Null 'n Void blog

Madcatz M.O.J.O. is D.B.A.

2013-11-05T10:56:00.001-08:00

It looks like the Mad Catz M.O.J.O. is D.B.A. (Dead Before Arrival) It won’t even be released until December and already it’s looking like a joke.

It sounds almost alluring. 1.8 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 4, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage with a microSD slot supporting 128GB, running Android 4.2.2. with HDMI out. It will be compatible with Mad Catz accessories. Google Play access is what really sets it apart from the Ouya.

The lack of Google Play out of the box on Ouya is what killed the $99 console. The Madcatz Mojo looks to fix that by addressing that omission. Problem is, it does it for $150 too much.

Madcatz is truly mad, they think somebody out there will pay $249.99 for a Android console in this day and age. If you are going to charge 60% of the price of a PS4, it better be as good or better than 60% of a proven Sony product line “PLAYSTATION”.

I just hope that this doesn’t kill Android consoles completely. Botched jobs like the Ouya and M.O.J.O. might kill the idea completely in the minds of the consumer. Overpriced and under featured systems like these might disappoint consumers so much they might never take a chance on another Android console again and that is a pity because there is so much promise and potential in the platform if done competently.

If you have $250 burning a hole in your pocket, buy a Nexus 7 for some high quality mobile Android gaming.

While not being a tablet, not being as powerful as an Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 or even a Wii U. While not being a phone, Chromebook or Netbook, most of which are cheaper than a M.O.J.O. Who is the M.O.J.O. for? Somebody that owns all of those things and never uses them while also having excess money to waste on something else they will never use, while also being financially irresponsible and unable to gage value? This person already buys the new iPhone every year and Starbucks everyday doesn’t care about Android. The market is cornered Mad Catz, you have to come up with something that provides value. Sorry, better luck next time.

Who is going to win next gen?

2013-11-05T00:24:00.004-08:00

The new gaming machines are about to be released later this month. Which one is going to be the best?

The Xbox One and PS4 aren’t the bleeding edge machines that the Xbox 360 and PS3 were. Last generation the expensive launch prices were almost justified. This round the Xbox One and PS4 machines are simply underpowered current day gaming PCs with simple operating systems that don’t allow you to use them to their full potential like you would be able to on a computer.

There are already comparison videos between the PS4 and PC running Battlefield 4 and showing just how much the console version can’t live up to it’s superior PC version.

Ubisoft has promised that the PC version of all it’s upcoming games would have superior graphics, it’s pretty easy to say that, because there is absolutely no reason why they couldn’t look better on PC. The upcoming consoles will be stuck in the past of today’s technology, not even mentioning the improvements that continue to come out on PC.

Since the new consoles are now based on x86 processors you are pretty much comparing apples to apples now. The Xbox One and PS4 equate to a mid range gaming PC. They are already out classed by top of the line systems and those systems are only going to get faster and cheaper. The jump to x86 could actually leave Nintendo out in the cold even more than it already is with the Wii U unless they follow suit.

With the consoles so similar in architecture this console generation will be won through exclusivity. What console has the most 'must have' games that you can't get anywhere else. Also what apps or functionality are available outside of gaming.

Sony and Microsoft instead of losing hundreds on each console sold like they did last generation, could turn a profit on each unit sold straight out of the gate.

What console is better? If you are serious about gaming. Well the answer is simple… The Steam Machine.

The Steam Machine, with Steam OS and the revolutionary Steam Controller is the future. The upcoming "Next Gen" consoles are already dated.

Second place? Your average gaming PC.

Third and fourth place? PS4 and Xbox One will battle that out.

Xfinity Xbox 360 app unauthorized access?

2013-11-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

Unauthorized access XFINITY TV on Xbox 360 is a video service that is only available in the logged-in user's home.

If you travel around a bit, you might have run into this error message in the Xbox live Xfinity app. Basically, even though you can log into the Xfinity website and watch the content you pay for, log into the Xfinity app on your phone or tablet, when it comes to the 360 Xfinity app Comcast don’t want you to use it anywhere but at home. Even though you get this error, strangely it still lets you continue to use the service in most cases. They just want you to know that they don’t approve of you using the service you pay for.

As long as the xbox you are visiting is hooked up to a Comcast internet connection you will have access to the service. If you are somewhere that has any other ISP you simply won’t be able to access the streaming servers to view content.

