanently opted out of any advertising program. Unless you have settings that disallow cookies, the next time you visit a site running the advertisements, a new cookie will be added.