The Kappa Files

Anti Spam Idea

Kappa — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:51:38 +0000

Anti Spam Idea

Here’s my idea to replace the sometimes anoying CAPTCHA scripts that are test used in computing to ensure that the response is not generated by a computer.

It’s a simple colour based idea but instead of colours, one could use letters or numbers so that colour blind people aren’t impared. The colours, letters or numbers would be random every time and the script would look for the correct combination before posting the form.

The Alphabet according to Google

Kappa — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:47:07 +0000

As you type into the search box on Google Web Search, Google Suggest offers searches similar to the one you’re typing.
Start to type “New York”, even just “New Y” – and you’ll be able to pick searches for New York City, New York Times, and New York University (to name just a few).

It is with this technology that I present to you the Alphabet according to Google.

DiRT 2 – Demo Lap Time Competition

Kappa — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:06:49 +0000

Dirt 2 by Codemasters

In this video one of the Codemasters Development Team sets a time which will take real skill to beat on the Morocco Trailblazer track featured in the upcoming Demo. I found myself holding my breath and as I looked down I noticed my white knuckles just watching this clip. The realism looks amazing and with improved physics and visuals, head-to-head online play, and new social features it look like it’ll be one to look out for if you enjoy your driving games.

Link to YouTube Clip

LaCie – LaCie iamaKey USB Flash Drive

Kappa — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:44:29 +0000

Sturdy metal key design; fits on a keyring
Fast transfer rates (Read mode: up to 30 MB/s; write mode: up to 10MB/s)
Ultra-mobile and lightweight
Gold SIP technology, water- and scratch-resistant

UFC 2009 Undisputed – PS3

Kappa — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:31:04 +0000

Georges "Rush" St-Pierre

How far have we come from the days of International Karate for the C64 back in 1987? UFC 2009 Undisputed is a mixed martial arts video game featuring Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters. It boast 6 major primary fighting styles for the fighters in the game; boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, kickboxing, muay thai and wrestling.

If you’ve ever wanted to fight in the UFC but preferred keeping all your teeth this game is a must.

LiveScribe – Pulse Smartpen

Kappa — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:39:56 +0000

Pulse Smartpen

Livescribe, Inc. is introducting their new Pulse Smartpen, described as “a computer within a pen that captures handwriting and simultaneously records audio and synchronizes it to the writing.”

Available with 1GB or 2GB of internal storage, the Pulse has a microphone, camera, and special paper that allows it to make a digital record of your writing and associate it with the audio it captured at the time you were writing. It also features an OLED display, and has a growing developer community working on new ways to use the device — meaning it might become even more useful after you buy it. Take a look at it in action here.

Buy Now | 1GB $149.95 – 2GB $199.95

Wii Remote – Wii MotionPlus

Kappa — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:45:22 +0000

The Wii MotionPlus is an expansion device that allows the Wii Remote to more accurately capture complex motion. According to Nintendo, the sensor in the device supplements the accelerometer and Sensor Bar capabilities of the Wii Remote to enable actions to be rendered identically on the screen in real time.

View Demo Clip

Copy Paste Character

Kappa — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:18:10 +0000

www.copypastecharacter.com

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 – Wii

Kappa — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:00:38 +0000

Having owned a Wii for some time now, the novelty of the vastly different controllers has all but worn off. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 for the Wii has re-ignited the reason I bought this console in the first place.

At first I struggled to comprehend manoeuvring my players around the field as well as trying to score. After a few hours of frustration, I began to understand what the developers we’re thinking.

Playing PES 2008 on the Wii, your not playing the role of one player on the field at a time, your controlling the whole team, that’s right every player visible at all times can be pushed or prodded to do what you want. You’re positioning defenders, whilst making a run up the left wing, and at the same time you’re setting up the forward striker to receive the ball and preparing for a shot.

This might sound complicated and admittedly at first it is, like rubbing your tummy and patting your head, or is it the other way around? A steep learning curve usually comes with a great sense of satisfaction, and that’s exactly what I’ve found. It’s been two days now and playing PES 2008 on the Wii one image springs to mind – Tom Cruise, Minority Report.

I feel less like a player and more like a football puppeteer commanding all players in a symphony against the other team. It’s just so satisfying when you score after having orchestrated five or six players in a beautiful dance that ends in magnificent goal that you pulled every string to create.

The game can be played in the following modes and has the following features.

Completely reworked control system
Ability to control all players in the team using the Wii Remote
Force your players to run into space, drag defenders away
Integrate your Mii’s into a team
Specialist development team working on the title

Match
In this mode, friendly matches can be played with up to 2 players against each other. More than 30 stadiums are available for selection in the game, making the Wii version the version with the most stadiums in the series.

Champions Road
The Wii version of PES 2008 omits the Master League mode for the Champions Road, which lets the player tour a slew of different leagues around Europe, and when a games is won, it is possible to acquire players from the defeated teams.

Wii Support
Players can play as their the Mii creations saved in their consoles in friendly matches. When Mii matches are played, all players will have comically large heads, including the non-Mii players. Only the referee and the linesmen will appear normal.

Online Functionality
The game features a 1 vs 1 online mode that Konami called “the best online experience” when compared to the other versions, where players can either play against random opponents or online friends. It is also possible to send the current Champions Road team to friends via WiiConnect24 to play ‘invitational matches’.

Customising your control method would have been an additional feature that I would have welcomed, I’m not a big fan of shaking the nunchuk to shoot, and playing against a friend you see and anticipate their moves as you can view their cursor on-screen, which is not only distracting but a dead give-away as to their next move.

Overall PES 2008 for the Wii is definitely the most innovative football games I’ve come across, with it’s vastly different control method this has to be one massive plus for the team at Konami.

Visit Official Konami PES 2008

First-Ever Wristwatch with Mechanical Digital Display

Kappa — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:51:13 +0000

Looking at this limited-edition Di Grisogono Meccanica DG, you probably think it’s a hybrid mechanical-digital watch. Well, chaps, you’re wrong. Despite its appearance, the Meccanica DG is completely analog, comprising of 651 pieces and absolutely no digital parts or LEDs whatsoever.