Will they completely lock out roaming access one day? Will the upcoming Xbox One be locked out? With the planned HDMI pass-through will there even be a Xfinity streaming app? That still remains to be seen, this error message has just recently started to show up.

How to get Pandora One for free

2013-10-14T17:49:00.002-07:00

It’s actually super easy. Thanks to HitBliss.

HitBliss is a free program where you watch ads for credit, then use that credit to purchase entertainment media, such as a Pandora One subscription or even own an episode of your favorite show. You can even rent a selection of new movies.

Usually things like this are a personal privacy scam. But HitBliss is a little more honest and transparent. If you read their privacy policy it’s actually not that bad. Sure you can turn on things like “Profile Builder” that snoops through your web history and such, but it’s all optional. If you don’t mind the invasion you can earn faster. Otherwise, only give them the information you feel like sharing and watch more ads.

The HitBliss software serves up video ads, you watch them attentively while proving you are doing so and you accrue credit. For a few minutes a month you could have a free Pandora One subscription.

You can sign up for HitBliss here

Currently HitBliss is compatible with Windows, Mac and Android. No iOS at the movie, but it is promised “Soon”

While you can earn on any Android device, note that currently you can only watch paid content on a 10 inch table. Compatibility for 7 inch tablets should be forthcoming also.

Toys R Us Movies app is a juvenile attempt at movie streaming

2013-07-23T13:53:00.002-07:00

Toys R Us has started a new movie streaming service complete with a Xbox Live app. Can it match CinemaNow? Can it compete with the likes of Vudu Movies? Should Flixster be scared? What about established content cages such as Amazon Instant video? Google Play? Itunes? Should they all run for the hills from Geoffrey Giraffe?

In a word: No.

Strangely, even though the technology behind the service is by Rovi, the same technology that drives Best Buy’s Cinemanow service, Toy’s R Us Movies isn’t a part of the DECE Ultraviolet group. That means the movies you bought from your local retail store that came with Ultraviolet codes will not activate on Toys R Us Movies, while you can watch them on Vudu Movies, CInemaNow and Flixster you won’t be watching it on Toys R Us Movies unless you buy it a second time. Likewise, if you buy a Toys R Us Movies copy, you can’t export it into your Ultraviolet account. It’s locked in and completely stuck in the Toys R US sandbox. Although you can watch it on computer, tablet, phone and game consoles for now, with more devices promised in the future.

Content sandbox Google Play you can watch your purchases on Xbox Live using the Youtube app, on your computer using YouTube.com, on your tablet or phone using Google Play Movies and TV app. While Amazon Instant Video is even more limited and only allows you to watch your purchases online and on some consoles, but not on any other tablet besides a Kindle HD and no phones. Let’s not even get into iTunes... all of these have also missed the Ultraviolet boat.

The high prices and the lack of Ultraviolet makes Toys R Us Movies a real loser, I recommend most users stay clear for the foreseeable future, it’s just not worth it. The competition is light years ahead offering more freedom and value.

So who is Toys R Us movies for? Well, people that want a sandbox, a kid friendly sandbox to be exact. A quick peek around in the Toys R Us Movies playground and you will start to notice that the movies and TV choices only include G, PG and PG-13 offerings. This is a major perk for someone that wants to leave a little one alone watching movies and have the peace of mind that they can’t get into too much trouble. They will still be able to watch violent movies like G.I. Joe and Batman, and also movies with adult subject matter like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” just nothing with an R rating.

The selection can be browsed based on age group and other categories such as Barbie, Batman and Harry Potter. Their selection includes Disney films, which also don’t play fair with Ultraviolet either way anyways.

In the end Toys R Us Movies has it’s own corner of the streaming movie market but cannot directly compete with established services for the average customer. If they somehow removed the need to double purchase already owned movies they could possibly be a contender, maybe through some disc to digital program like CinemaNow and Vudu Movies has in place.

"The Last of Us" Stealth Review

2013-07-07T00:24:00.000-07:00

The Last of us is a game that has zombies, but not really. But what isn’t being said is it is also a stealth game, but not really. Next to zero of the situations in the game can be tackled with stealth. Sure there is stealth mechanics, you can crouch and sneak around undetected, but this won’t allow you to tackle the game in a non-violent way. Every situation will end with you murdering everyone or everything in the area before you are allowed to move on. In some rare cases you might be able to run to the exit, but rarely if ever sneak. It’s not that the stealth doesn’t work, no, you can successfully sneak around an area 5 times in a circle but you will eventually learn that to leave the area you will need to either set up a ladder and climb in the middle of the most open and exposed positions in the area, or lift a loud and easily visible garage door. Needless to say any of these exits would alert everyone in the entire area.

