Google: New Maps API

Google has released the API for Google Maps. This api allows you to display maps on you own pages, and do things like add routes, icons, and information tabs. This is actually pretty easy to use, and all you need to do is apply for your own API key, and copy the example api code into any html page. If you need to see a working example, check the very bottom of this page, and you will see it at work(and where I work)REMOVED--Check the Google site. Pretty nifty trick. And if you are a blogger on blogspot, it is as easy as pasting the correct code into your template.

Click here for the API goodness!

QT: Trolltech QT 4.0

Trolltech has finally launched a GPL version of their software for Win32. This is great news for myself, and a lot of people out there.I for one, have never been able to install QT properly on my linux box.
There was always some missing or mis-referenced library, and I never could get it to work. I could also never seem to find the old 2.3 Win32 version that was GPL'd. Now, I can try it on my windoze box, and see if it is easier to write my Python Gui's.

Click here for the win32 download mirrors!

iTunes: Version 4.9 with Podcast Support

The new version of iTunes has hit the street, so all of you blogcast/podcast folks can enjoy searching the hundreds of audio blogs out there.
Also in this new version, is the ability to publish your own podcast.
Nothing else that exciting about it, aside from the podcast features.
Good stuff-

Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes

Linux Gaming: Linspire and Transgaming Change the World

Interesting stuff here. This new software package is touting the ability to allow you to play hundreds(a hundred?) different win32 games on linux. This particular package is Linspire specific. There is a lot of talk out there in the open source community, about how this is pointless because it's not free, and goes against the spirit of the linux community...blah..blah.

The point is, that this kind of software has to get out there, and has to sell, to ever make Linux the desktop powerhouse it deserves to be. It is time for the Linux/FOSS community to grow up a little, and realize that it is still just a commodity. Not that I'm going to pay to try it out, but I'm a cheap bastard.



TransGaming Technologies

Javascript: Virtual Unix

Check out this really neat implementation of a *nix console done entirely in javascript. The quality of web design work showing up on the interweb, is getting really impressive. I am also rather happy to see this resurgence of javascript. I get the feeling that the popularity of Firefox
may be leading the new javascript/XUL/Ajax front.

Click here to check this out.

Python: Simple Socket Test

I have found that there is not a lot of documentation out there that shows you a simple way to instantiate a socket connection. Here is a simple code snippet, that shows you how to make a connection using the socket module. This would be useful for checking whether a host is listening on a particular port. This is not a full sockets implementation(no send, or recieve), but simply tests if a TCP socket is open.

import socket

#Simply change the host and port values
host = '127.0.0.1'
port = '80'

s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
try:
  s.connect((host, port))
  s.shutdown(2)
  print "Success connecting to "
  print host + " on port: " + str(port)
except:
  print "Cannot connect to " 
  print host + " on port: " + str(port)

FYI- You can test for a UDP port by changing "socket.SOCK_STREAM" to "socket.SOCK_DGRAM" .

Check out the documentation for the socket module here.

Xbox360: Nvidia Will Make Games Work

It was just recently announced that MS has licensed Nvidia technology, so they can emulate Xbox games on the 360.
It sounds like any backwards compatibility will be through emulation.
The plan, is to use the Nvidia technology to emulate the original Xbox video card on the new ATI card in the 360. They will then ship the 360 with patches for the most popular games, pre-installed on the hard drive.
I don't know how this is really going to work. As a distribution model, it makes sense that they would release new patches over Xbox Live. But some research out there has indicated that only 10% of Xbox owners, use the Live option. This could really break the initial sales on this console to the general public. Although there will be a certain kind of person who will get it regardless(myself included), I think the perception that they have poor or minimal backwards compatibility will hurt sales to the average gamer.
Unless they can really leverage the new "Gold","Silver"... packages for Xbox Live, they may have some trouble getting game support out the door to the consumer. I hope it works, but I have my doubts.

Click Here for the article from gamesindustry.biz

Linux: PS3 Will have Linux HDD

The new PS3 is going to have a hard drive with Linux pre-installed. This will have to be purchased seperately, but still sounds like a pretty neat thing. This means that with an attached hard drive, you could use the PS3 as an all around networked media player, file server, or desktop PC. The interview touts the interesting things that can be done with Cell processor, and hints at the hacking possibilities that will be available. I for one, am pretty excited to see the potential of this device once it comes out. Sony is now touting the PS3 as a "supercomputer", as opposed to the MS/Nintendo track of calling it a "toy". Interesting stuff---


Add-on PlayStation 3 HDD will run Linux - News at GameSpot