Hey, i'm planning to try this thing called 'Brainflex' and was wondering if anyone know anything about this.
content from external source:
Brain Flex is an experimental (and free) composition of brain wave frequencies designed to perform the following:
If you are in a stuck, negative or unproductive state it can lead you someplace else.
If you are already feeling good, it can make you feel even better.
If you’d just like to exercise your mind, running it through a series of state changes by altering its external stimulation in unpredictable ways, it can do this too.
for further details chk dis link
Here's the link: www.grasshopper.com...
Has anyone tried this before? It seems it has some postive advantages. I'm just wondering if there's any negative side effects to this. Any advice on this brain training or others would be nice, thanks...
Showing posts with label Tech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tech. Show all posts
Friday, September 7, 2007
Windows Vista SP1 vs. Windows XP SP3
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 will have close release dates in 2008. And in this context, with the proximity of the refreshes for Vista and XP, Microsoft of course has chosen to emphasize Vista SP1 while pushing XP SP3 to the background. This is undoubtedly the right move for the Redmond company, although it could turn up to prove quite a gambit, in terms of prioritizing its latest Windows platform over the ubiquitous XP operating system. But what is the right strategy for Windows users? The choices are obvious. Either stick with Windows XP, wait for the third service pack and ride the operating system for all it’s got until Windows 7 (Seven), Vista's successor will drop in 2010, or switch to Microsoft's latest platform.
Microsoft revealed that in the first six months of Vista availability, from the end of January and until the beginning of August, it shipped 60 million licenses. Shipped does by no means equal sold, but the two concepts are bound to become synonymous at a certain point. According to statistics from Market Share by Net Applications, Windows Vista accounted for 6.26% of the operating system market at the end of August. Internet metrics company OneStat delivered a different perspective and stated that the global usage share of Vista was just 3.23% in July. These statistics leave approximately from 80% of XP users (according to Market Share) hanging in the balance between switching to Vista for the sake of SP1, or hold in tight with XP until SP3 and beyond, waiting for Windows 7.
Microsoft currently plans to make Vista SP1 available in the first quarter of 2008 and although the company has not confirmed the actual period, users should expect the refresh after Windows Server 2008 will be released to manufacturing and even launched at the end of February in the coming year. Windows XP SP3 is scheduled to drop after Vista SP1 in the first half of 2008 and will be the last service pack introduced for the operating system launched at the end of 2001. Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are valid options for the vast majority of Windows users.
As far as home users are concerned the issue of choosing between the two service packs, and ultimately between Vista and XP is based on personal sentiments. Microsoft's Wow has failed to convince the mass of XP users to migrate to Vista. In this regard Vista SP1 does provide a strong incentive, but will it be sufficient to dislodge an operating system that has had almost six years to dig in its roots? Additionally, the timing of XP SP3 could not be worse for Vista adoption and it will reverberate and impact the uptake of the company's latest operating system. But the bottom line is that SP3 will in no manner be a repeat of SP2 delivered in 2004. XP SP3 will bring no new functionality to the table, according to the latest reports, it will not even deliver Internet Explorer 7. End-users that want a Windows evolution will have to move to Vista or stick it out until 2010. But three years is an awful lot of time...
When it comes down to corporate users, Microsoft, through the voice of Brandon LeBlanc, suggested that: "Organizations do not need to wait for SP1 to deploy Windows Vista; they are encouraged to begin their Windows Vista evaluation and deployment now. Organizations currently evaluating and deploying Windows Vista should continue their evaluation, pilot programs, and deployment on the initial ("Gold") Windows Vista release. Organizations just starting to evaluate Windows Vista should plan a pilot program. Organizations waiting for Windows Vista SP1 should start their compatibility testing on the gold release of Windows Vista now, and then begin their evaluation and pilot programs on the release candidate of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released."
Analyst firm Gartner seems to agree with Microsoft on the issue of migrating to Vista ahead of SP1. Michael A. Silver, Gartner Research VP, revealed that Vista SP1 is important in the context of corporate environments, but that it will not deliver the same impact as former Windows service packs. Silver associated the loss of SP relevance as an immediate result of the infrastructure built with Windows Update, Microsoft Update and Automatic Update.
