Skyrim 360 saves on PC version

Here's how to get a Xbox 360 game save of Skyrim onto your PC version!

Here’s how:

Copy the save to your 360 Formatted USB Drive. Open with Modio. Click open from device locate the save file and open it. Click the file contents tab. Extract savegame.dat rename to savegame.ess and put it into your Skyrim save game location.

Modio (Reads 360 Formatted USB drives) - http://www.game-tuts.com/community/modio.php

Communications news round up

Vodafone are pretty unhappy with Everything Everywhere's effort to get 4G out this year

Apparently BT Open Reach is enhancing the experience of moving away from Sub Loop Unbundling SLU (as opposed to the more familiar LLU)  providers, which reads to me more like "We actually have a proper process in place now" to me.

Note this is different to Open Reach's GEA-FTTC, of which they are soon to be rolling out the faster 80/20 service come April.

The Cloud expanding WiFi coverage

The Cloud has been expanding its WiFi network quite rapidly recently, To name a few new names:

Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh,
60 Mamas & Papas
Phones4u,
Ted Baker
Around ten Marks & Spencer stores (pilot scheme)
Info: http://www.thecloud.net/wifi/news/wifi-rolled-out-in-mamas-papas-and-harvey-nichols/

Also recently announce was 23 First Great Western stations to have The Cloud WiFi installed:
http://www.thecloud.net/wifi/news/first-great-western-picks-up-speed-with-the-cloud/ 

Twitter feed: @TheCloudWiFi

UK to get 4G service this year?

Where as in decades before it was the US that lagged behind in mobile infrastructure, it now seems that the UK and picked up that moniker as we are going to be one of the last countries in the EU to implement a national 4G network.

On the flip side it looks like Everything Everywhere maybe get there wish to reuse their current spectrum frequencies for 4G before the designated 4G spectrum's which are to be auctioned.

For more information, here is the link: http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2012/03/ofcom-proposals-to-allow-4g-mobile-services-this-year/

Update to the broadband links page

I've updated the broadband page (found on the right).

Quick link: here

Want!

This Wacom is AMAZING! If I had a spare £2k to drop i'd do it in a second! Windows 8's Metro UI would also suite this really well I think!

http://www.reghardware.com/2012/03/06/review_wacom_cintiq_24hd_interactive_pen_display/

Logitech g700 profile settings

It's taken a while to get used to using all the extra features of the mouse but I really love the 5 different levels of DPI tracking!

If you use Maya or any sort of editing software where you need high accuracy then you'll love this. I must admit I don't swap around much in games but when I remember to it can be pretty helpful there too!

Here are the settings I've settled on:

Just thought I'd put this up for anyone who might like it as it can be a bit daunting at first. 

Rooted and put ICS on my UK Xoom

I got fed up of waiting for Motorola. I hate it when companies with a global presence neglect their other markets. I've been waiting patiently for ages for ICS on my UK Xoom but the time had come.

I hadn't messed about with any ROM's since my HTC HD2 which I loved immensely due to its versatility. You could almost put any OS on it!.

Head on over to http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=948 and you can find all the detail you need to get started. I went for the team EOS ROM which has nightly builds. I started only ROM 59 and so far it's worked like a dream. It's so much smoother than Honey Comb (The 3.x.x Android OS) and with the rooted Xoom you can under-clock (to save battery) or over-clock as you please. The performance had made some games actually playable now such as Asphalt 6 HD which was unbearably with any background programs running..

Microsoft (not so) security essentials

Today I started being re-directed to random sites when using Google search. Immediately this started ringing alarm bells... I'm on a new Windows 7 install and previously was using Avast (paid for). As I hadn't got the license file off of my Dad and was being a bit lazy I just installed Microsoft security essentials which I had not had an issue with before.

I was running fine for about a week until these Google issues today.... I eventually found a strange program sitting in the startup section of msconfig. I tried to open MS security essentials but it kept closing immediately. I removed the AV and installed the free version of Avast. This picked up the virus straight away and dealt with it so I'm already impressed. Then started a boot time scan just to double check everything was sorted and it was.

Once back up I put back on the paid license and all was good.

Motorola Xoom and slow updates.

So Ice Cream Sandwhich has been out for the Xoom in the US for about a week now and still no sign of a worldwide / UK release. It's so frustrating when this happens. We live in global times....

