Velleman Classic TV Game

I am old enough to remember the beginnings of the home video game market. Indeed, I had all sorts of ‘TV Tennis’ or Pong consoles from Unisonic to Coleco and companies that, I’m sure, have not existed since the 1970’s.  I even had the original home video game ‘console’: the Magnavox Odyssey.  Of course, today I have only programmable consoles that use cartridges or discs (and a few with the games built in.) But, one thing I missed was that dedicated PONG game.

Recently, I was perusing a local Radio Shack for some Arduino/Raspberry PI shields for a project when I spotted something called ‘Classic TV Game’.  Naturally, I am intrigued.

Upon closer examination, I realize that it is a kit.  A real, honest to goodness video game kit! How cool was that!? Well, at that point, I notice it isn’t any ordinary kit. No, no…this was ‘TV Tennis!’ PONG!  At $14.95, how could I go wrong?

I purchase the kit and, when I got home, eagerly tore it open and begun assembling it.  It took me about an hour since my skills are REALLY rusty. But, it worked and on the second attempt. My first attempt was wasted because the battery holder had a bloody short.  Still, I built a game console based on the first video game I ever played: PONG!

The kit was simple and easy enough for anyone to build. It was a bit disappointing since the controls were two (four total) buttons: up and down.  They are soldered to the board, which means both players have to be sitting there to play.

While assembling the kit was easy-the included instructions, a bit cryptic at first until I realized that the parts were actually logically grouped in the package (each resistor in the pack was arranged in the order to be used, the capacitors matched the schematic, etc.) and the resistor code (hey, I’m rusty at this, ok?) was printed clearly. Only problem I had was the battery holder, of all things. One of the leads was loose and was shorting out. Once I fixed that, it fired up and I could play my childhood video game in all its glorious monochromatic vibrancy.

There are few controls: player a and b up and down controls, reset and a potentiometer for controlling the video.  Mono audio and video out are the only connectors. 

There are several variants of Pong, all selectable by holding down the Reset button and one of the four player buttons.  Single and two player games are included and the instructions for selecting them are on the PC board and in the instructions.

If you pine for the video gaming days of yore and you like to build things, this is a good way to do so.

Note: perusing the Radio Shack website indicates the item is no longer available there, however, you can get it here.

CBS, you can keep your programming

There is a small start up called Aereo is retransmitting over the air broadcast signals on the internet for a fee. To skirt around certain laws, Aereo gives each of its customers an antenna. So, for a small fee, people can subscribe to this service on the internet and receive nice, high definition television.

Well, naturally, this has broadcasters really knotted up and in a major tizzy.  Last month, Aereo won a major court case and was emboldened to expand. Currently, they are only in New York City, but have announced plans for Boston.

As a result of that court victory for Aereo, both Fox and CBS have publicly stated that they will – get this – go CABLE. 

Going cable would, likely, be a bigger issue for Fox than CBS, but, both nets would lose a lot of viewers. And, at the same, one can imagine they will also lose programming (due rights having to be renegotiated for cable, something most producers have done for other companies) and revenue. If I were an advertiser, I would demand the much lower rates that most cable channels get versus broadcast television.

I kind of hope that CBS does go cable. About the only thing we watch on this network are Big Bang Theory and Survivor.  Both of which I get, legally, via on demand, DVD, Hulu or the net’s own web site. The local CBS affiliate would then be free to put good programming on its airwaves.

Affiliates…oh, right…doesn’t CBS and Fox care about them? Are they so freaking shallow and scared of Aereo-which will fail, btw- that they would risk their own business? And would of the agreements they currently have? Hmmm….

In a recent statement, Les Moonves of CBS claims that they can go cable in a matter of a few days. This is something I find difficult to believe. He goes on to say that about ten percent of the country would NOT get the channel and those people will be upset.  He says it like it’s a threat. Well, guess what…the courts do not care. And neither does the public. Unless its Sunday and they can’t get that football game.  What’s that? The Internet…oh yeah.

Granted, broadcast television does not have much of a long term future, cable and the internet ARE the future of television, but, for the next ten to twenty years, broadcast television will still be here and watched by millions. 

And, those millions are people that CBS and Fox cannot afford to piss off and lose.  While I don’t care much for the gimmicky solution that Aereo came up with to skirt the law, I do think Barry Diller is correct about one thing: the Internet (or its replacement) IS where television is headed. 