"Many organizations wait until the first SP ships before they test and plan deployment of a client operating system. Furthermore, many organizations have highly complex PC environments and would not be ready to deploy Vista before 2H08, so SP1 will not be in the critical path for them. However, there are some advantages to skipping the release to manufacturing (RTM) version and adopting SP1. The biggest is that Microsoft will only support the prior SP for 12 to 24 months after the next SP ships (in this case, 24 months). So if SP1 ships in 1Q08, the original Vista release (which would be SP0) will only be supported (with security patches, for example) until 1Q10. Another advantage: Users who deploy SP1 to begin with eliminate the need to test and support an extra service level," Silver explained.
Migrating to Windows Vista ahead of SP1 means also planning and deploying the service pack once it becomes available. This of course translates to extra costs. However, by pushing Vista deployment to late 2008, corporate users can bundle the two into a single deployment process. Organizations will have to manage almost another year without Vista and avoid deploying SP3 for XP, in order to move directly to Windows Vista SP1. There is also the possibility of waiting until Windows 7, but such a scenario implies that Vista's successor will be deployed no earlier than 2011. Not really an option.
Either way Silver offered the following advices: "organizations that expect to be running any XP in mid-2010 should plan to test and deploy SP3. It should be significantly less work than testing and deploying SP2. Organizations should integrate SP1 into their testing, piloting and deployment plans, but they should not significantly delay Windows Vista deployment on new PCs by waiting for SP1. If shifting a PC deployment a few weeks would allow deployment of Vista, do it, but don't bring in new PCs on Windows XP instead — it will be easier to upgrade a Vista PC to SP1 than an XP PC to Vista. If shifting a PC deployment a few weeks would allow deployment of SP1, do it."
Microsoft revealed that in the first six months of Vista availability, from the end of January and until the beginning of August, it shipped 60 million licenses. Shipped does by no means equal sold, but the two concepts are bound to become synonymous at a certain point. According to statistics from Market Share by Net Applications, Windows Vista accounted for 6.26% of the operating system market at the end of August. Internet metrics company OneStat delivered a different perspective and stated that the global usage share of Vista was just 3.23% in July. These statistics leave approximately from 80% of XP users (according to Market Share) hanging in the balance between switching to Vista for the sake of SP1, or hold in tight with XP until SP3 and beyond, waiting for Windows 7.
Microsoft currently plans to make Vista SP1 available in the first quarter of 2008 and although the company has not confirmed the actual period, users should expect the refresh after Windows Server 2008 will be released to manufacturing and even launched at the end of February in the coming year. Windows XP SP3 is scheduled to drop after Vista SP1 in the first half of 2008 and will be the last service pack introduced for the operating system launched at the end of 2001. Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are valid options for the vast majority of Windows users.
As far as home users are concerned the issue of choosing between the two service packs, and ultimately between Vista and XP is based on personal sentiments. Microsoft's Wow has failed to convince the mass of XP users to migrate to Vista. In this regard Vista SP1 does provide a strong incentive, but will it be sufficient to dislodge an operating system that has had almost six years to dig in its roots? Additionally, the timing of XP SP3 could not be worse for Vista adoption and it will reverberate and impact the uptake of the company's latest operating system. But the bottom line is that SP3 will in no manner be a repeat of SP2 delivered in 2004. XP SP3 will bring no new functionality to the table, according to the latest reports, it will not even deliver Internet Explorer 7. End-users that want a Windows evolution will have to move to Vista or stick it out until 2010. But three years is an awful lot of time...
When it comes down to corporate users, Microsoft, through the voice of Brandon LeBlanc, suggested that: "Organizations do not need to wait for SP1 to deploy Windows Vista; they are encouraged to begin their Windows Vista evaluation and deployment now. Organizations currently evaluating and deploying Windows Vista should continue their evaluation, pilot programs, and deployment on the initial ("Gold") Windows Vista release. Organizations just starting to evaluate Windows Vista should plan a pilot program. Organizations waiting for Windows Vista SP1 should start their compatibility testing on the gold release of Windows Vista now, and then begin their evaluation and pilot programs on the release candidate of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released."
