First off was the new Microsoft Home Server. This is a new software package that comes pre-installed on home server solutions from hardware manufacturers like HP. The Microsoft Home Server is a plug-and-play solution that connects to your network through a normal ethernet cable and becomes available both to all the computers and other units on your network as well as through the internet. Home Server serves two purposes; it’s a back up unit for all your computers and it’s a place to localize and share content throughout your home and make it available if you are out of your home. So who needs a Home Server? If you ask Microsoft, everyone. The product is created to address the growing need for backup, storage space and file sharing in the home environment. If you ask me I’d say anyone who has a lot of pictures, music and video on their computer and want to be able to access these files from one location rather than having to either have several copies on different computers or or using USB drives or other cumbersome media. It could also work for small businesses who are looking for a cheap and easy backup and storage solution although I think Microsoft would want them to go with a more business oriented product. Finally it will tie well in for all those of you out there who download purchase movies on-line and want to view them on your TV through your XBOX360.

Personally I wish this product had been launched about 8 months ago so I didn’t have to build my own custom backup solution on our systems at home. The rock solid plug and play capabilities and ease of use plus the expandable storage systems like the HP Home Server is a cheap and easy way of solving several problems.

Next on the list was Microsoft’s many gaming solutions. There really wasn’t much new here in terms of revolutionary innovation but we were presented with some fairly palatable updates to existing products. On the XBOX360 front there was the much talked about black XBOX360 Elite with it’s 120GB hard drive and HDMI output, the HD-DVD player that turns your gaming console into a full home entertainment system and the new pink and blue controllers that will be available in the near future. In the games department they presented two new titles: Viva Piñata: Party Animals and a multi player version of the hugely popular board game Scene It! Both of these offerings are targeted toward the family market and from what I saw I’d say they are pretty strong.

Viva Piñata: Party Animals is an action/adventure version of the on-line community game Viva Piñata which will appeal to a much larger audience. Personally I found the original to be dreadfully boring and tedious but this game looks like a lot of fun. It features 40 mini-games like speed eating and races and has lots of fun little animations and quirks.

Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action is a console version of the hugely popular DVD/board game about movie trivia. It can be played by 1 – 4 people and can easily get highly competitive. All the standard Scene It! plays are included, from “find the missing piece” to “picture puzzle” to “name that movie” making it a fairly entertaining game. The only problem is that the number of players is limited to the number of controllers (so if you only have two controllers forget asking your friends to come over to play) and considering the speed at which this game can be played you wonder how long it will take before you start getting repeat questions. Nevertheless I think the XBOX360 version of this game works better than the DVD version.

On the PC gaming front the only thing that really grabbed our attention was the highly customizable Sidewinder gaming mouse. I’ll be posting a video on this one ASAP. The mouse lets you change the weight and balance, sensitivity and even glide with buttons and accessories. I’m not much of a gamer myself but I’d like to try it out as a PhotoShop mouse because I think the sensitivity options would be excellent for designers. More on that later (meaning when Microsoft gives me one to test out).

Third up: Windows Live. We all know MSN Messenger and Hotmail and some have familiarized themselves with the MySpace alternative Live Spaces. Microsoft has made the wise choice to consolidate all their on-line offerings into one package simply called Windows Live. This all-inclusive download now gives you all the Live applications at once: Messenger, Live Spaces, MSN Mail, Photo Gallery, the blogging tool Writer etc etc. It’s pretty obvious Microsoft is feeling the pinch from Google (with Picasa, Blogger, YouTube etc) and social networking sites like Facebook so they are trying to gain some ground with this block release. The idea is that you have one login that covers everything, from your Messenger list to your blog to your email to your search preferences to your photo gallery. Whether it’ll work or not is another matter all together. But for now let’s just see where it goes. The Windows Live package was released today so jump on in and try it out. I know I will.