The lack of stealth becomes blindingly clear when at one point in the game one of your companions during a cutscene explains how there will be a skeleton crew at night and it will be easy to sneak past. After failing to try and pass previous areas with stealth and learning that it just wasn’t possible, I was excited to see how an area that was designed to be overtaken by stealth would play out. But I was greeted with another area where you couldn’t leave until everyone was dead. They went as far as putting a triangle floaty on the door you needed but leaving it greyed out so you couldn’t even try to open it until the enemies that hadn’t even detected you were dispatched.

I really wish the game came with a disclaimer in the instruction manual next to the sneaking instructions:

The Last of Us (Warning does not contain any actual stealth)

The rest of the game is superbly passable, not the 10 out of 10 that every critic seems to be giving it. The graphics are great, the voice acting is good, the story is well written.The action for the most part works, sure the AI isn’t the brightest, sometimes their behavior is downright awkward and strange. That is something that Naughty Dog struggled with, yet improved in the Uncharted series. Now that the enemies need more advanced behavior the AI isn’t quite up to the task, this includes your companions. Maybe they will improve in The Last of US 3?

In a day and age when games are touting “Play your way” “Non-linear” “Multiple endings” “Branching Paths” “Remembers your choices” The Last of Us unapologetically forces you through a rat maze, not just of story, but of game mechanics and gameplay. Want to sneak past the entire encounter? Sorry, regardless of your skill, that isn’t how we wanted you to do it. Want to stealth kill everyone in the area and avoid direct conflict? Sorry, we designed the area so that the enemies stay so close to each other that stealth killing everyone isn’t possible.

The Last of Us is a great game if you ignore the false advertisement of stealth gameplay.

DOSBox on Ouya

2013-06-26T15:11:00.002-07:00

Apparently it's possible to run DOSBox on the Ouya and play some of your "good old games" here is a video of someone running DOSBox and playing Warcraft 2 Tides of Darkness. I'm not sure if I would consider it playable, but it is definitely running.

Hulu Plus on Ouya

2013-06-13T11:04:00.004-07:00

The Ouya pre-orders will soon be shipping out his month, retail stores should also be stocking them soon, but what we really want to know is What is the Ouya really capable of?

With a Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, HDMI out built on a modified Android source. Just how Android is it? Does this “hackable” console deliver the open and modifiable environment and freedom we take for granted on Android? Is it a viable contender against the mk802IIIS, Dell’s Project Ophelia or Madcatz's M.O.J.O?

Today let's take a look at Hulu Plus streaming on the Ouya

Netflix on Ouya

2013-06-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Ouya is nearing release we all want to know; What can the Ouya really do?
With a Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and modified Android source. Just how Android is it?
Does this “hackable” console deliver the open and modifiable environment we have grown accustomed to on Android? Is it a viable contender against the mk802IIIS, Dell’s Project Ophelia or Madcatz's M.O.J.O?

Let's take a look at Netflix streaming on the Ouya

HBO GO on Ouya

2013-05-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

The Ouya is nearing release. Itt will have a custom menu, it’s own app store... but what can the Ouya really do? It’s rocking a Nvidia Tegra 3 processor regulated to ignore battery saving features, it’s built on a modified Android source. Just how Android is it? Does this “hackable” console deliver the open and modifiable environment we are used to on Android? Is it a viable contender against the mk802IIIS or Dell’s Project Ophelia?

Today we will take a look at HBO GO streaming on the Ouya

They have recently pushed back the release date from June 5th to June 25th. They are saying this will allow them to better provide units for the incredibly high amount of pre-orders received and to fix an issue with the O.U.Y.A. buttons sticking under the removable magnetic battery face cover.

Google Hangouts and Talk both giving you notifications?

2013-05-21T11:19:00.003-07:00

Some people have been getting double notifications on their devices since installing Google Hangouts, it will even play the notification sound for both. Clicking on the Google Talk notification doesn't seem to do anything, so dismissing them on older Android versions can be a pain.