Analyst firm Gartner seems to agree with Microsoft on the issue of migrating to Vista ahead of SP1. Michael A. Silver, Gartner Research VP, revealed that Vista SP1 is important in the context of corporate environments, but that it will not deliver the same impact as former Windows service packs. Silver associated the loss of SP relevance as an immediate result of the infrastructure built with Windows Update, Microsoft Update and Automatic Update.
"Many organizations wait until the first SP ships before they test and plan deployment of a client operating system. Furthermore, many organizations have highly complex PC environments and would not be ready to deploy Vista before 2H08, so SP1 will not be in the critical path for them. However, there are some advantages to skipping the release to manufacturing (RTM) version and adopting SP1. The biggest is that Microsoft will only support the prior SP for 12 to 24 months after the next SP ships (in this case, 24 months). So if SP1 ships in 1Q08, the original Vista release (which would be SP0) will only be supported (with security patches, for example) until 1Q10. Another advantage: Users who deploy SP1 to begin with eliminate the need to test and support an extra service level," Silver explained.
Migrating to Windows Vista ahead of SP1 means also planning and deploying the service pack once it becomes available. This of course translates to extra costs. However, by pushing Vista deployment to late 2008, corporate users can bundle the two into a single deployment process. Organizations will have to manage almost another year without Vista and avoid deploying SP3 for XP, in order to move directly to Windows Vista SP1. There is also the possibility of waiting until Windows 7, but such a scenario implies that Vista's successor will be deployed no earlier than 2011. Not really an option.
Either way Silver offered the following advices: "organizations that expect to be running any XP in mid-2010 should plan to test and deploy SP3. It should be significantly less work than testing and deploying SP2. Organizations should integrate SP1 into their testing, piloting and deployment plans, but they should not significantly delay Windows Vista deployment on new PCs by waiting for SP1. If shifting a PC deployment a few weeks would allow deployment of Vista, do it, but don't bring in new PCs on Windows XP instead — it will be easier to upgrade a Vista PC to SP1 than an XP PC to Vista. If shifting a PC deployment a few weeks would allow deployment of SP1, do it."
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pill-sized robot tests tumours in body
Scientists have developed a pill-sized robot that can travel inside
your body, can find if you have any tumours and transmit the
findings back to a computer.
After being swallowed, the robot passes through the body
naturally, reported the online edition of Daily Mail. The miniature
video camera fitted with the device can capture around 40,000
images of the intestines.
The extraordinary invention by Alex Zivanovic of Imperial College,
London, and other researchers, it is funded by the European Union
to the tune of around 1.8 million pounds ($3.5 million).
your body, can find if you have any tumours and transmit the
findings back to a computer.
After being swallowed, the robot passes through the body
naturally, reported the online edition of Daily Mail. The miniature
video camera fitted with the device can capture around 40,000
images of the intestines.
The extraordinary invention by Alex Zivanovic of Imperial College,
London, and other researchers, it is funded by the European Union
to the tune of around 1.8 million pounds ($3.5 million).
Monday, September 3, 2007
BREAKING! The BEST Anti-Virus!!!
Enlarge pictureBitDefender has just been tested by security experts and it detected 99.51% of malware! This is a huge percent, these guys are getting close to perfection! Way to go, BitDefender!
I still cannot believe it, they were close to 100% and they were tested by Germany's AV-test, so this is great. The other 29 anti-viruses participating at this test bit the dust, as the program`s innovative B-HAVE module came into place.
"We are very pleased with the results of this test and will strive to continue leading the pack among top antivirus vendors," commented Bogdan Dumitru, BitDefender’s chief technology officer. "AV-Test’s results demonstrate BitDefender’s ongoing commitment to providing home and SMB users with solutions that offer the absolute highest levels of malware protection. The timing of these results is ideal, as it shows the level of protection now available in BitDefender 2008, our newest line of security solutions."
And what I can say for sure is that this was no easy task for BitDefender, as the test included about 1 million threats (from the last 6 months). I've seen a lot of anti-virus representatives ranting about how their software is the best and all that, but you were still vulnerable to a lot of viruses even with it installed. But in this case, it's not the vendors who stated it's great, but the German testing squad, so this is something you can rely on!
I remember when I first encountered BitDefender software on a computer, I was a bit annoyed by that Murphy character and didn't like it too much, but that was about 4 years ago. Now, BitDefender is a leading global provider of security solutions and all I can do is congratulate them on their performances! And just in case you forgot – it took down 99.51% of malware!