Still for anyone looking to get ICS on there Xoom there are unofficial ROM's you can use although rooting your device will invalidate the warranty.

See link for the Team Eos ROM:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1400958

IPv6 - The live date is set!

Google have a new article on IPv6 and a go live date for them here:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/ipv6-countdown-to-launch.html

To see the Internet societies dedicated page, visit: http://www.worldipv6launch.org/
It'll be nice to see what some of the major UK ISP's announce in the run up.

It'll be a good time to be a newly qualified CCNA / CCNP engineer I think.

Crucial M4 important firmware update

So there is appartly a critical update for Crucial M4 SSD's

For more info see:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5424/crucial-provides-a-firmware-update-for-m4-to-fix-the-bsod-issue

To get the update and for instructions on how to apply it, see here:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/support/firmware.aspx

Shuttle SP35P2 Bios and memory configuration

The Shuttle SP35P2 Bios and memory configuration isn't exactly easy if you want to use your memory at 1066Mhz. Mainly because the memory sticks are usually only tested to the 1600 speed, but built to slower 800Mhz specification at which the motherboard will recognise it!

Here is the description on my Kingston Hyper X memory:

DESCRIPTION
Kingston’s KHX8500D2K2/4G is a kit of two 256M x 64-bit 
2GB (2048MB) DDR2-1066 CL5 SDRAM (Synchronous 
DRAM) memory modules, based on sixteen 128M x 8-bit 
DDR2 FBGA components per module. Total kit capacity is 
4GB (4096MB). Each module pair has been tested to run at 
DDR2-1066MHz at a latency timing of 5-5-5-15 at 2.2V. The 
SPD is programmed to JEDEC standard latency 800Mhz 
timing of 5-5-5-18 at 1.8V. Each 240-pin DIMM uses gold 
contact fingers and requires +1.8V. The electrical and mechanical specifications are as follows  


So in the shuttle bios you need to up the voltage to 2.2v and set the values manually. I found the ratio to use was a 2:1 FSB with my Core 2 Duo Quad Q6700 (This will vary depending on your CPU and Rated FSB)

New freeware page!

I've created a new freeware page here where I'm going to list loads of useful programs I use. Given that I was doing a new install of the operating system, I've been having to load them all on my machine so I thought it'd be good to have a repository handy. It's not massively fleshed out yet but the core essentials are in there for now.

Enjoy!

Comments on my new gadgets!

So I've actually been busy with lots of new techy toys over the holiday period. My two favourites would have to be my new Sennheiser HD 558's which were totally unexpected from my girlfriend for Christmas. The second item being a solid-state drive. 

 

The headphones sound quality is immense! When I first realised they were open-backed I was a little worried about disturbing people but I don't actually listen to music that loudly it seems. Also I do like the fact that you can somewhat hear what's going on around you. I'll usually pick these if i'm listening to music and then switch to the Logitech G930's for gaming. 

The only negative I can think of for them is that they have a twist and lock cable release but it seems the only other cable you can buy is the

same one. As this comes with a 6.3mm jack and not a 3.5mm one it makes it very bulky for travelling (if you want to). I think I tried every Sennheiser parts dealer there is and those closest I got was part: '091581 - 1 x HD 200 Cable 3m jack 2.5mm to 3.5mm jack'. Unfortunately this 2.55mm jack does not fit and the sheath and metal base is too thick. The only real options I can think of are to make one or get someone like http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/ to make one for me (expensive).

I got the SSD because I'd been dying to get my hands on a performance one for ages! The results are impressive! Game load times are noticeably shorter and everything feels a lot more responsive. I've noticed it in only a few days going back and forth to work and using their PC's which are pretty new and decent spec workstation machines themselves. Make sure you have the latest firmware on the M4's as they give you a performance gain! 

With the Logitech items, The G510 keyboard, G930 headset and the G700 mouse. All are top notch and come with that accustomed Logitech quality feel. I like the palm rest on the G510 which is really understated as I saw no mention of it before purchase. I did have a issue with the apps for the display on the G510 at first. I seemed to have to install the legacy software first before the newer keyboard software which was a bit strange. 

The red light on the tip of the mic is really good on the G930's and I also like the desk stand / charger that comes with the G700, much better than Logitech's previous mouse charging methods!