Last but not least was a comprehensive walk through of the security features in the new Microsoft flagship Vista. I think this presentation was designed to quell some of the fears surrounding Microsoft and security and they did a pretty good job. Vista features some very advanced parental controls which allow parents to block their kids from surfing certain sites on the web, playing certain games and even sets time limits on when they can use the computer. These are all features I know my parents would have loved (and I would have hated) when I grew up and with the enormous amount of shall we say inappropriate content available out there it is important for parents to regain some control of what happens on the home computer.
In addition to the standard security features on Vista, Microsoft now offers OneCare – coined as “All-in-one security and performance for your PC”. Basically it’s a software package containing antivirus, antispyware, anti-phishing and a software firewall along with some other tools. I have to say I find it somewhat questionable that Microsoft sells a security package when many of the security problems it fixes are caused by bad program design on their end. However much of the security problems we see on the web today such as spyware and phishing can’t be blamed on Microsoft and these are problems that have to be dealt with appropriately. The yearly subscription covers 3 pcs and is in the same price range as the competitors so I guess it boils down to who you trust your computer security to. I have yet to see a comprehensive test of OneCare versus other offerings so I really can’t give you any advice other than to try it out and see what you think. For most people any antivirus software will do the trick and a router will keep most evildoers out of your private files.

Overall it was an interesting event and it shows that Microsoft is a lot more than just spreadsheets and pie-charts like some people claim.

The Amitech Homecenter 500 is a small sleek PC with impressive features:

• Intel® Core Duo T2300E
• 2 GB DDR2 RAM
• 160 GB 2.5” S-ATA hard drive
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphics
• Gigabit LAN and wi-fi (54 MB)
• Analogue TV tuner
• 4:1 memory card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS-pro)
• 4xUSB, 1xFirewire
• DVI-out, S-video out, composite out
• SP-DIF digital audio, analogue audio out
• DVD player

The small box is meant to replace all the existing hardware in your living room – from your DVD player to your PVR or VCR and to bring in all your music, home videos, photos and even the internet making the sofa your favorite place to be. The Homecenter is designed to work with Windows Vista and takes full advantage of the extensive Media Center features built into the new operating system. If you have an XBOX360 lying around it will link seamlessly with the device enabling you to spend even more time staring at your TV while the wife takes care of the family.

Product page (in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish – your choice)

If you’re a PC gamer you’ve probably heard of World in Conflict, the upcoming release from Massive Entertainment. Now Massive, in conjunction with Intel, is releasing a beta version of the game for open testing. From the website:

Massive Entertainment, Sierra and Intel invite you to join the open beta and find out what you are made of. By enlisting you will be able to exclusively experience the most intense and highly anticipated action-strategy game first hand before it hits the streets in September. Furthermore, you will actively help us to improve World in Conflict, making it this year’s ultimate RTS game.

To register and take part in the development of this highly anticipated release click here.

The evening started with a presentation by GK VanPatter of NextD on the future of design. VanPatter opened by telling everyone that he was giving a 15 minute version of a 2-hour lecture and then proceeded to crash through a PowerPoint presentation which for me was interesting for its philosophical and anthropological aspects but for the setting was sort of a misfit. I wouldn’t mind seeing the full presentation myself but I doubt the majority of the attendees were interested. After all, they were there to check out the new shiny stuff from Microsoft – not hear about how the brave new world of design requires new types of collaborative synergies and multi-disciplinary cohesion. That said, I advise anyone interested in design to check out NextD’s web site – it is a trip through a rabbit hole seldom explored and in sore need of attention. I’ll get back to that soon.

Second on the docket was Danny Riddell of Metaliq, introduced as a demonstrator of the use of Microsoft Expression software. However, the presentation became a bizarre example of the very concepts VanPatter had just talked about. Riddell was excellent but for one thing: It was not clear until far into the presentation that he was not actually demoing the software but applications built using the software. And the applications – an online live video editor called Top Banana and a GPS snowboarding tool – flashy and impressive as they were, lacked one important element: an actual use. VanPatter had been talking about the disconnect between designer, developer, client and end user. Top Banana was maybe the perfect example: An impressive application with no clear purpose. As a demo element it was excellent but the question of what the thought behind it was left a sense of confusion rather than awe. And then the application crashed.