If you have been getting double notifications from Google Hangouts and Google Talk since upgrading to Hangouts here is something you can try:

Uninstall updates on Google Hangouts
Open Google Talk
Sign out of Talk
Update to Google Hangouts

It seems people that were logged into Google Talk during the upgrade have a chance of permanently getting stuck logged into Talk when Google Hangouts "replaced" it on their device.

I hope it resolves it for you.

Google+ app updated to include Google Hangouts... advertisement.

2013-05-21T00:57:00.001-07:00

I just wrote about how Google released Hangouts and didn't include integration into the Google+ Messenger portion of the Google+ app.

Well the update to the Google+ app was released today. It now includes Google Hangouts... as an advertisement. If you goto Google+ Messenger you will be greeted with a rather large portion of your screen saying "Update to Hangouts Bring conversations to life with photos, emoji, and video calls for free."

I guess this ansewers the question as to if Google+ Messanger is going to be integrated into Googe Hangouts. The answer is no, your old converations are still trapped there, they just expect you to stop using it. Sure you might have months and months of converastions among multiple people that you would love to have transfered to Google Hangouts, but it looks like that just isn't going to happen.

It's better to know then to wonder I suppose.

HBO GO not supported by Comcast on Roku

2013-05-19T00:35:00.001-07:00

Comcast has a Xfinity app for 360, iOS and Android along with a website for on demand. Comcast also allows HBO GO activation on the website, Android and iOS.

Interestingly though the Roku has a HBO GO app that has been left out in the dust. Comcast refuses to allow it's customers to activate it. Obviously this lowers the value of Comcast's Xfinity service for it's customer base.

No resolution has been alluded to, there are complaint threads on the Ruko and Comcast forums with no official word as to why Comcast limits it's users availability to services they pay for on arbitrary platforms. Why would HBO support the platform, while Comcast locks people out of it? It's a strange over site or frustrating limitation.

Google hangouts and Google Plus Messenger remain separate despite Google's attempts to unify

2013-05-18T13:18:00.001-07:00

At the 2013 Google I/O it was announced that a new communications solution called Google Hangouts. Coinciding with the announcement was the release of the service, it is now possible to use Google Hangouts across multiple platforms including Google+, Gmail, Chrome extension, Android and iOS. Google Hangouts replaces Google chat / Gchat / Google Talk and allows everyone to communicate together that are using Google messaging solutions.

But hold the phone... there is something missing... Google Voice for one, but this integration is more of a wishlist feature, so far what Hangouts is unifying is instant messaging type services, not SMS and other telephony.

Number two, the most strange. The Google+ messenger. The Google Plus app for Android and iOS has always included it’s own communications client. If you look into it, you will find it’s nearly identical to Google Hangouts, it’s centered around conversations instead of contacts, it includes the same cloud based group chats, notifications for who is currently in the chat, who is typing, ability to start a video chat “hangout”; features in parallel with the new Google Hangouts. There is one clear issue. Apparently Google+ Messenger is the odd man out, as of now it does not integrate into the Google Hangouts “unification” effort, in fact, it’s completely segregated.

Despite being able to start a “hangout” in Google Plus Messenger, it is not a part of Hangouts. Even though both include Google+ circles they are not interoperable. Why is Google Plus Messenger still separate from Google Hangouts? Isn’t the segregation of Google’s instant messaging solutions the entire genesis for Google Hangouts? Why leave this fragmentation? Is an update to integrate them together forthcoming? I certainly hope so.

Currently the Google Plus Messenger function can be found in the Google+ Android app and the Google+ iOS app only. There is no website integration, no desktop client and no unification into the Google Hangouts communications solution. If you start a conversation with friends and family in these apps, there is no way to continue this conversation while away from your device. It’s locked into the mobile space entirely. Making it even more limited than Google Talk ever was. At least with Google Talk you could go from mobile to web and continue your conversation, something that Hangouts has only improved. With Google+ Messenger for Android and iOS those conversations are stuck right where they started.

There has been no official word on when integration is coming, no talk as to why it wasn’t part of the original unifying effort. Until this happens Google’s communication solutions will remain fragmented and short of the Hangouts vision as it was introduced.

Strange phenomena

2013-03-03T01:41:00.000-08:00

This footage cannot be explained, it wasn't captured on purpose and just appeared on the camera of it's own accord. What could it possibly be?

Strange pulsing signal in white noise.