I still cannot believe it, they were close to 100% and they were tested by Germany's AV-test, so this is great. The other 29 anti-viruses participating at this test bit the dust, as the program`s innovative B-HAVE module came into place.
"We are very pleased with the results of this test and will strive to continue leading the pack among top antivirus vendors," commented Bogdan Dumitru, BitDefender’s chief technology officer. "AV-Test’s results demonstrate BitDefender’s ongoing commitment to providing home and SMB users with solutions that offer the absolute highest levels of malware protection. The timing of these results is ideal, as it shows the level of protection now available in BitDefender 2008, our newest line of security solutions."
And what I can say for sure is that this was no easy task for BitDefender, as the test included about 1 million threats (from the last 6 months). I've seen a lot of anti-virus representatives ranting about how their software is the best and all that, but you were still vulnerable to a lot of viruses even with it installed. But in this case, it's not the vendors who stated it's great, but the German testing squad, so this is something you can rely on!
I remember when I first encountered BitDefender software on a computer, I was a bit annoyed by that Murphy character and didn't like it too much, but that was about 4 years ago. Now, BitDefender is a leading global provider of security solutions and all I can do is congratulate them on their performances! And just in case you forgot – it took down 99.51% of malware!
SanDisk Ups the Ante, Launches 4GB SDHC Plus and 8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo Cards
As it considers itself to be the world's largest manufacturer of flash data storage card products, SanDisk has to constantly live up to its name and launch upgraded products that will answer the consumer's demands for increasingly higher data storage capacities. And that's exactly what the company seems to be doing, as it has just launched at IFA 2007 two important upgrades to its high-performance Ultra II line of memory cards, namely the 4GB SDHC Plus and the 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo models.
According to the company's statement, both cards offer fast read and write speeds, of 10MB/sec, thus reducing the waiting time between camera shots and the download time when transferring photos and video to a computer. However, since these features could be considered normal for a company with SanDisk's reputation, they've also added a little extra to the mix.
Thus, the 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus card also offers both SD and USB functionality in one design, since it features SanDisk’s proprietary Hinge Lock technology, which allows the card to be inserted into a USB port on any computer. This two-in-one SD-plus-USB feature eliminates the need to carry cables or card readers to transfer photos and videos from cameras or camcorders and even if the card might seem a little frail, the truth of the matter is that it has survived more than 10,000 open-close cycles in SanDisk’s durability testing
"With video recording becoming a standard feature on digital still cameras, memory cards need more capacity and speed to capture not only high-quality photos, but also video" said Susan Park, senior product marketing manger for SanDisk Ultra II cards. "Our SanDisk Ultra II line of high-capacity memory cards provides increased storage and speed to meet the growing demands of digital photography, so consumers can capture, preserve, and relive their most precious moments."
Both cards are supposed to hit the shelves worldwide sometime in October, but their estimated price tags won't be exactly cheap, as the 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus has a MSRP of around 80 US dollars, while the 8GB SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo will retail for around 160 US dollars.
According to the company's statement, both cards offer fast read and write speeds, of 10MB/sec, thus reducing the waiting time between camera shots and the download time when transferring photos and video to a computer. However, since these features could be considered normal for a company with SanDisk's reputation, they've also added a little extra to the mix.
Thus, the 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus card also offers both SD and USB functionality in one design, since it features SanDisk’s proprietary Hinge Lock technology, which allows the card to be inserted into a USB port on any computer. This two-in-one SD-plus-USB feature eliminates the need to carry cables or card readers to transfer photos and videos from cameras or camcorders and even if the card might seem a little frail, the truth of the matter is that it has survived more than 10,000 open-close cycles in SanDisk’s durability testing
"With video recording becoming a standard feature on digital still cameras, memory cards need more capacity and speed to capture not only high-quality photos, but also video" said Susan Park, senior product marketing manger for SanDisk Ultra II cards. "Our SanDisk Ultra II line of high-capacity memory cards provides increased storage and speed to meet the growing demands of digital photography, so consumers can capture, preserve, and relive their most precious moments."