Personally, I don’t care anymore.  Go cable. Disappear. Your programming will live on. With or with you, CBS.

Windows 8: the Return of the Start Button

Microsoft is about to release an update to Windows 8, cleverly called Windows 8.1.  Among the many improvements: more Modern UI goodness for control panel items, better multitasking and…tada!  The Start Button and a boot to desktop ‘feature’.

Yep. Microsoft caved. Months and months emphatic talk from the company, which took a hard line on these two features: Neither were coming back. Well, they are. Apparently, an edict came from high up in the company (Ballmer?) to restore these features.

So, 8.1 will deliver (supposedly, but, as Mary Jo Foley points out, we won’t know for sure until it actually releases, things could change before then) a Start Button and an option to boot to the desktop.

It isn’t as bad as it seems, thought.

The Start Button is just a button that takes you to the ModernUI Start Page. Yup, no start MENU, but the Start PAGE.  I can deal with that.  It’s the boot to desktop that is a bit harder to swallow. It isn’t necessary, you can get to-easily-all of your applications, ModernUI or antique desktop via the Start Page.

However, since all the Start Button will do is take on back to the Start Page, I guess this arrangement is more palatable.  I am guessing, though, that Microsoft has improvements to the Start Page in the pipeline to make it somewhat easier for those who still seem to have a difficult time with ModernUI.

Microsoft says a public preview of 8.1 will be out in June, but I’ve heard that these changes will NOT be in that preview. So, we will have to wait until sometime in September, when the final code is unleashed.

Windows 8: it isn’t bad and it is not difficult to use

Microsoft is readying an upgrade to Windows 8 (surprisingly called Windows 8.1) which should address some issues with the operating system as well as add new features.  Microsoft is hoping the changes will help the operating system, which the tech press is now panning after heaping praise on the OS.  Among the improvements: ‘metro’ updates to more of the system settings, less dependencies on the antique desktop mode (they should ditch that now.)

Now, noted CNet/ZDNet columnist Mary Jo Foley is saying that ‘sources’ are now saying that there will be options to boot to the antique desktop and add the now useless Start Orb back (this, after Microsoft claimed to have removed the plumbing for it…riiiight.)  While I am all for the ‘metro’ additions, I can’t say I support the option to boot to the let-it-go-already desktop.  Seriously. The old Windows dressings need to go and go now.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying ditch Win32 all together, but there is zero reason to leave the desktop intact.  None. It is holding back the operating system. Seriously holding it back. As long as it is there, people, who do not want to change, will continue to use.

Mary Jo herself proclaims this line reasoning as the number one reason Microsoft defaults boot to the Start Page. She is right.

The biggest gripe I see and hear is that Metro is difficult on non-touch devices. I use it on two desktops with decidedly non-touch interfaces and have no problems getting around. In fact, I find it just as easy, if not a bit more so, than with touch. The other criticism is discoverability.  Well, if that is the case, then every touch device currently out suffers from this very same issue.  Did you know that the iPad uses gestures?  Can you name them? Do you use them? My guess would be no. Most people just swipe and tap.  That is it. Well, guess what? It is the same for Windows 8 RT. With or with out touch, it is the same.

I think part of the problem is the name. “Windows” really does not suit it, but it is still Windows underneath.  And Windows has the recognition (good or bad.) Windows RT denotes the non-Win32 stuff, but still is confusing. Microsoft would have been better off naming that something completely different and explain that “Windows” is compatible with what ever that is.  Say, WinTab RT.  That would be a lot less confusing.

At any rate, the grumbling about using a mouse and keyboard with RT is silly. It is no less useful than that damned old desktop.  And, lets be honest, not every facet of the desktop is obvious. You have to right click to do certain things. That is NOT intuitive at all. We do it because we know or someone told us.  Well, same thing can happen for RT.

My point is that people seem resistant to Windows 8 solely because it is different. Not for silly reasons like ‘it isn’t very discoverable.’ Its funny that my five year old stepson can pick up the mouse and use Windows 8 like it is second nature. I did not show him how. He figured it out. In just a few minutes.  If a five year old can do this, certainly adults can.

Look for Windows 8.1 preview to be available sometime in June.