Finally they got down to brass tax: The Expression Studio itself. Rini Gahir of Microsoft led the crowd through the major elements and their benefits both to designers and developers. The package has four elements:

• Expression Web – A code/WYSIWYG web editor to create standards-based sites. Think Adobe Dreamweaver.

• Expression Blend – An animation and layout tool to create elements, layouts and animations. Think Adobe Flash.

• Expression Design – An illustration and graphic design tool to create vector based graphics for web and desktop applications. Think a cross between Adobe Illustrator and Freehand.

• Expression Media – An asset management tool to catalogue and organize pictures, graphics, video and audio. This tool also contains the Expression Media Encoder which lets you batch process and convert images, audio and video. Think Adobe Bridge and Lightbox.

What is compelling about Microsoft Expression is the ability for the different levels of the design/development process to coexist. This is done by creating an environment where purely graphic layouts and animations automatically generate script that can be altered directly. This has often caused problems in Flash because there is an inherent disconnect between the graphical elements and the technical ActionScript. Another advantage is the impressive video streaming abilities the Silverlight plugin enables. To top it off the programs operate with vector based graphics and non-destructive effects to simplify the design process.

Considering the history of digital design and the rivalry between Mac and Microsoft, it’s not too far a stretch to say they were preaching to a pack of wolves. It didn’t take long for questions of cross-platform compatibility and new web standards to take centre stage. After all; the web animation market is dominated by Flash and there are already several major players in the web video field including Adobe (Flash Video), Microsoft (Windows Media), Apple (QuickTime) and Real (Real Player). Microsoft Expression would be introducing a new system – Silverlight – into an already saturated market. Is there really room for another browser plug-in? The answer from Microsoft was not surprisingly “yes.” Although Silverlight is not included in Windows Vista, “it will be in the next release,” Rini Gahir assured me. And don’t be surprised if it turns up in the next “critical update” if you’re already running the new OS. For those running XP, Mac or Linux boxes, the 2mb plug-ins are already available. And seeing as we are talking about Microsoft and not some unknown entity, one can expect that Silverlight will be found on almost all computers within the next few years.

Microsoft Expression is a compelling offering in a world that has been dominated by one company. The real question is if and when we should be making the transition. No doubt Flash will prevail in the market for the foreseeable future but unless you have a crystal ball or a time machine, there is no saying what will happen down the road. Should you go with Microsoft Expression or Adobe Flash? Or maybe even a combination of both? It’s a tough call and there are no clear answers. All we know is that there’s a new player on the field and that opens up new possibilities.

For another perspective check out Boris Mann’s blog

Note: AndNowYouKnow’s mother company Pink & Yellow Media has been using Macromedia (now Adobe) software for many years. To properly test out the new programs from Microsoft, we are switching to Expression Studio for a month to see if it lives up to its lofty promises. Stay tuned for updates on the progress and find out whether or not this is something you should invest in.

I remember way back when Microsoft released their first ergonomic keyboard. It looked weird and my computer nerd brothers proudly proclaimed that noone with any skills would ever use these things. And then my mom bought one for her home office. Needless to say we were all sold on the concept once we got past the geek factor.

Now, years later, Microsoft is releasing their Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000. It’s pretty much a wireless version of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and the Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 in one package (which according to my calculations is 10,000 and not 7000. But I digress).

In their own words:

With the average consumer spending approximately six hours per day on their computer, Microsoft responded to the growing need for comfortable peripherals with its new desktop that makes optimal use of the ergonomic designs of the bestselling wired keyboard

The desktop (yes, we are a bit confused about the name too: It really is just a keyboard and a mouse – no desk included) features 2.4GHz wireless technology which allows you to operate your computer from 30 feet away (binoculars not included), the crazy-but-comfortable “Gull Wing” design for less strain on your wrists, a huge palm rest and the comfort and precision of the laser mouse.