Both cards are supposed to hit the shelves worldwide sometime in October, but their estimated price tags won't be exactly cheap, as the 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus has a MSRP of around 80 US dollars, while the 8GB SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo will retail for around 160 US dollars.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Microsoft Sidewinder strikes again
The last reference to a Microsoft Sidewinder product was back on an old must-have games roundup from 2002, where we pointed to a Sidewinder steering wheel. Microsoft seemed to have let its gaming hardware brand die since then; that is, until today's announcement of the Sidewinder Mouse. Available in October for $80, the new Sidewinder comes with the usual laundry list of features we demand in our high-end gaming mice these days, including a few we haven't seen before.
The Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse includes more features than any gaming mouse to date. Some even look useful.
(Credit: Microsoft)Naturally, the Sidewinder is a laser mouse, with a customizable sensor that tops out at 2,000dpi. It includes buttons on the mouse itself for swapping between sensitivity settings, as well as a weight kit, for those with the touch of a safecracker who demand mousing perfection.
None of those features are new in general, as Logitech has had them in its G5 Laser mouse for a while. What's new is a built-in LCD that tells you what dpi setting you're currently in, as well as the fact that the weight-carrying case doubles as a cable guide. Also, Microsoft includes two additional sets of "feet" aka different varieties of Teflon pads, for the underside of the Sidewinder, allowing you to customize the glide.
The LCD and cable guide feel a little superfluous, but we can imagine a finicky gamer playing around with the different feet. Hopefully we'll find out for ourselves soon.
The Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse includes more features than any gaming mouse to date. Some even look useful.
(Credit: Microsoft)Naturally, the Sidewinder is a laser mouse, with a customizable sensor that tops out at 2,000dpi. It includes buttons on the mouse itself for swapping between sensitivity settings, as well as a weight kit, for those with the touch of a safecracker who demand mousing perfection.
None of those features are new in general, as Logitech has had them in its G5 Laser mouse for a while. What's new is a built-in LCD that tells you what dpi setting you're currently in, as well as the fact that the weight-carrying case doubles as a cable guide. Also, Microsoft includes two additional sets of "feet" aka different varieties of Teflon pads, for the underside of the Sidewinder, allowing you to customize the glide.
The LCD and cable guide feel a little superfluous, but we can imagine a finicky gamer playing around with the different feet. Hopefully we'll find out for ourselves soon.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
How Games Use CD Key Information Online
Firstly, let me just say that stealing CD's keys is very lame and you really should be buying your own games. (help support companies that you enjoy, remember, piracy kills video game programmers, and I know how much you love your video games)
This article is completely for the purpose of information, freedom of speech and poking fun at the security of windows and people who think it is good enough to host multiplayer network games.
And because I can.
Although this File is public domain, please e-mail me before you go sticking it on your site, so I can keep a list of who has it so that if I update this or make any new files on such, I can inform you and give you the latest info.
Now I got that out of the way, I shall continue.
Many games these days require CD keys to activate, and legitimate ones at that if you want to play online without having to worry about someone else using the same key as you and getting annoying "Sorry, your CD key is in use" messages. Most popular of all is half life, to be more precise, Counter-strike.
I shall now refer to the game that requires the cd key as "Half life".
How CD key's work online:
For half-life, when you try to connect to a server, before you actually connect to that server, some information is passed on to a main server before you are allowed to actually properly connect to whatever server you want to play on.
This "Main server" basicly serves only one purpose: To check your WONID. (the ID your CD key gives you for online play). This WONID isn't actually your CD key, it's more or less an "Encrypted" Version of it, whilst also giving you an online "Identity". If you've been naughty on a server, like using some lame headshot hack or something, and are banned, your "WONID" is noted and thats the thing that gets banned.
The reason your WONID isn't your CD key number is that if everyone could see your CD key, there would be a lot more stealing of keys then there are now as it is.
If you still don't understand the difference between WONID and CD key, then I'll word it this way: Your CD key and WONID are directly linked, but are just different variations of each other. You use your CD key to activate your game. Your WONID is your "unique name" on the net, givin to you by your CD key. Everyone can see your WONID, no one can see your CD key unless they hack your computer or such.
Now, as I was originally saying, the main server checks your WONID, and then stores it there untill you decide to log off from whatever server it is you are on.
