Nation Pigeon

I am board of all the same desktop environments, they all look the same. They all have the same flat 2D display. since the release of Vista they have all gone flashy and shiny, that’s great but it is still the same as the old ‘95 desktop, it has a menu at the bottom and flat 2D windows. Yes there are some desktops that have some sort of 3D or 2.5D display but these are all still fundamental the same thing.

What I am trying to say is that we need to have a good long look at the current desktop and see what we can do to make it new and exciting. I shall prove my point with these images.

I mean they are all the same, I know Bump Top is different but its still not that different to what we have at the moment.

Basicly I’m looking for something completely different, yet simple to use and has an innovative user interface.

More Information and references

Windows 3.1x XFCE 4.0 Windows 98 Windows XP GNOME Windows Vista KDE Windows 7

Pete Computing, Information, Programming 3D Programming, Linux, modeling, theme, Windows XP

How to get Northen Strike to work.
-Fresh install of 2142
-1.25 Patch
-Nothern Strike
-1.40 Patch
-1.50 Patch

Hope this helps, it worked for me.

Pete Computing, Games, Information game

If you want to make your JScrollPane return to the top once you have enter some text, try this:

myTextArea.setCaretPosition( 0 )

It places the curser back to zero and in turn makes the JScrollPane go back to the top.
Worked for me, hope this helps someone.

Pete Information, MMORPG Dev, Pigeons, Programming Java, Programming

Okay so after a very long time here is a MMORPG Codename Starquest Update.  This only contains some basic images, which have been created useing the IrrLicht engine and varius other applications such as 3D Studios Max, Blender, Earth Sculptor and Photoshop.

Below shows the lightmapping test on a room mesh.

The lighting was created useing irrEdit, it generates the light effect and creates an image to be placed over the mesh.  There are other lighting effects called Per Pixel Lighting and this is created dynamicly by the application.  Below is an example of such effect.

I have also be anble to crate an appliacation that uses 3D Sound, the engine is irrKlang, this means that depending on where you are, or in this case the camera, in the 3D world it will change the position of the sound source.  I have also created a nice 3D landscape useing Earth Sculptor, a simple to use 3D Landscape application.

These landscapes have been created with a skydome, which is an image that you can see in the sky and will allways see no matter where you are located in the 3D world.

So this is a nice update for the development of Codename Starquest.  I will continue on creating and developing, so we shall see what happens.  The plan is to create a small working First Person game, then third person.  I will update you when this happens if at all ^_^

Pete out.

Pete Arty Things, MMORPG Dev, Programming 3D Programming, game dev, Programming

This artical will show you how too copy a DVD. you will require a blank DVD, DVD Shrink to rip the DVD data to your hard drive and imgBurn to burn the data to a blank DVD.

Step One

Open DVD Shrink and click on “Open Disc” select the drive with the DVD in and click “ok“.

Step Two

Click on the “BackUp!” button this will open up a window like the one below.  Change the “Select backup target:” drop down list to “ISO Image File“.  Then select a place for the ISO to be created, by default it is saved in the your root of your main drive “C:/”.  Then Click “ok”

Step Three

Once the data has been decrypted load up imgBurn.  On the main screen click on “Write image file to disc“ then select the ISO that you created useing DVD Shrink.

Hope this helps, any problems comment below.

Pete Computing, Information Copy DVD, DVD

If you only have one account on your Windows XP computer which does not have a password and it is asking you to “select” the account. It is possible to bypass this pointless selection by running this command in run (Start->Run or Windows Key and ‘R’)

control userpasswords2

Then un-check “User must enter a user name and password to use this computer”

That should solve your problem, let me know if this helps or not.

Pete Computing login, Windows XP

Now updated site, I have updated wordpress nice and shiny new. I have also changed the theme which I like but not really like and I had to edit the header to fit in my nationpigeon banner (Which still has the white lines >_<) which loads slow and annoying, but this will have to do for now, so untill I get around to making my own design this one will have to be it.

The old design has been there since the start of the site, which is about a year and five months now ^_^

Pete Pigeons, Web lazy, nation pigeon, site, theme, update

I am attempting to create the chaos gate from the anime .hack //SIGN, for those of you who don’t know what it is.  A chaos gate is “a sort of transfer device that takes us from one place to another.” — Lord Orca —within The World (a MMORPG) Here’s a picture of the chaos gate from .hack //SIGN;

And a video,

I will show you what I end up making soon(ish)

Pete Anime, MMORPG Dev, Random Useless items of interest .hack//SIGN, Anime, chaos gate, modeling, Programming

Merry Christmass check out my new video ^_^

I created it with random video clips and my new favorite christmas song.

Pete Films, Random Useless items of interest Anime, christmas, tachikoma, video, youtube

I finaly found it after sending an e-mail to ITV.  I found the music that they used on thier movies advert.  I think this is the bestest version ever Listen for your self Jingle Bells sang by Barbara Streisand.

Merry Christmas Every One!

