DeAD: A security code - my security code

What's with the damn security codes these days?

Okay, so I was signing a petition the other day and then I came across this: 

It was all very serious up to that moment because of some startling issue to do with animal rights but…well, I typed it in anyway though they probably should've given me a different combination of characters, not something that spelt "Dead". Thanks for filling me up with sunshine and hope.

And it looks like a crazy compulsive texture wrote that - you know the type. H0w aR3 Y0u +0daY?

Review: Just Dance 2

Oh where art thou, Random Thingamablogger?

Well actually, I've just been out the back testing Ubisoft's sequel to Just Dance. Yes, Just Dance 2. Now let's just make it clear that I've never owned or played Ubisoft's Just Dance, so this review should be read independently of JD. 

So let's get it started.

Graphics
First of all, the visuals are great. I haven't played Xbox's Dance Central (mainly because I don't have an XBox and I think I would want to heavily reconsider buying a whole new console as well as a camera and dance game since that would hurt my pocket and make Bill Gates happy) but there's something very cool and retro about those neon colored avatars in gear that always suits the song compared with the really try-hard anime-like avatars from DC. You basically just follow/copy/mimic the actions on screen as shown to you by your dance coach (sort of like looking into a mirror).

Gameplay
The gameplay for DC is probably better though, when it comes to motion-tracking technology. All JD2 has for motion-sensing control is the Wii Remote, which you hold in your right hand. But this really is a step-up from the old Dance Dance Revolution games since it's unlikely you'll slip on a dance mat ever again. That's probably because DC uses a camera to track even tiny movements from your body, which sounds pretty cool, like a new type of scanning machine. Well, actually, that idea's not really new. Remember PS2's Eye Toy line-up? It's just that they never focused on capturing precise movements. The motion-tracking teachnology for JD2 is good, but it's not perfect. Sometimes you know you're doing the right move and it won't register (a 'miss') and sometimes you'll be totally out-of-sync with the dance coach and it'll register as an 'OK', 'good' or 'perfect'.

Choreography & Tracklist
The dance moves for JD2 were all carried out by real-life dancers with the obvious aim of making most of those dance moves actually feasible for your average person. All in all, the choreography is excellent. It's all a little bit of silly fun really. Some of the choreography is hilariously outrageous. But sometimes laughing is good for you, even if the game is a bit on the shallow side. As for the tracklist, this is totally one of the best set tracklists I have seen for a long time. Especially for a dancing game. Most dancing games feature club songs (that your typical mainstream music listener) but this has a track for everyone - ranging from A-Punk's "Vampire Weekend" to The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up". There is even an option to display lyrics so you (or your friends) can sing along too.

Just Sweat
This little section of the game actually lets you use the power of dance to help you sweat and burn off those calories. The programs range from mild to intense (and yes, that means a lot of sweat) and depending on what songs you cover (some are more calorie-burning than others) you'll either do something from 1 song a day to about 6 songs per day. Yes, for a week. Now I can see why dancers have such nice bodies.

Lasting Appeal
I would have to say, the lasting appeal of JD2 would have to depend on how you actually use JD2 and how much you like dancing. And I suppose I like dancing. The fact that they've actually added a store to purchase new content (new songs and dances) is something of a nice feature, keeping the game alive. It's a little bit hard to keep playing on your own though - since there are no unlockable items or difficulty levels. I've yet to play this multi-player but I think that's when the party comes to life. But you know, at times I find myself just wanting to grab the Wiimote and start dancing to It's Raining Men, or something. And at times, I find myself giving in.

Software: 10 Minute Mail

So you wanna sign up to some service that offers you some free downloads but you don't wanna bit hit with a crapload of spam? Well, my friend, you gotta try 10 Minute Mail. Not to be confused with Missy Elliot's One Minute Man, 10 Minute Mail is a temporary e-mail address given to you for those very purposes. It basically throws itself out after the 10 minutes is up. But, of course, you could opt for another 10 minutes, if you need to. You could even use this as an e-mail to leave an anonymous comment here, or somewhere else, if you're worried about your privacy. Yes, websites do and will sell your information to third-parties when and where they can. So protect yourself!

I must say I was a little cheeky and made a few fake Facebook accounts using 10 Minute Mail. And I totally came across this link. It's not like anyone would have a name like the fake accounts I made. It's like when Phoebe's boyfriend, from that oh-so-popular sitcom, Friends, Mike called himself "Crap Bag".

Review: Mad Catz Wiimote

Ever since the Wii made its launch in 2007, people have been wondering whether there would be third-party accessories. Now I'm not usually the type to go around third-party accessories but I took a punt with the Mad Catz Wiimote when it went on sale for $30 at Mighty Ape. And here are my thoughts:

Design
First off, the Mad Catz Wiimote looks and feels like the original Nintendo Wiimote. Well, pretty much. I even swapped the battery covers to see if they would fit into each other. I can say, nice click. The D-pad is a little different - it's enclosed in a circle. I would say however, the plastic finishing is a bit rough around the edges (no, literally - I found this random piece of plastic that was sticking out the side which I pulled off) compared to the ever smooth and well-defined original Wiimote. I never thought that I'd ever say that about a remote. And I guess I took the workmanship quality of the original Wiimote for granted. Although there's this piece that says that there are no differences in weight between the two makes, I would say that the Mad Catz Wiimote feels lighter and somewhat slimmer.

