Need to wipe all data from your hard drive(s) really, really quickly? Then look no further than the Data Killer, a beast that can delete all data from magnetic media in less time that it takes you to blink your eyes.
When Your Pinterest Addiction Goes Too Far: Pinsanity [Video]
“T-ray” technique means ultra-fast wireless
Wireless connections over an ultra high frequency range could mean data transfers at up to 20 times current speeds.
Newly published research into the “T-ray” band shows there could be huge potential for the frequencies, which is particularly intriguing as they are currently unregulated by broadcasting authorities.
The T in the name stands for terahertz, though the band is generally considered to cover everything from 300 GHz to 3THz. In practice, it’s the frequency range between microwave and infra-red.
Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology report achieving speeds of 3Gbps over the 542GHz frequency, double the figures achieved in a previous public demo. (To put that into context, it’s the equivalent of transferring the entire contents of a Blu-ray disc in just over a minute.) They say that while practical issues will be a limit, on paper a speed of 100Gbps would be possible.
To date the T-ray frequencies have mainly been used for imaging that works in a similar way to X-rays, but causes less physical damage. Using the frequencies for data transmission has previously proved unviable not just because of cost, but because the equipment would be too bulky and require too much power for practical use, particularly in mobile devices.
The key to the Tokyo project is the use of a resonant tunnelling diode (pictured: credit IET). The BBC explains that such diodes are unusual because “the voltage they produce can sometimes go down as current is increased.” The result is that the electrons that carry information can be passed through extremely quickly in a tiny diode, as small as one square millimeter.
As T-rays only have a range of about 10 meters, they certainly aren’t going to be a substitute for mobile broadband. If they ever are adapted for consumer use, the chances are they’d only ever find a market if and when existing wi-fi technology proves inadequate.
If Diablo III Were a Girl [Video]
New Prometheus Promo Clip: Quiet Eye [Video]
Another day, another Prometheus promo clip.
In front of the quiet, unblinking eye of a camera lens, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw makes her case to lead a mission that will answer our greatest questions and trigger our ultimate fears.
[Via tdwg]
Toonami Returns on May 26, 2012
When you go to Adult Swim’s website, this little graphic pops up for a few seconds.
Could it really be? I wouldn’t expect Cartoon Network to make any formal announcements. I suspect their viral strategy is to keep us waiting, and wanting, until next Saturday.
What series would you like to see aired on Toonami?
Tags: Adult Swim, anime, cartoon network, Toonami
Diablo 3 Server Maintenance Sparks Gamer Rage
Rage knows a new name, and this name is Diablo3!
The internet was all a buzz on the hotly anticipated Diablo 3 release on Tuesday. Retailers had midnight launches and people booked days off work to dive into the latest installment of the click and shoot dungeon crawler that defined a genre.
And then Darkness Fell. To be fair, they said it would. Still, I don’t think they predicted this.
Instantly there were issues with the login, then those who were lucky enough to get in were bumped offline with a random error number. Internet Rage was instant and fierce. The forums were flooded with comments that ranged from weak grasping hopes of “Why? Why is this happening” to outright spewing of hate.
North American servers were up for a few hours, but late night on the 15th, they were shunted to emergency server maintenance which just fueled the hate. Players were teased with what they thought was a rough start only to be knocked down again.
But where does this hate really come from? Oh sure, piles of people now own this game that cannot be played and that seems like the obvious answer. But a little below the surface the problem is that this game cannot be played in SINGLE PLAYER mode without being connected to the Battle.net servers.
I am of two minds on this particular choice of Blizzard/Activision. I can see why they wanted authentication online. Game piracy is rampant, and this gives the biggest roadblock to trying to break this game. If you don’t log into Battle.Net then it doesn’t work.
But this is the other side and where the core of the real rage stems from. Why can’t I play single player mode? Authentication is a valid reason to have the game online. But when I have 15gb of game on my computer right now, why exactly do I have to be connected to their servers to play?
When the game loads, it already authenticates and brings up my character list. That works. This is fantastic. I can play on ANY computer that Diablo3 is installed on. My characters are always there. But that is where it should end. If I am not playing multiplayer, I should still be able to access the game to play my toons all by myself. But that is not how it works here. It’s all on their servers.
If Multiplayer was down but you could still solo, this rage would not exists. Well, maybe not as bad.
So for me, the game is on ice until a definitive answer is given on the state of the servers. I am getting kicked out every 5 minutes.
Are you still fighting with the servers? Or are you waiting too?
Girls in Hot Pants and Blood: An Interview with a Roller Derby Girl
A few weeks ago I went to what is called a “bout” of the Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) in Melbourne, Australia. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. However, after watching the two games played, I became a total fanboy for the sport. It’s fast-paced, it can get wildly violent and it’s completely unique.