If anyone else try's to log onto a server, regardless if its the one you are on, and they are using the same CD key, they will have to pass through the main server, and the server will notice it has a WONID that's already logged on, and will not allow the second to come on untill the person with the same WONID logs off from his session.
So, over view in Diagram format:
Person1 with WONID 123 trys to connect to server "game". Before he completes connection, information is sent to "main". the WONID is noted, and let's 123 finish it's connection attempt.
123 --->Connect "Game"--->"Main" Notes "123" and stores it in it's memory---> 123 connects and frags happily, or dies whiles shouting "HAXOR!" or "CAMPER!".
Now, person2 is friends with person1, and person1 gave his CD key to person2 so he too can enjoy Counter strike or some other half life mod. Person2 decides he wants to join Person 1's game, and finds out that for some reason, it didn't work.
123 --->Connect "Game"--->"Main" looks at person2's WONID... and see's that the WONID is already playing.---> Sends the unfriendly message to Person2 "Sorry, your CD key is already in use, please try again later".
Person2 thinks "Maybe because we have the same CD key and tried going onto the same server it recognised me. What if I try a different server?" Well, same as the first, irrespective of the server.
123--->Connect "Game2"--->"Main" Notes "123" ...Already stored in it's memory --->Sends SYCDKIAIU.
Now that my quite lengthy and repetitive explanation is over, I now offer you a solution to such a problem: Getting keys that are legal, but no one uses anyway.
The most obvious of this, is to steal the keys from net cafes. Now, according to sales laws and such, LEGALLY, for every computer on a net cafe that has half life on it (or any other lan game) it should have it's own individual copy. Thats right, legally, 1 computer = 1 original copy of half life. Which means each should have their own unique CD key.
Now, some dodgey net cafes seem to think they are special, and decide to go and pirate half life, and the'll have some dodgey random key generator which is fine for network play, as there is no "official" server to check against the CD key to see if it has a WONID.
But if you try to use it online, you'll find out very fast that that it won't work as it's not really a valid CD key, its only enough to trick the game, but not the master server, as it knows all and sees all.
If you ever come across that runs a dodgey operation, do the gaming community a favour and dob them in to the local authority. Valve will love you for it. And you might even get your picture in the local paper or something Razz.
That or you can blackmail the net cafe owner into giving you "shut-up" Money.
Either way, heres how to find out if the cafe is running legit or not.
CD keys are not stored where you can find them easily, most games will "secure" the CD-key in the registry.
To access it, normally, you could just go "Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_CURRENT_User > Software > Valve > Half-life > Settings"
From there, look for a registry called "Key". The numbers after that is your CD Key.
Now, that's all well and dandy if you have full permission's at a net cafe or on your own computer, but what if they are running some sort of "cafe program" that restricts your access to just the games and select programs? Well, any decent net cafe will be offering the net, either as a seperate service or as part of the normal deal.
To access the registry, simple open up internet explorer, and then from the URL bar, just type C: .
Viola, you're in the computer. (pretty lame hacking huh?)
From there accessing the registry is as simple as "windows > system32 > then look for the registry program. Under different versions of windows, it will be named differently, be it will usually start with "reg". so just look out for the "regwhatever.exe" file and your in.
Now, take note of the key, write it down, email it to yourself or whatever, and then proceed to grab the rest of the keys from other computers. (Don't worry, no one will get too suspicious if you change comps every once in a while, windoze boxes are ghey and you can just blame it on "a bad box" or something if anyone does question you, though it's unlikely.)
Go home, edit your registry and change the CD key for half life to the stolen key, and try to log into a server.
You'll either have a legitamite key that no one else has, and hey, the net cafe won't be missing it, who the hell plays multiplayer games at a net-cafe online anyway? Or you'll get a message saying "your CD key is not a legitamite key. Please re-enter it" or something similer.
If it's the latter, feel free to dob that lousy net cafe in or blackmail them or something, if it's the former, you have a bunch of CD keys that no one else has and no one will be missing.
I hope this has somewhat enlightened you as to the behaviour and workings of CD-keys and dodgey net cafes.
This article is completely for the purpose of information, freedom of speech and poking fun at the security of windows and people who think it is good enough to host multiplayer network games.
And because I can.
Although this File is public domain, please e-mail me before you go sticking it on your site, so I can keep a list of who has it so that if I update this or make any new files on such, I can inform you and give you the latest info.
