Microsoft speaks on Games for Windows Live changes

Q&A If you missed our earlier post on Microsoft's announcements from the GameFest 2008 conference, here's a brief recap:

• Games for Windows Live is now free at all membership levels
• In the fall, Microsoft will launch a digital distribution service called the Games for Windows Live Marketplace
• DirectX 11 is official, and it will include support for GPU programming, among other new features.

We had a chance to talk to Kevin Unangst, Microsoft's senior director of Global Gaming , and he provided some more details.

What was the deciding factor that lead Microsoft to drop the Gold-level membership fee for Games for Windows Live?
Since we introduced Games for Windows Live we've listened to developers and to PC gamers and they said look, there's a baseline expectation that multiplayer is a service that is just free on Windows; that is just how it works. Looking at it from a competitive angle, it makes sense for us to deliver on that expectation and to go above and beyond. We're confident we have the best matchmaking service on the planet with TruSkill matchmaking and we want to make sure that's available to the largest group of Windows gamers. Making this decision really was a natural part of focusing on what gamers want and what game developers told us what they wanted.
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DIY 8mm projector and camera

The last time I stumbled upon an 8mm projector, it was a prop in a movie set set in the 1970s. As for an 8mm camera, it was behind a glass case in an exhibition about the history of film-making. These near antique devices are long forgotten in our current high-definition era, but there is something nostalgic about the grainy, flickering effect of films shot and viewed on 8mm devices.

Hobby-kit manfacturer Gakken has always taken a hands-on approach for its products. It used to churn out DIY pinhole cameras, but recently, an 8mm projector was spotted in its portfolio.

The projector is hand-cranked so the frame rate is dependent on how fast you can rotate the handle. Instead of the usual heat-emitting bulb as a concession to modern times, an LED is used to light up the film strips. In true Gakken style, it comes in a flat package (think IKEA) and you get to glue everything together like a fix-it-kit.

The 8mm camera has yet to be announced by Gakken, but is already making its round on the Web. It is reported that this no-frills model will run on normal batteries and is lightweight enough for aspiring film-makers to ferry around. Only thing that would be hard to find is 8mm film stock.

Sadly, Gakken is not available in every Asian city, so your best bet would probably be eBay or a friend in Japan.

Via Gizmodo and CScout Japan

Report: Facebook growing faster than MySpace

MySpace is still the top dog among social networks in the US, according to researcher Hitwise, but its No. 2 rival Facebook is gaining fast.

MySpace attracted as much as 73 percent of US visitor market share for social networks in June, down by 6 percent from the same period last year, according to a report released Wednesday from Hitwise. Facebook, its more staid social rival, lured about 17 percent of the US market, up 40 percent from June 2007.

It's still a wide margin, but Facebook's threat looms large. And Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg emphasized this week that the company's primary goal is growth.
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Warner Bros. moves against Web copies of Dark Knight

Warner Bros. is going after the sites that posted pirated copies of the film The Dark Knight.

CNET News reported Monday that copies of the hit new Batman film could be found at several Web sites. Now, a spokesman for the studio said Warner Bros. is taking action.

"We actively search for these sites and services and have them taken down," said Craig Hoffman, a spokesman for Warner Bros.' worldwide antipiracy and technical operations. "While so far we have had compliance with our requests, we certainly reserve our rights to take whatever legal action necessary to protect our intellectual property."

Warner Bros. does see one positive in the pirating of The Dark Knight, Hoffman said. No copies of the film circulated before the film's theater debut.
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Creative goes Mozaic with new Zen player

For the third week running, audio maker Creative has unveiled a new portable media device for its Zen player range. The latest offering, the Zen Mozaic, is apparently inspired by mosaic expressions. Unlike previous Zen models which typically come in simple one-tone hues, Creative breaks away from its conventional designs to give the Mozaic player a rather refreshing yet unique appearance.

The Mozaic will be available in vivid pink, chic black and cool silver, and will come in capacities ranging from 2GB to 16GB. As with most recent Creative portable players, it will also feature a built-in speaker, in addition to a 1.8-inch LCD display, FM radio and voice recording (with onboard microphone). Creative gives a music play time of 32 hours before the next recharge.

According to Creative's press release, the 2GB (S$99 (US$72.79)) and 4GB (S$129 (US$94.85)) models are available now, while the 8GB (S$169 (US$124.26)) and 16GB (S$249 (US$183.09)) offerings will be launched in August. We are still waiting for Creative to revert on the availability of the Mozaic player in other parts of Asia.

The audio maker will also be introducing several accessories for the Mozaic, including the TravelSound Zen Mozaic speaker system (S$79 (US$58.09)), carabiner case (S$24 (US$17.65)), armband and skin (S$29 (US$21.32)) as well as silicone skin pack (S$24 (US$17.65)). The TravelSound speaker (as shown on the left) docks and charges the player, and comes with its own built-in rechargeable battery (for extended use) and FM radio antenna.

Update: Creative has confirmed that the Zen Mozaic will be available in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, followed by other Asian countries in the next few months.

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