Winner: Original Wiimote

Compatibility
On the package, it states that the Mad Catz Wiimote is compatible with all Nunchuks and controllers, as well as Wii Motion Plus. I was able to fit my original Nunchuk into the Mad Catz Wiimote to do play some boxing in Wii Sports, as well as go wakeboarding and whatnot on the Wii Sports Resort Island. So, I can say, it seems to work well. Oh, and even though I said that the Mad Catz Wiimote feels lighter and smaller, it fits into the original Wiimote silicone sleeve perfectly. It didn't seem to have any weird tracking/communication issues at all.

Winner: Tie

Sound
I guess I might've forgotten to mention the fact that the Mad Catz Wiimote has 5 rows of 3 speaker holes as opposed to 6 on the original Wiimote. And I think this is the difference between sound quality. I'm not exactly sure whether the Mad Catz Wiimote gives out sounds that are more louder or just muffled, but to me, it just sounds more muffled.

Winner: Original Wiimote

Conclusion
So, really, I guess this all comes down to is price. The 'normal' price difference between the original Wiimote and the Mad Catz one is a mere $10. At that price, I would normally go for the original Wiimote but at $30, I'd go pick up a Mad Catz one instead for a spare remote and some multi-player fun.

Software: Snippy & MWSnap

You might've just realized that Windows 7 Starter is so basic (like in my recent netbook review of the HP Mini 110-3138TU) that it doesn't come with the ever-so-useful Snipping Tool (yes, been there, done that and found nothing in the Accessories folder - I even tried copying the program from another computer but it looks like it has to be installed or something). But no need to fear! There are free options over the Internet that do pretty much the same thing, such as Snippy and MWSnap.

The thing is with Snippy though, is that it works a little different from Snipping Tool. What you do instead of selecting an area of the screen to take a snapshot of, you actually use a lasso-like red pen to select what you want to capture and that gets saved to your clipboard. You then open a program like Microsoft Word and paste it there to look at it. And it pretty much looks like the picture that's on their website.

MWSnap, on the other hand is more closer to Snipping Tool, in that you would usually take a snapshot of a screen using a rectangle (as a default setting) - like in the sample snapshot below, as advertised on their website. Either way, I would say both programs fit the bill nicely, although I usually take screen captures of my whole desktop more frequently than I do of a selection of text and images.     

Review: Toshiba Mini USB Optical Mouse (PA3765U-1ETG)

First off, just like to wish everyone a happy new year! No, seriously. I hope that it's actually happy. Anyway, you may have remembered that I mentioned the Toshiba Mini USB Retractable Mouse (Model Number: PA3765U-1ETG) in my review of the HP Mini 110-3138TU. Well, that's because I actually have the mouse. So how is it?

Here's the basic specs:
-Dimensions: 3.0" x 1.7" x 1.2"
-Weight: 1.6 ounces
-Power requirement: 5V<30MA
-Cable length: 31"

It's a basic mouse that comes with 3 buttons (left, right and scrolling wheel) that plugs into a USB port. It's an laser optical mouse that runs at a resolution of 1000 dpi. And on the package it says that it works with pretty much all Windows operating systems (Windows 7, Vista, XP) and even Linux (Ubuntu). Though it doesn't say that it works with Mac OSX, I've tried it and can confirm it does, though it seems that it's slightly laggy when compared to the Macbook's trackpad. And it comes with a retractable cord, which is handy because you can use more or less of the cord depending on what you need. It also means it takes up less space in your bag when you're travelling (which is why I guess was the purpose of this mouse). I've got small hands (or so I've been told) and I find no problem using the mini mouse, even if it feels like my normal mouse shrunk. I do think that those with bigger hands may have a little trouble, though. It's really light too, so it goes well with netbooks and laptops. And with the touchpads on netbooks usually being cramped and not very easy to use sometimes, an external mouse definitely helps out. Retailing at $19.99, this certainly is quite a good companion to your netbook. But those with bigger hands may prefer to use something a little bigger.

Win Justin Bieber Nail Polish!

Justin's Nail Polish Line: Now you can have a little bit of Justin with you, everywhere! I can now totally see why people have been calling him Justine. 

If you haven't heard, tween teen sensation Justin Bieber has just released his nail polish line. But anyway, I got this e-mail from a certain animal rights advocacy group, namely PETA that said that I, yes, I, could win a bottle (or is it bottles?) of Justin Bieber's nail polish. Well, not the polish off his nails (though that might actually draw in more fans and entrants) but his nail polish line. Yes, PETA's offering me a chance to win his nail polish line. So wait. Are they giving this stuff away for free because nobody wants it or are they giving it away for free because most of PETA's members are Justin Bieber fans? I read this quote in some forum that said something like piracy isn't stealing, if nobody wants your crap for free, then how do you even expect to sell it? Now that's scary. A bunch of teenyboppers protesting against animal cruelty while allowing Justin Bieber to go around saying "Baby" in a never-ending chorus. Now that's animal cruelty. I'm an animal too, you know! But anyway, if you're curious or have Bieber fever, you can check out the entry page, right here. Well, at least he didn't name it something like Jizz.