SkyDrive: sync your OneNote notebooks, access all your PC’s, and share your photos

Years ago, Microsoft introduced it’s Windows Live brand and, with it, a set of applications, including the Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and something called Live Mesh. Mesh was a syncing tool that also had a really nice remote access feature. This was, perhaps, its best feature. You could remotely access and control any PC that had Mesh and was linked to your Live Account. I used it extensively. Mesh also allowed file syncing between all of the machines in your mesh.

Alas, Microsoft dinkyed around with Mesh over the years and have now killed the product. All is not lost, though.

Enter SkyDrive.

When I first heard that SkyDrive was replacing Mesh, I cringed. Having seen it, I was thoroughly unimpressed. But…

Things change, time passes and software gets better. And, so did SkyDrive.

Microsoft has SkyDrive client software available for Windows, Android, iOS and Windows Phone. There is also a browser based client. Of all the choices, the web based SkyDrive is the better choice.

I’m not going to go over the clients, they offer only basic options, like file sharing.  The web site, however, is more.

While it will not provide the remote access, Microsoft is leaving that up to its partners, it does allow access to the file systems of any machines that you’ve linked to your SkyDrive account.  And this feature alone makes SkyDrive-the web site-a must.

If you are using Windows 8, that machine is automagically linked. I found my three Windows 8 devices are all linked to my SkyDrive account and let me access the file systems on the other devices.

Other features include photo sharing, online versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint and access to Outlook.  Microsoft keeps making SkyDrive more and more useful. It’s a shame they are not making the applications more useful, especially the rather lame XBox 360 version. I have yet to figure out why I would want that one.

For me, the ability to sync my OneNote notebooks is about as useful as the access to my devices, perhaps more so. I can now sync my notebooks between my PC’s, iPad, iPhone and my Asus tablet. Having access to that data has proven invaluable and, couple with the online Office apps, have eliminated my desire to put Office on my new machines. My Asus tablet does have Open Office, but mainly for use at work, where my access to SkyDrive is limited.

If you have not tried SkyDrive lately, give it a shot, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Windows 8 Family Safety: parental controls are your friend

Since Windows Vista, Microsoft has included a fairly robust parental control mechanism in the operating system. Vista’s parental controls were fantastic, but were neutered when Microsoft rolled out Windows 7. They required the installation of Windows Live Essentials in order to work. Microsoft left the door open for third party parental control mechanisms, but few, if any, hit the market. With Windows 8, however, they restored the functionality that was removed and enhanced the overall package.

Now called ‘Family Safety’, the Windows 8 parental controls are much more granular and offer the added benefit of being able to monitor your child’s computer activity via the web (which was one nice thing they did add with Windows 7.)

In order to work, however, you must setup an account on the computer. You can setup a Microsoft Account or a local account. For my purposes, and for this post, we will use a local account.

To setup a local account, bring up the settings charm. Tap the lower right corner and swipe up for touch, or hover the mouse in the same corner and when the charms display, go up and click the settings charm. Next, tap or click ‘Change PC settings’.

You will see the Settings page display. Tap or click the Users link. On the right side, you will see YOUR current account information. Toward the bottom of the page, there is a link for adding a new user. Tap or click that link.

The next page will ask for the Windows Account email address for the new user.  Since we are using a local account, tap or click the link that says ‘Sign in without a Microsoft Account’.

Next, you are presented with a page where you fill in the user’s name and password information. For my five year old, I leave the password blank. There is a checkbox that indicates this is child’s account. Check it. This sets up the safety ratings in the games and applications as well as the web sites. Once you have setup the new user account, you are ready for the real meat and potatoes: the family settings page.

From the Windows 8 Start Page, type FAMILY SAFETY. As you start typing, Windows initiates the search. You will see that SETTINGS will return a few hits. Tap or click the ‘Setup Family Safety for any User’ link.

You are now whisked away to a nice, Windows Desktop app. You will leave the comfort of the Windows App/Metro/Store/Modern UI world. That’s OK, it’s worth the discomfort.

Once in the Family Safety application, you can control the time your child can use the computer, how long, what apps and games and where they can go on the internet. Plus, it all gets recorded for you.

 

 

TIME

You can set a curfew, which governs when the computer can be used. Setting it is a snap: it is a grid that you click or tap each block to allow or block time.

You can control how much time is allowed during the allowed time frame:

WEB USE

You can allow or disallow websites:

The web filtering further restricts sites by category: child safe, general interest, adult, etc. By using this in conjunction with the Allow or block specific websites, your child should be protected and prevented from going anywhere you do not wish them to go.