For those who aren’t too familiar with the concept (or if you haven’t seen Whip It), here’s a clip from when two of the top teams in the VRDL – Dead Ringer Rosies and Toxic Avengers – were featured on Weekend Today a few years ago:
Just like many of the passions we geeks covet, Roller Derby is so incredibly cool but has somehow managed to ride under the radar – and with awesome geek names like Speedy Wasabi and Candy Rocks, not to mention the bit of cosplay that fans participate in, I don’t hesitate to call this awesome game a geeky sport.
Following is an interview with “Glam Turismo” – prospective Victorian Roller Derby Girl just one assessment away from jumping onto the track!
How did you get into the VRDL?
I found VRDL after watching Whip It, I can’t lie. I had heard VRDL was the most intense and challenging fitness-wise. I had also heard about their amazing coaching techniques.
Do you like being considered a VRDL geek?
Yes! Everyone becomes a Derby Geek when they start training with us! The community is amazing and with all the work we put into our bouts, it certainly consumes time pretty quick. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What kind of training does it require to become a VRDL player?
First, I had to go through a two-day assessment, held over two weekends, in order to be ‘accepted’ into VRDL.
Once you’re a member, each level trains 3 times a week. Home Teams and our All Stars travel team have additional sessions to hone in on strategies and new techniques.
How does someone go about finding a roller derby league to participate in?
The best thing to do would be to search “roller derby league” on the internet with your town name. Check out www.victorianrollerderby.com for those in Victoria.
What makes VRDL different from other leagues in Australia?
VRDL were one of the first leagues in Australia, and won the last Great Southern Slam, which is the biggest tournament through Australia and NZ.
We are also the first league to send a Travel Team internationally. We competed in the Dust Devil Tournament in Tucson Arizona in April 2012.
How do you think VRDL measures up to global leagues?
Considering VRDL was founded in 2006, we’re doing quite well. But we are always looking to other leagues around the world for new drills, strategies and inspiration! Globally we’re definitely a hot contender.
Your play name is Glam Turismo – what’s with the names? Do you choose them yourselves or does the team give it to you?
We make up our own names when we take on roller derby. It is kinda like a wrestling name – it’s almost a persona. In VRDL we have: Donna Kebab, Splatterpuss, Calamity Maim, Rocky Rogue, Berzerker, the list goes on!
What’s the most appealing part of the game to you?
Jamming. Jammers are the players who have to try and push their way through the pack. Jammers have to be SO agile and quick thinking. I really hope one day I can be agile and lean enough to get through the pack and score big points!
What is the worst part of the game?
Hmm, probably the injuries! It happens, it is a full contact sport, so it happens – but not as often as you’d think.
Are you worried about getting injured seriously?
When I went for my first ‘Assessment’ from Bronze (level 1 skater) to Silver (level 2 skater), I twisted my ankle and was out for at least 4 weeks. Injuries suck, but it’s about looking after yourself and getting back on track, literally!
It doesn’t seem like a very huge sport – do you think it’s only going to grow or is its popularity on the decline?
Roller Derby is WAY bigger than people think! VRDL have thousands of people coming to their games!
I think it will continue to grow so long as we treat it as a sport, not a novelty. Novelties wear off. Derby is for life!
Are the girls as mean off the court as they appear to be on the track?
I love all of them! Each and every one of the women, in roller derby in general, is amazing.
These are strong, intelligent, talented women that we skate with. Not to mention the NSO’s (Non-Skating Officials) and Refs.
When it’s time to play, we forget who we are and you play for your team. But once you’re off the track, the teams dissolve and there’s no hard feelings – we all celebrate together.
What do you think of the movie Whip It – unrealistic or a good representation of Roller Derby girls?
To be honest, I’m a big Drew Barrymore fan. I loved her adaptions of Charlie’s Angels and all her comedy films.
I loved Whip It. It was outrageous and very OTT.
But the essence was right. We really LOVE Derby with all our hearts, and if anyone tries to take it away…. BAM! *wink*
Whip It definitely gave the sport a boost. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all.
I noticed while watching that they don’t actually seem to “whip it” like in the movie to zoom by really fast. How come?
We do sometimes, but it may not be as ‘grand’ as in the film. We use small whips. The Jammer may grab onto a teammate’s hips to propel herself forward, or a teammate might offer her arm to whip her through the pack.
In the film, they made all the skaters spread out to get good camera angles, in real derby we stay close, so we don’t let that Jammer through!
Do you think it should be included as an Olympic sport? Why or why not?
Absolutely! It would be THE most popular sport. Hands down. Maybe I’m biased?
It is a sport. We don’t fake it, we play to win, we train hard, and the women who compete are athletes in every sense of the word.
The next VRDL bout is on Saturday 19th May 2012 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Get tickets here (and let me know!) if you’re interested in going!