2013-03-03T01:39:00.001-08:00

While attempting to capture pure white noise static a signal appeared. Some for of rhythmic pulsing tones. The source still remains a mystery to me. It seems to occur at a regular interval. Very peculiar.

Over an hour of white noise static for your viewing pleasure.

2013-03-03T01:34:00.002-08:00

Remember those old TVs that didn't turn blank/blue/black/silent when you had the antenna not tuned in to a channel?
Don't you miss that?
It was relaxing, soothing and it could help lull you to sleep. Well here is an hour of uninterrupted white noise with the reliable static to accompany it.
Your welcome!

The Walking Dead game's first episode is out

2012-04-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Episode1 - A New Day is now available on steam you can get it here. All 5 episodes are sold in a pack for $24.99

PC System Requirements

Minimum:
OS: XP Service Pack 3
Processor: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 2 GB Space Free
Video Card: ATI or NVidia card w/ 512 MB RAM (Not recommended for Intel integrated graphics)
DirectX®: Direct X 9.0c
Sound: Direct X 9.0c sound device

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 2 GB Space Free
Video Card: ATI or NVidia card w/ 1024 MB RAM (Not recommended for Intel integrated graphics)
DirectX®: Direct X 9.0c
Sound: Direct X 9.0c sound device

It also works on a Mac, but you will need a slightly better processor and more ram to get the same performance.

Prototype 2 is out, G4 has the first 15 minutes for your viewing pleasure.

2012-04-24T16:05:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Games - E3 2012 - Prototype 2

Kinect Support Coming to Skyrim

2012-04-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

Right on the tails of Bethesda adding kill cams to Skyrim in the 1.5 update, they have now announced Kinect support. Everything from managing the inventory, controlling allies and SHOUTS! Coming sometime in April?

American McGee takes on Red Riding Hood in Akaneiro: Demon Hunters

2012-04-10T13:28:00.001-07:00

Akaneiro: Demon Hunters is an upcoming game by Spicy Horse the team behind the American McGee's Alice: Madness Returns is making a game based on Red Riding Hood. Akaneiro means "angry red' in Japanese. The game finds you as Red in a forest hunting wolves with an isometric camera much like Diablo, and much like Diablo there is rumored to be some demons lurking around.

The game will be Free-to-play-hack-and-slash for PC, browser and tablets.

Netflix app for Xbox 360 gets an update

2012-04-09T09:39:00.001-07:00

Major Nelson announced a Netflix app update on his blog, new features are stated to be

Skip Forward/Skip Back allows you to move through movies quickly and between TV episodes easily. And with Kinect, just use your voice or the wave of your hand to activate this function.
Zoom function lets you enlarge letterboxed video content to full screen.
Better color contrast makes content more vivid and black levels darker.
Single sign on with cloud profile makes it easier to access your Netflix account on another Xbox, wherever you are.

The most important is most likely the third "Better color" feature where the contrast has been fixed, this has been an ongoing issue since the new metro dashboard. Somehow in that update it altered how videos are displayed and limited the color and contrast sent to your television, resulting in washed out colors and blacks that looked more grey than they should have been.

HBOGO on 360 coming for Comcast xfinity customers

2012-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

Missing the boat by a few days was xfinity allowing their customers to log into the HBOgo app on Xbox 360. It seems early next week this oversight / limitation will be lifted and Comcast customers will start getting the HBO content they are paying for on their 360 in addition to the website tablets and phones.

Major Nelson announces HBOgo for Comcast customers.

Comcast blog confirms HBOgo for Xbox live users.

Diabolical Pitch hits XBLA

2012-04-04T09:17:00.003-07:00

Diabolical Pitch formerly CodenameD has been released on Xbox Live Arcade today.

Designed by Suda 51 best known for killer7, No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned and the upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw. Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture.

It's a Kinect game where you play a Baseball pitcher in a creepy amusement park where you pitch to fight zombies and monsters.

Diabolical Pitch Xbox.com

Amnesia: The Dark Decent FREE demo and discount to insanely cheap on onlive

2012-04-04T08:51:00.001-07:00

Onlive currently has Amnesia: The Dark Decent selling for $5, you can even check it out for free.

For those of you unfamiliar with onlive it's a PC game streaming service or cloud gaming. You only need to download a super small file to play the game on their servers with HD video streaming to your desktop. That means you could be playing Amnesia within minutes without a huge download and install.

Onlive for $5 free demo