The “desktop” is set to hit stores mid August at a price of $149.95 (Canadian)

Stay tuned for our hands-on test.

We tested the first UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) from Sony – the Sony Vaio UX Mobile Computer – a few months ago. The 1.6lb Vista powered computer comes fully equipped with an Intel Centrino Duo processor, 40gb harddrive, Blue Tooth, Wi-Fi and touch screen not to mention a docking station and a slide out keyboard.

Although the UMPC is a great concept it is still far from where it needs to be to contend with laptops and pdas. Primarily we found the battery life to be far too short and the screen much too small to be used. The pre-installed Norton software caused massive problems because the innitial spalsh page was too large for the screen and all the active buttons were hidden beneath the bottom end. Therefore it was impossible to do anything and we finally had to attach the PC to an external monitor to get past the page. The same happened with numerous other programs. The zoom feature is a great idea but again is not working satisfactory and lead to a lot of swearing.

Needless to say we think you should wait before buying one of these things unless you have a lot of money to spend or you absolutely have to have the newest gadget. The UMPC market is in it’s infancy and we can expect many much better versions of this type of computer to come out in the coming months and years. So try to restrain yourself and go spend those $2500 on an ultraportable laptop instead.

Now Toshiba has gotten in on the deal. Their recently launched LapJacks are vinyl stickers customized to cover that dullest of areas of your laptop and make it pretty / exciting / dorky / the property of a company. You can also get LapJacks to fit your cell phone or a pile of other electronic devices.

All you have to do is pick one of the hundreds of ready-made graphics or upload a photo, logo or other artwork and you’re good to go.

Toshiba was not the first one out of the gates with this product though. Both Schtickers ,  SkinIt and Pimp My Laptop already provide you with everything you need to make your electronic devices as tacky as possible. We suggest garish tie-dye patterns, expletives, questionable sexual content or bad family photos not to mention rivaling PC manufacturer logos.

A LapJacks runs for £14.99 (about $31.50 Canadian) plus shipping.

British Columbia is home to 138 video game companies employing close to 3,000 people, generating $300 million in revenues and boasts presence from 4 out of the 5 major global publishers. In other words, Vancouver has become a major hub for the gaming industry. This week the best and brightest of Vancouver’s gaming community met at the Sheraton Wall Centre for the Vancouver International Game Summit to share ideas, learn from each other and engage in some friendly poaching. More on that last one later.

A major part of the event was New Media BC ’s announcement of the formation of a “task force to keep the Province a world leader in digital entertainment.” Their goal is to “maintain the momentum the province has created and to keep the province a world leader in digital entertainment” – in other words make sure the past 20 years of success continues for another 20 years. And based on what the people at the summit told me, this doesn’t seem to be too lofty a goal. After all, who wouldn’t want to live and work in Vancouver?

But enough with the formalities. What I wanted to know was what it’s like to work in the gaming industry in Vancouver. Driving past the enormous Electronic Arts campus in Burnaby and passing the Radical building on the SkyTrain on my way downtown I’ve always been curious about what goes on on the inside. So while the nerd herd game designers assembled to talk about multi-threading advanced design techniques and applying agile methodologies to game development, I talked to those left outside to tend the booths.

First up were two game balancers there to demo Company of Heroes and Dawn of War: Dark Crusade – two strategy games for PC with roots in classics such as Command & Concor and WarCraft. The games themselves were impressive enough but I found their jobs more interesting. As a game balancer you play the game to find inconsistencies and work flow problems in the both the designs, story and gaming itself. The balancers then take their findings to the designers and propose solutions and workarounds to make the overall gaming experience more attractive to you and me. Like one of them told me: “Designers work out a lot of things on paper, but sometimes when they are implemented they don’t play out exactly as they had envisioned so we make sure that all the elements of the game play out as envisioned and if they don’t we discuss with them and help either work out a new design or alter the existing design or even just alter the existing mechanics so that it does fit with the overall design vision.” In short they play games over and over, get to impact the end result and get paid for it – every gamehead’s wet dream!

