The Mono-project released version 1.0 and is therefore no longer in beta. Their site is pretty busy right now, but don’t forget to check it out.
Jun 302004
Jun 292004
For Free! Visual Studio 2005 beta 1 is available to MSDN subscribers (at a later stage to non-subscribers as well) for immediate download and the lite versions (Microsoft decided to call them “Express”, like Outlook Express) of Visual Basic, C++, C#, J#, Webdev and SQL are available to everyone.
The Express versions are light-weight, easy-to-install products, targetted at hobbyists, enthusiasts and novices to enable them to expand their knowledge or just to create dynamic (web)applications without losing an arm and a leg.
Wow! I must say my perception of the whole Microsoft domination changed when they introduced .NET, but lately I think that one should wonder why NOT go with Microsoft?
Jun 282004
Everybody in the gaming world long enough knows about it: SLI. Or…Scan Line Interleave. A technique found in 3Dfx graphics card. By combining two cards (then there was no AGP, just PCI) and connecting them, card 1 could render the even scanlines and card two could render the odd scanlines, and combined it would create the whole image. At higher framerates, or at higher resolutions.
NVidia reintroduces SLI with its PCI-Express based GeForce 6800. Tom has an extensive article about it, and things are looking good. NVidia has lost some ground when ATI started making very competitive cards again, but I guess they’re going to reclaim some land!
Jun 232004
If you bought Windows 2003, but you want to use it as the good-old Windows 2000 Workstation or Windows XP Pro, then you can now. Follow the instructions on this page, and you should be good to go!
Thanks Perry, for the tip.
Jun 222004
When using the RAW format of the FujiFilm S2 Pro (or any other camera that supports RAW and conversion out-of-the-camera) one can extend the dynamic range of the image by combining two (or more) images. This is done by converting in a way that the dark areas are properly lit (not underexposed) and converting again to have the lighter areas properly lit (not overexposed) and then combining the two images in Adobe Photoshop or any other image editing program.
It can be done simpler: with HDRShop. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It can build HDR images (and save them in regular file formats) by combining a series of differently lit images. No more manual Photoshopping, but an automated process!
Jun 222004
If you’re into C++, but can’t afford a decent compiler, then look at Microsoft’s latest initiative: they give away the C++ compiler and the whole shebang. All you need is a propert code-editor or IDE and you’re all set up to create Win32 and .NET programs in C++. The edition has no real restrictions and is the same as the compiler found in the Professional edition of Visual C++ or Visual Studio.
Jun 212004
A mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, and a software engineer are in a car that had just stopped to a grinding halt.
The mechanical engineer says: “Maybe it’s a stuck valve?”.
The electrical engineer says: “Or maybe it’s a dead battery!?”.
The software engineer says: “I know. Let’s all get out and get back in again, and see if that fixes it”.
Jun 212004
Unisys’ GIF-patents for Europe, for Canada and for Japan all expired this month (18th, 6th and 20th) (read here). IBM’s patent -that they will not likely use- still has two more years to go. So what will happen? Will we see any new GIF-development in the near future, or has GIF died since the GIF-tax was introduced? The PNG-alternative did not get the attention and usage it was hoping for: people just started using JPG more and more. If you create an application now that couldn’t understand GIF or PNG not much complaining would arise, but now create something that can’t read/create JPG… (Fujifilm’s EX Raw converter for instance!)
It’s a strange world we live in.
Jun 172004
If you’re modeling in Maya, and can’t get the facial animations right or consistent, then check out Masquerade by David Keegan. Currently in beta, but looking very promising.
Jun 172004
Days are too short. Period. How can one put 8.5 hours of work, 7 hours of sleep, 1.5 hours of cooking and eating, 0.5 hour of blogging/blogreading, 1 hour of other internetsurfing, 1 hour of Delphi programming assignment related and 2 hours of Delphi programming private-business related, 1 hour of gardening, 1 hour of photographing and photo-postprocessing, 0.5 hours of doing household-related things, 0.5-1 hours watching TV, 0.5 hours reading the newspaper, 2 hours of trying to learn Alias Maya, 0.5 hours job-related learning and 0.25 hours of sports (inline-skating or running) all in a day that only has 24 hours if one also needs to: socialize with the family and friends, read books, look for a better job, do regular health-checkups, repair my father in law’s computer, clean the car, and what other things are there in life? Geez…