Now I got that out of the way, I shall continue.
Many games these days require CD keys to activate, and legitimate ones at that if you want to play online without having to worry about someone else using the same key as you and getting annoying "Sorry, your CD key is in use" messages. Most popular of all is half life, to be more precise, Counter-strike.
I shall now refer to the game that requires the cd key as "Half life".
How CD key's work online:
For half-life, when you try to connect to a server, before you actually connect to that server, some information is passed on to a main server before you are allowed to actually properly connect to whatever server you want to play on.
This "Main server" basicly serves only one purpose: To check your WONID. (the ID your CD key gives you for online play). This WONID isn't actually your CD key, it's more or less an "Encrypted" Version of it, whilst also giving you an online "Identity". If you've been naughty on a server, like using some lame headshot hack or something, and are banned, your "WONID" is noted and thats the thing that gets banned.
The reason your WONID isn't your CD key number is that if everyone could see your CD key, there would be a lot more stealing of keys then there are now as it is.
If you still don't understand the difference between WONID and CD key, then I'll word it this way: Your CD key and WONID are directly linked, but are just different variations of each other. You use your CD key to activate your game. Your WONID is your "unique name" on the net, givin to you by your CD key. Everyone can see your WONID, no one can see your CD key unless they hack your computer or such.
Now, as I was originally saying, the main server checks your WONID, and then stores it there untill you decide to log off from whatever server it is you are on.
If anyone else try's to log onto a server, regardless if its the one you are on, and they are using the same CD key, they will have to pass through the main server, and the server will notice it has a WONID that's already logged on, and will not allow the second to come on untill the person with the same WONID logs off from his session.
So, over view in Diagram format:
Person1 with WONID 123 trys to connect to server "game". Before he completes connection, information is sent to "main". the WONID is noted, and let's 123 finish it's connection attempt.
123 --->Connect "Game"--->"Main" Notes "123" and stores it in it's memory---> 123 connects and frags happily, or dies whiles shouting "HAXOR!" or "CAMPER!".
Now, person2 is friends with person1, and person1 gave his CD key to person2 so he too can enjoy Counter strike or some other half life mod. Person2 decides he wants to join Person 1's game, and finds out that for some reason, it didn't work.
123 --->Connect "Game"--->"Main" looks at person2's WONID... and see's that the WONID is already playing.---> Sends the unfriendly message to Person2 "Sorry, your CD key is already in use, please try again later".
Person2 thinks "Maybe because we have the same CD key and tried going onto the same server it recognised me. What if I try a different server?" Well, same as the first, irrespective of the server.
123--->Connect "Game2"--->"Main" Notes "123" ...Already stored in it's memory --->Sends SYCDKIAIU.
Now that my quite lengthy and repetitive explanation is over, I now offer you a solution to such a problem: Getting keys that are legal, but no one uses anyway.
The most obvious of this, is to steal the keys from net cafes. Now, according to sales laws and such, LEGALLY, for every computer on a net cafe that has half life on it (or any other lan game) it should have it's own individual copy. Thats right, legally, 1 computer = 1 original copy of half life. Which means each should have their own unique CD key.
Now, some dodgey net cafes seem to think they are special, and decide to go and pirate half life, and the'll have some dodgey random key generator which is fine for network play, as there is no "official" server to check against the CD key to see if it has a WONID.
But if you try to use it online, you'll find out very fast that that it won't work as it's not really a valid CD key, its only enough to trick the game, but not the master server, as it knows all and sees all.
If you ever come across that runs a dodgey operation, do the gaming community a favour and dob them in to the local authority. Valve will love you for it. And you might even get your picture in the local paper or something Razz.
That or you can blackmail the net cafe owner into giving you "shut-up" Money.
Either way, heres how to find out if the cafe is running legit or not.
CD keys are not stored where you can find them easily, most games will "secure" the CD-key in the registry.
To access it, normally, you could just go "Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_CURRENT_User > Software > Valve > Half-life > Settings"
From there, look for a registry called "Key". The numbers after that is your CD Key.
Now, that's all well and dandy if you have full permission's at a net cafe or on your own computer, but what if they are running some sort of "cafe program" that restricts your access to just the games and select programs? Well, any decent net cafe will be offering the net, either as a seperate service or as part of the normal deal.