Further down the line was a stand that prominently spelled out Technicolor . A film buff myself I was puzzled to find a company largely known for providing colour to motion pictures at a game summit. But after talking to their people it made a lot more sense. Turns out Technicolor has a gaming division (albeit located in Burbank, CA but still) and a large visual design studio in Vancouver, BC. The woman at the booth (whose last name was Reynolds and first name I am embarrassed to say I couldn’t quite make out) told me that with the advances in gaming and the introduction of CG in movies there is more and more crossover between the two genres. As a result people are now more free to work in both fields as opposed to confining themselves to one creative outlet. Reynolds herself moved from Technicolor’s Toronto office to Vancouver to be a part of the booming visual effects industry out here on the West Coast. Her story was reiterated at the Art Institute of Vancouver ‘s booth where they proudly displayed the work of a visual effects student saying that “even though this student focuses on visual effects for movies his skills can just as easily be implemented in the creation of games.” Watching the reel I couldn’t agree more.

Rockstar had a stand prominently featuring the Vancouver-made game Bully . One of the designers Jacob whose name and accent gave away his Danish origins talked enthusiastically about the merits of the game. “It’s a whole new genre I would say. Yes, it’s built on the GTA engine but the game is completely different. No blood and more realistic game play. You even have to go to classes if you want to win.” On the appeal of the game he said that everyone likes it because we have all gone to school at some point in our lives and we all had someone we hated there. Looking around the booth I saw countless paraphernalia promoting the fictional school Bully takes place in Bullworth High. A cricket bat, t-shirts, hats, even stickers and team banners. As I lingered at their stand I noticed that the entire Rockstar had a rapport normally only seen in a group of old friends.

Finally I walked up to a stand with some breathtaking artwork and a loop of what looked like a game stuck between Gears of War and Lara Croft. The guy told me it was the new version of Turoc – currently in production at Propaganda Games in Vancouver under the umbrella of Disney Interactive Studios . Noticing his title of recruiter I asked him why he was really here. The answer was quite interesting: Apparently most of these conventions and summits are like hunting grounds where different companies scope out and try to catch the best talent from their rivals. As one attendee told me: “Almost everyone in Vancouver at some point or other worked for EA . Then they either broke out and made a new company or they joined an earlier break out. That’s just the way it goes here.” And although at this particular event most of the attendees were higher-level people and not designers it was still important to be there to make your presence felt. I guess in such a competitive environment it is important to make it clear you are still in the game.

The top 10 most used passwords:

1. password
2. 123456
3. qwerty
4. abc123
5. letmein
6. monkey
7. myspace1
8. password1
9. blink182
10. your own first name

Needless to say, if your password is one of these it will take hackers and pretty much anyone else mere seconds to access your private data and chances are your MySpace account will soon contain images of animals engaged in interesting activities and lenthy diatribes about natural viagra and cheap printer cartriges.  If you are so lazy you want to use your own name as a password, at least spell it backwards.

From PC Magazine via EPN.dk

The release includes King’s Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest and Leisure Suit Larry.  The collections contain all the original games except for a couple of Larry titles – namely the last game Love for Sail which included some very adult hidden content and the language track on Shape Up or Slip Out (for the same reason).

Until now the only way of playing these old games was on old computers or through emulator software.  As the computers got more advanced the outdated programming caused catastrophic failures in the games causing desperation and despair in the hundreds of fans.  The new releases are designed to run on all new systems which means we can once again start torturing the English language with gramatically horrendous sentences like “look pidgenhole”, “open door” and “talk woman”.

Space Quest 2 hint: The secret word is just that – “word”.