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Show Topics - Apostrophe Spacemonkey

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 7
26
Technology & Hardware / Global Mode is gone.
« on: June 24, 2015, 07:58:58 pm »
Sad day. Sky, TVNZ and Media Works won.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11470299

On seven sharp, Hosking said that Global mode was a way to "allow people to access content without paying". Total bullshit, we're still paying, just paying the content creators directly, instead of allowing Sky and the other networks to cash in on content they didn't even make.


I didn't even understand, most of what you could get though Global Mode (at least through US Netflix) wasn't even available in NZ on other networks.


Still have Unotelly.

27
General Chat / Steam Summer Sale
« on: June 12, 2015, 06:51:50 am »
To keep us inside where it's warm during winter.

My recommendations


Homeworld remastered $17

Don't starve together $12


28
Technology & Hardware / Virtual Reality (Cardboard, Samsung VR)
« on: June 06, 2015, 10:13:35 am »
There seam to be these poor man's VR sets coming out, where basically you are just strapping your phone to your face.

i.e Google Cardboard
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/

Samsung Gear VR
http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/gearvr/index.html



By question is, how well do they actually work? I would think that having a phone that close to your face to cause some serious eye strain. However I noticed the sets have lenses, so maybe that helps?

Anyone tried it yet?




29
Technology & Hardware / Morepork
« on: June 03, 2015, 10:15:02 am »
Who ever came up with this name should be shot.

Quote
Spark New Zealand has confirmed it will begin offering smart home security services later this year, with the beta launch of a new product this week. Called Morepork

http://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/morepork/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11458990

And the logo.


30
TV, Movies & Music / I'm over 3D
« on: June 02, 2015, 08:46:51 am »
Last 2 movies I've seen at the theatre, Avengers and Mad Max, were in 2D. And I thoroughly enjoyed them.
 
I believe I gave 3d movies a fair shot. But I've had enough bad experiences with it to decide that I'll no longer bother choosing the 3d version over the 2d version when going to see a movie.

My good experiences of 3d have been where it's been subtle to the point where it's not noticeable. And it doesn't detract from what I'm watching on the screen.

And I figure, if it's not noticeable, what the point of having it.


Where as my bad experiences consist of the following;

The Hobbit - objects 'closer' to me the screen become blurry, or I see two fuzzy images overlapping. Sometimes this happens with the background as well.
I'm not a fan of the high frame rate either, but I'm willing to give this a chance.

Transformers - vast expansive scenes which are supposed to show giant robots in the distance, actually end up looking like a scene showing tiny toy robots.

In General - stupid glasses which have smudges which have I have to clean myself. And refract lights from the sides/behind me etc

The price - For this degraded movie experience, they charge me $2 to $5 more then a normal ticket.


I like going to the movie theatre, the big screen and the immersive sound make it worth it. But for me, 3D doesn't add anything positive to the experience.


31
Technology & Hardware / Bandwidth Question
« on: May 27, 2015, 07:28:01 am »
We have had Netflix for a couple of years now, and during that time we have been using it we our ADSL connection without any issues.

We recently upgraded to VDSL, which has given us faster download/upload, but hasn't made any noticeable difference in streaming (since it was already working pretty good before on ADSL).

However last month, I've noticed a degrade in performance during the peak time slot (6pm to 9pm). Buffering while watching stuff on Netflix etc.

Now articles like this mention there is a huge demand for streaming services (understandably), but here's what I don't understand.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11455107

Quote
The wholesale broadband provider, along with telcos, has been stunned by the rapid uptake of video streaming services, which is putting pressure on existing copper networks that provide the bulk of broadband services. The explosion of video services should boost the uptake of UFB. But with the staggered rollout, chunks of major centres, such as Auckland, are not yet complete, creating problems marketing the service.

Chorus announced yesterday it was working on improving the complex and disjointed processes for connecting to UFB, but there are still major issues ahead over the Resource Management Act and taking cable from footpaths into homes.