To access the registry, simple open up internet explorer, and then from the URL bar, just type C: .
Viola, you're in the computer. (pretty lame hacking huh?)
From there accessing the registry is as simple as "windows > system32 > then look for the registry program. Under different versions of windows, it will be named differently, be it will usually start with "reg". so just look out for the "regwhatever.exe" file and your in.
Now, take note of the key, write it down, email it to yourself or whatever, and then proceed to grab the rest of the keys from other computers. (Don't worry, no one will get too suspicious if you change comps every once in a while, windoze boxes are ghey and you can just blame it on "a bad box" or something if anyone does question you, though it's unlikely.)
Go home, edit your registry and change the CD key for half life to the stolen key, and try to log into a server.
You'll either have a legitamite key that no one else has, and hey, the net cafe won't be missing it, who the hell plays multiplayer games at a net-cafe online anyway? Or you'll get a message saying "your CD key is not a legitamite key. Please re-enter it" or something similer.
If it's the latter, feel free to dob that lousy net cafe in or blackmail them or something, if it's the former, you have a bunch of CD keys that no one else has and no one will be missing.
I hope this has somewhat enlightened you as to the behaviour and workings of CD-keys and dodgey net cafes.
Massive diamond found in S. Africa
A leading diamond expert on Monday predicted a glittering future for a stone found recently at a mine in South Africa if is confirmed as the world’s largest diamond. Les Milner, a gemologist at the Jewellery Council of South Africa, described the stone, which was photographed on a table beside a mobile phone that it appeared to dwarf, as ‘massive.’ “If it is a diamond it could easily be between 6,500 and 7,000 carats,” he said. The previous world-record-holder, the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered near Pretoria in January 1905, weighed about 3,106 carats uncut.
Milner described the stone’s shape as octahedral (having eight plane surfaces) and its colour as having a ‘faint green tinge. If the green colour remained after the stone was cut and polished, it would be even more rare, he said, venturing, “It could be the eighth wonder of the world.” If it wasn’t a diamond, it could be a crystal or a fake, he said. News of the discovery of the gem, which Dieter Hahn, treasurer- general of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses estimated as weighing between 1.2 and 1.4 kilogrammes, has stunned the diamond industry. “It caught everybody in the diamond industry offside,” the founder of Diamond Cutters International, Fred Cuellar, told Britain’s Guardian newspaper, predicting a flurry of ‘mad bidding’ among would-be buyers.
Milner described the stone’s shape as octahedral (having eight plane surfaces) and its colour as having a ‘faint green tinge. If the green colour remained after the stone was cut and polished, it would be even more rare, he said, venturing, “It could be the eighth wonder of the world.” If it wasn’t a diamond, it could be a crystal or a fake, he said. News of the discovery of the gem, which Dieter Hahn, treasurer- general of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses estimated as weighing between 1.2 and 1.4 kilogrammes, has stunned the diamond industry. “It caught everybody in the diamond industry offside,” the founder of Diamond Cutters International, Fred Cuellar, told Britain’s Guardian newspaper, predicting a flurry of ‘mad bidding’ among would-be buyers.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Japan's Plan For World's Tallest Building
nspired by Mount Fuji, Taisei Construction Corporation has completed designs for construction of the world's tallest building. The X-Seed 4000 (no idea where that came from) would stand at approximately 13,123 feet (4 km), nearly 700 feet (213 m) taller than the real Mount Fuji. The next tallest buildings don't even break 2,000 feet, how puny! While likely to never be built, the X-Seed would have up to 800 floors, and be capable of housing between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people.
Quote:
Unlike conventional skyscrapers, the X-Seed 4000 would be required to actively protect its occupants from considerable air pressure gradations and weather fluctuations along its massive elevation. Its design calls for the use of solar power to maintain internal environmental conditions. Some estimate that the cost to construct the X-Seed 4000 structure may be somewhere between $300-900 billion US dollars.
Now I'm no astronomer or anything, but if I learned anything in grade school, it's that 13,123 feet is pretty much the distance to the sun. Which means that the top floor would be perfect for a natural sauna. You heard it here first, if they end up doing that I want credit.
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