You can also prevent them from downloading anything. While it won’t completely prevent viruii and other nastiness, it should go a long way to help.

 

GAMES, STORE, APPS

Perhaps the best part of the family safety mechanism is the ability to control what games and apps can be run by the child. In addition, you can control which non-Windows 8 applications can be run. The mechanism does rely on the ESRB ratings system, however, for those games that are NOT ESRB rated, you can prevent them from running all together or allow only certain ones to run.

 

 

CONCLUSION

The best thing you can do is to go exploring. This post was not intended to be an in depth how to, rather more of an introduction to this important aspect of Windows 8.  I encourage you to also check out my other posts on this subject as well as the official Windows 8 site. If you have young children, setting up an account and then protecting it is the best thing you can do for your child, your sanity and the computer.

At King’s Dominion, out with the old and in with the new is OK, Planet Snoopy’s expansion is worth the price of admission

It is that time of the year, again, when theme parks across the nation are re-opening for a new season. And, as in every prior year I’ve had children, we went early to beat the crowds. My ‘local’ parks are Cedar Fair’s King’s Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This first visit was to King’s Dominion and mainly for our soon to be five year old son. Now, my step son, like my 15 year old son, is a dare devil and just loves excitement.  This year, the park expanded its ‘Planet Snoopy’, getting rid of many of the older rides-much of them were here when the park opened in 1974-75. Heck, I rode some of them myself. These are kiddie rides. A very large number of children have ridden them over the last thirty plus years.  Many memories centered around those ride. Well, most of them are gone.

For me, it was a bittersweet thing. For I remember taking my 15 year old when he was three. He rode those rides until he was too big for them.  The pirate ship, just in front of what used to be called the Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster, is gone.  Not seeing it was a bit on the sad side. My son LOVED that little ship. He was so cute riding it…he’d be the only child so into the ride (and not crying) that he’d throw his arms up. You could not wipe the grin from his face.  Now, it is gone. Replaced by another ship ride…this one a disco type.  A disco ride is a very short train track, curve up on both ends. The ‘train’, this one shaped like a tug boat, goes back and forth, gaining a little speed each time. Then, the damned thing rotates! It does this for a couple of minutes. The big difference, though, between this new ride and the one it replaces…adults can ride too. In fact, most of the new rides in the kid zone (Planet Snoopy) are family friendly.

The new, expanded area provides a nice amenity for mothers (and Dad’s too) with infants. They have a refurbished building, near the restrooms, that has been remodeled and contains a play area, a lounge area with a microwave and bottle warmers and several rooms for Mom to breast feed baby. Very nice and many, many kudos to the park for not doing something like turning it into a restaurant or tacky store.

Speaking of food…there is an outdoor market that not only sells drinks, but fruits and veggie snacks as well. It is nice to see this sort of thing in a facility that also sells tons of candy and other sugary snacks.

Walking around Planet Snoopy, you can see that Cedar Fair wants this place to succeed. They put a ton of money into cleaning it up, re-theming the area and putting in quality rides. While the old rides evoke a certain nostalgia and sentiment, the new rides are quality rides and are very well done. 

Even so, I am a little saddened by the removal of some key rides and attractions, even one that languished over the last decade.  The Treasure Cave, aka Yogi’s Cave, at one time, was a cool, well themed walk through attraction. Over the years, much of the theming was removed and, last year, it was pretty much empty. Yet, all of my kids and extended family LOVED walking through it. So did I. Perhaps it is fitting that it was removed. My fond memories of the caves, those where you’d wait thirty minutes, an hour or longer just to walk through it. It took just a few minutes to walk through and angled floor at the end of the walk always surprised you. You KNEW it was there. You KNEW what to expect. Yet, somehow, you were surprised when you got to it.  I like that thought. I love the memory of my then four year old, in utter awe of that ending. Blew his mind.  And, yet, when he was 14, he STILL loved it. He and his older cousin…running to the cave, like they were five again.  Makes me smile just writing about it.

While the cave is gone, as well as the pirate ship, the jeep roundabout and others, the new rides will, no doubt, create new fond memories for Moms, Dads and kids a like. And, I have to say,in this case, casting aside the old for the new is perfectly OK.  I hope those old rides find new homes, but, if they don’t, that’s OK. They did a fine job.  A fine one indeed.