Pressure on existing copper networks? As I understand the 'copper' part of the network is only from your house to the street side cabinet (or in some cases the exchange), once there, the network is all fibre anyway. Why would there be any pressure on the 'copper' part of the network, where in our case, we are not using it any more data then we have been for the last two years.

Which makes me think, the problem is nothing to do with the copper, but the Telco networks which can't handle the load during peak times. And even when we do get fibre at our house (due end of this year), that unless the Telco's can improve their capacity, then I'm not going to actually see that much different between VDSL and fibre (during peak times at least).


I'd like to hear what other peoples thoughts are.


32
Technology & Hardware / A big thanks from vodafone
« on: May 22, 2015, 02:12:41 pm »
An email I received form Vodafone...

Quote
Hey Spacemonkey
 
We’re saying a big thanks to you for sticking with our mediocre service for all these years.

Here are some of the great deals we will give you.

Go in the draw to win the chance to watch a movie with the Vodafone Warriors!

A chance to win a VIP experience with the Royal New Zealand Ballet!

In the draw to win a double pass to Ed Sheeran's concert!

A chance to win movie vouchers every week for a month!

Thanks Vodafone, so you not actually giving me anything, just giving me a remote chance of winning something, and all the prizes are totally lame anyway.
 

33
Intellectual Discussion / Boring Discussion Thread: Budget 2015
« on: May 22, 2015, 11:54:01 am »
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/budget-2015/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503822&objectid=11452953

Quote
Travellers leaving and coming to New Zealand will be forced to pay $22 for a return international trip under the plan.

Auckland Airport said today that the new tax could impact New Zealand's competitiveness as a tourist destination, especially for those travellers who are price sensitive.


Really?

Someone who is already spending hundreds of dollars to travel here, will be put off by an extra 22 bucks?

I doubt it.


Discuss the exciting budget here.


34
First-Person Shooter / DOOM
« on: May 20, 2015, 06:58:39 am »
Fucking Doom!



35
Intellectual Discussion / Australia online goods and service tax
« on: May 13, 2015, 10:57:09 am »
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11447580

Quote
Soon, overseas companies will have to collect goods and services tax at 10 per cent a pop on "online intangibles" or digital goods and hand it over to the Aussie government.


I would expect NZ to follow suit sooner or later.

Lately, I've been using NZ Netflix (there are shows on NZ Netflix which aren't available in the US), but still paying with my US account. And that is unlikely to change especially if they starting charging GST.


36
Technology & Hardware / Looking for a stud to screw.
« on: May 07, 2015, 03:50:42 pm »
It will come as no surprise that my handyman skills are very limited.

I'm trying to screw something to a wall, so i'm looking for the stud.

I've seen more able people locate the stud by knocking on the wall, but it all sounds the same to me.

37
General Chat / May the fourth be with you.
« on: May 04, 2015, 08:39:56 am »
Star Wars

is today...

Star Wars Day is a holiday celebrated on Planet Earth and Pennsylvania on May the 4th. In Star Wars lore, if a star wars fan emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the star wars fan sees its shadow, it will return into its burrow, and watch all 6 star wars movies.


38
Other Games / Star Wars: Battlefront
« on: April 20, 2015, 03:16:09 pm »

39
Intellectual Discussion / Confusing as hell
« on: April 14, 2015, 12:19:35 pm »
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11432276

Quote
Albert and Bernard just became friends with Cheryl, and they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl gives them a list of 10 possible dates.

May 15, May 16, May 19

June 17, June 18

July 14, July 16

August 14, August 15, August 17

Cheryl then tells Albert and Bernard separately the month and the day of her birthday respectively.

Albert: I don't know when Cheryl's birthday is, but I know that Bernard does not know too.

Bernard: At first I don't know when Cheryl's birthday is, but I know now.

Albert: Then I also know when Cheryl's birthday is.

So when is Cheryl's birthday?


When I read the question I was confused. When I read the answer I was only more confused (see link for answer), I don't understand how they can draw those conclusions.

Spoiler :
Quote
First we need to figure out if Albert knows the month or the day. If he knows the day, then there is no chance that Bernard knows the birthday, so it must be that Albert knows the month.