Ho Ho Ho ( He He He)

Pete Music, Random Useless items of interest christmas, video, youtube

If somehow you have broken the APT package handling utility and you get this error:

ed@niobe:~$ sudo apt-get install xchat
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

Then when you run  ‘dpkg –configure -a’ you get this error:

ed@niobe:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Processing triggers for libc6 ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
dpkg: ../../src/packages.c:221: process_queue: Assertion `dependtry <= 4' failed.
Aborted

This is how I fixed it.

I went to the Synaptic package manager -> Settings -> Preferences -> File -> Delete cached packaged files

Then Edit -> Fix Broken packages

Hope this helps someone ^_^

Pete Linux fix, Linux, Ubuntu

Here is a list of my top 5 films, well from what I can think of at the moment.

1. The Matrix Reloaded (Then The Matrix, Then The Matrix Revolutions)

2.  Let Li’s Fearless

3. Kill Bill Volume 1 + 2 (First volume better than second)

4. Event Horizon

5. Star Wars Episode I (Then  III)

Pete Films, Random Useless items of interest

My top five most used applications used in Windows XP

1. Firefox

2. (was) itunes – now Songbird

3. Xfire

4.  DVD Shrink

5.  Img Burn

Pete Computing, Random Useless items of interest

As its name implies, the session layer establishes, manages and terminates sessions between two communicating hosts. The session layer provides its services to the presentation layer. It also synchronizes dialogue between the two hosts’ presentation layers and manages their data exchange. In addition to handling session regulation, the session layer offers provisions for efficient data transfer, class of service, and exception reporting of session layer, presentation layer and application layer problems.

Cisco Networking Academy Program CCNA 1 and 2 Companion Guide Revised Third Edition, 2005, p.90

Basically the session layer creates a connection with another computer and manages the connection, and then ends the connection. It also helps the presentation layer by synchronizing and managing the data between the two computers. It also reports exceptions that might happen in the session layer, presentation layer and application layer.

Examples

Here are some examples of session layer protocols:

• Network File System (NFS)
• X-Window System
• Apple Talk Session Protocol (ASP)

Bibliography

Cisco Systems, Cisco Networking Academy Program CCNA 1 and 2 Companion Guide Revised Third Edition, Cisco Press, 2005

External Hyperlinks

• Network File System (NFS))
• X Window System
• Apple Talk

Pete Computing, Information OSI, OSI Layer 5 Session, Session Layer

If you have pre-orderd left 4 dead you can be playing the l4d demo at 3pm today! [UK time or 7am PST]
Only :

Untill we get to play it!!!

But if you havent pre-orderd it yet you get to play the demo on November 11 @ 03:00pm. or you can play the game on November 18 @ 08:00pm.

Pete Games

The OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator Controller the first neural interface made for games, and for only £97.  This is great you will be able to walk, shot and play games just by thinking about it.  Although I think from what I have read around the place it takes a little getting used to, but once that is done its great.  Think of all the things that you can do with it.  I wonder what it will be like in 3 years I hope they catch on!

Heres a clicky for OCUK – www.overclockers.co.uk

A nice little review for the product – techreport.com

Pete Computing

Ubuntu 8.10 beta is out, if you can wait for the final release then download the 8.10 beta now!

I’ll be updating mine. If you already have Ubuntu installed and you want to upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04, press Alt+F2 and type in “update-manager -d”. Update Manager should open up and tell you: New distribution release ‘8.10′ is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

Pete Linux Linux, Ubuntu

Set up and working on 6 Sep 2007 on Laptop ubuntu 7.04.  With these files;

eciadsl-usermode_0.12-1_i386.deb
pppoe_3.5-4ubuntu1_i386.deb <- Not sure if it did need this one, but its all okay

Config – sudo eciadsl-config-tk

User: pete.maynard@btbroadband.com
Password : Normal BT
VPI: 0
VCI: 38

DNS: UK..British Telecom
Modem: BT Voyager 105
Chipset: GS7470

VID1: 1690 – Defult
VID2: 1690 – Defult
PID1: 0215 – Defult
PID2: 0215 – Defult
ALT synch: 0 – Defult
ALT pppoeci: 0 – Defult

Bin file: gs7470_sybch19.bn
pppmode: VCM_RFC2364

Use DHCP: Not selected
Use Static IP: Not selected

Useful Commands

Used to start the Modem and connect it to internet:
sudo /usr/bin/eciadsl-start
sudo /usr/bin/eciadsl-doctor <- Sorta like a debug

Used to configure:

sudo eciadsl-config-tk
sudo eciadsl-config-text < Sorta like a debug

links
http://eciadsl.flashtux.org/index.php
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsbAdslModem

Download used files and notes

-Pete, to future Pete

P.S I found this note and thought “hey this could be useful for someone”

Pete Computing, Linux, Notes Linux, set-up, Ubuntu

A variable is data that is stored in the computers memory. A variable can be a number (Integar, Float) or just one letter or number (Char) or it can be a string of letters or number (String) in some programming languages like Java and C/C++ you need to declare and initialize the variable, this means that you have to say what type it is and what it is called.  With some scripting languages like Python and PHP you don’t have to declare them which means that you don’t have to say what type they are you just give them an name.

How to declare and initialize in Java:

int foo;

foo = 15;

String foo1;

foo1 = “String”;

How to declare and initialize in Python:

foo = 15

foo1 = “String”

This is a very basic introduction, hope this has helped someone.

Tracking GIR!

Pete Computing, Information, PHP, Programming, PyGame Programming

Finally after all this time sky[UK] will be airing the last three episode’s of Avatar: The Last Air bender.  We in the UK can finally watch the new and last Avatar!  We have waited a year since they aired book3, see post, which was great and now finally they have got around to airing the last episode’s!  Make sure that you set a reminder or even better recoded it!  I have been able to not see many spoilers but I still know some

I’m not to sure on the exact date but it’s coming I saw an advert!

MOMO!

Pete Anime, TV

I have a nice idea for an update on this site, I will create a nice new layout and separate the site into three or four categories e.g Anime, How Too’s/Tutorials, Random I will hopefully be drawing and colouring some of the design my self.  If there is anything that you might want on the site please comment below.

Operators rule, they can do everything … well almost ^_^

Pete Web

Thanks to iTunes nice play count feature I will now bring you my top ten most listened to music.

X. Title (play count) – Description

10. I’ve Been Waiting (11) – Scrubs Season 3

9. Sweet Home Alabama (11)

8. Sweet Child O’ Mine (11)

7. Woman Can Drive (11) – The Matrix Revolutions must buy

6. Bittersweet_Romance (14) – Some Midi from Steve I think its from final fantasy I’m not even sure why this is in at six but anyway on to five

5. Halo 2 Theme (Piano) (14)

4. Sweet Cherry Pie (21)

3. loituma (45) – Yep that’s right I downloaded it

2. GOD KNOWS (61) – From Suzumiya Haruhi

And in at number one is:

1.  Hare Hare Yukai (67) – Again from Suzumiya Haruhi, this song rules! now watch the dance.

Pete Music, Random Useless items of interest

I will show you how to RIP a DVD to your computer and convert it to AVI format, then you will be able to:

• 1) Edit it
• 2) Play it from your Hard drive.

There are two versions one fast and simple and one slower and in more detail.

Software you will need all free:
DVD Shrink [link]
Any Video Converter [link]
VLC Media Player [link]

Fast Simple

1. Re-Author using DVD Shrink – This will create .vob output, can be played with VLC Media Player

2. Use Any Video Converter  to convert to .AVI or .WMV – Can be edited with video editing tools

More Detail

Once you have DVD Shrink installed you need to use DVD Shrink to copy the DVD to your hard drive and then re-author it, what this does is it will remove the menus and other options from the DVD so that you just have the film, if that’s what you want.

Step one Open DVD Shrink and then click on open disk, select your disk.  It will then Analyse the disk and come up with the image below.

Now click on re-author and drag the main part of the film to the menu on the left and then click on back up, it will then rip the DVD to your hard drive.

Wait untill it’s finished encoding.

Once it has finished copying to your hard drive you can leave the ripped DVD in .vob and play it with VLC media player.  Or if you want to edit the video with say Windows Movie Maker then you will need to convert it into a usable format. To do this open up Any Video Converter and click on add video and then chose an your required settings using the profile (1) e.g .dvi or .wmv, then click on encode and your done, it may take a while depending on the speed of your computer and the size of the file.

Hope this has helped someone.

Pete Computing AVI, Copy DVD, DVD, Free

This post will have all the information about the Python based RTS that I am about to start to develop with the help of everyone in Nation Pigeon forum. It will be written with python as the main language and then extra modules expected to be used will be PyGame, twisted and possible PyOpenGL.

This post will have all the information that I have used to create the game, this will include all the tutorials to learn python and the the example and testing code. Basically it will be a tutorial on how to create a python based RTS, or at the least an introduction into python and gaming.

The has to be playable on all platforms and open source! For more information check out the forum.

What is an RTS?

What is Python?

First Update 9th June 2008

I have had a play around with PyGame and this is what I have been able to do. PyGame Mess One these where made by taking bits from the example code, line by line chimp and other PyGame games. erm I created them along time ago so I can’t really remember where I got the code from.

Well the next post will have something more interesting and useful that’s a promise!

More coming in the next week [SORRY PROJECT ABANDOND]

Pete Programming game dev, PyGame, Python, RTS

I have had a play around with PyGame and this is what I have been able to do. PyGame Mess One these where made by taking bits from the example code, line by line chimp and other PyGame games. erm I created them along time ago so I can’t really remember where I got the code from.

Well the next post will have something more interesting and useful that’s a promise!

Pete Computing, MMORPG Dev, PyGame Programming, PyGame, Python