This doesn't make any sense to me, if Albert knows that Bernard doesn't know, then Bernard must only know the months, as they are not unique. Which means Albert knows the date.
Quote
From the first statement, we know that Albert is sure that Bernard doesn't know the birthday, so May and June should be ruled out

I was able to rule out June, but what is the logic for ruling out May?

Your challenge is to explain the solution to me so that I understand.

40
I have a question.


I'm currently on the On Account - $69 Plan (24 mth contract, about half way through).
 

Is it possible to change to the Red+ Essentials - $69 Plan? While keeping the same contract term?

The Red+ Essentials is stated as 1 month open term, however I'm happy to keep to my existing term.


Why do I want to change?
The On Account - $69 Plan only has 1.25GB data, where as Red+ Essentials has 4.5GB.



41
Intellectual Discussion / Should GST be scrapped?
« on: March 18, 2015, 12:06:57 pm »
Read an article about extending GST to online shopping.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11418802


I agree that we want a fair playing failed between NZ retailers and online retailers, then just scrap GST altogether, and increase Income tax to make of the difference.

Applying GST to online shopping can never work, due to the nature of the internet. Sure you could get retailers like steam, iTunes to charge GST and pass it on, but consumers can easily get around that using a VPN.

Regarding physical goods which get shipped through the border, that would just cause much more work for custom officials, and cause lots of delays waiting for consumers to pay the GST before their items can be released, it would just be a pain in the ass for everyone. For lower value items, it'll probably cost the government more to pay custom officials, then they would get back in GST.


42
Technology & Hardware / Is VDSL worth it?
« on: March 10, 2015, 02:14:51 pm »
We wont be getting fibre till sometime next year.

While our current connect is fine for gaming, I'm interested in finding out if getting VDSL would be worth it. We watch Netflix a lot so it would be useful there.

With Orcon, the VDSL plan is an extra $10, which I would be happy to pay if I got a decent speed increase. But from what I understand, VDSL won't necessarily always give a better speed then normal ADSL.


Anyone have VDSL? What would you recommend?

43
General Chat / Steamos sale
« on: March 05, 2015, 08:22:00 pm »
Not that I care about Steamos, but a sale is a sale

Planetary Annihilation - $10
FTL - $4
Civ 5 - $18

and lots of other good stuff

44
General Chat / What made your day?
« on: February 17, 2015, 10:43:03 am »
This thread is the opposite of the 'What grinds your gears?' thread.

Post about awesome things.

Like reading about this in the herald.



Quote
An American youth is recovering in the intensive-care unit after being savagely gored during a bullfighting festival.
Miller underwent a three-hour operation to repair damage to thighs, sphincter and back muscles,


hahaha, serves him right.

http://www.24report.net/horrifying-moment-u-s-tourist-20-was-gored-at-spanish-bull-run/

45
Bug Reports & Feedback / What is a Karma?
« on: February 10, 2015, 03:55:59 pm »
And how does it work?





46
Technology & Hardware / Global Game Jam
« on: January 16, 2015, 06:50:20 am »
Is being held next weekend, January 23 - 25

New Zealand locations are Waikato University and Media Design School in Auckland.
http://globalgamejam.org/2015/jam-sites?title=&country=NZ&locality=&=Find

It's been lots of fun the last few times I've done it.

While there's lots of programmers and artists, you don't need any certain skills to participate. Anyone is welcome to come along.


 

47
Technology & Hardware / Wireless Mouse Recommendation
« on: January 13, 2015, 07:10:11 am »
I'm looking for a wireless mouse to use for my HTPC

Need to work well on lots of surfaces (like my pants)


It's for internet browsing, Netflix etc

What do people recommend? Looking to spend around $40 to $50



48
General Chat / Happy Birthday Retardobot
« on: January 05, 2015, 03:52:57 pm »
Welcome to being old.

49
Buy, Sell Or Trade / WTB: Graphics Card
« on: January 02, 2015, 02:35:57 pm »
PCIe graphics card, nothing fancy, just for browsing the internet.

Anyone have a spare one (or know where I could pick up one cheep) ?


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