The Sheng is an ancient Chinese musical instrument whose origins date back to around 1,100 BC. They are still made and played today but it seems that very few people know about them outside of China. However, it may just gain traction based on how perfectly it plays the Super Mario Bros. theme. I know Koji Kendo composed the SMB soundtrack using pianos but the sheng is just too perfect at this.
Yearly Archives: 2014
Samsung Unveils the New Flagship Galaxy S5 Smartphone
With Apple releasing the slightly improved iPhone 5S last fall, the door was open for Samsung to make a big splash with their flagship Galaxy series. Instead, the S5 pulls a 5S and just makes a few incremental improvements over the much-loved Galaxy S4 smartphone. Still, it’s an impressive piece of kit.
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Comic Book Pull List for February 26, 2014
For this week’s pull list, I think that we should take a look at a trio of one-shots and a couple of continuing series. For the DC fans, Lois Lane gets her own family-focused adventure in Superman: Lois Lane #1. The off-screen reboot/reimagining of Robocop continues in another comic with Robocop: Beta. And The Lone Gunmen crossover with Optimus Prime and company in The X-Files: Conspiracy – Transformers.
If you’re looking for regular series, the second of six Firefly comics is out this week with the release of Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #2. And the Fantastic Four get a reboot in Fantastic Four #1.
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Sony to Reveal Virtual Reality Headset as PS4 Remains in Short Supply
A few interesting news tidbits about Sony crossed my desk this weekend that I thought some of you might be interested in. Sony is pressing ahead with its interest in VR headsets. Rather than join forces with Oculus Rift, they’re making their own VR headset for the PS4 and we can expect to see it next month. Meanwhile, if you don’t already have a console for that headset, don’t expect to get your hands on one for another couple of months as the PS4 remains in short supply.
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Heroes Returns to NBC in 2015
Remember Heroes? Wasn’t that a pretty cool season of television? Sure, it dragged a bit at points but, on the whole, it always seemed fairly interesting and compelling. That 2006-07 season was a ratings and critical hit.
Then the second season of the show dropped and things very quickly stopped making any sense. When the show stopped being interesting, the people stopped watching and the critics stopped caring. The show slowly bled viewers until it was mercifully killed by NBC following its fourth season.
However, NBC execs are so desperate to shore up a network that’s competing with Univision for 4th in ratings any time The Voice isn’t on that they’re going back to the well. NBC announced that they’re reviving Heroes for a 13-episode miniseries called Heroes Reborn and bringing back creator Tim Kring to helm it.
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Here’s Final Fantasy VII’s Boss Battle Music Played by 16 Floppy Disc Drives
MrSolidSnake745 on YouTube is famous for recreating famous pieces of music using eight floppy disc drives. Chances are you’ve seen at least one of his videos, be it this one or his Ghostbusters theme or What is Love. In his latest video, he doubles the number of floppy drives he typically uses to play Final Fantasy VII’s boss music, Those Who Fight Further.
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Netflix Paying Comcast for More “Direct Access” to Customers
Well, it looks like the first internet service provider to blink on net neutrality isn’t Verizon but Comcast. Comcast announced a deal with Netflix that allows Comcast customers more direct access to Netflix servers. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that Netflix is paying for that more direct access to their customers.
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Apple Reveals Major Security Flaw in Their Operating Systems
Last Friday, Apple revealed that they had discovered a critical security flaw in their software that left iOS users susceptible to “man-in-the-middle” attacks that would allow hackers to impersonate and intercept supposedly secure information that you were attempting to transmit to supposedly secure websites.
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Geek Links of the Week
It’s been almost a year since Disney killed off LucasArts and turned it into a licensing division rather than a video game developer and publisher. However, the death of LucasArts had been a decade in the making. [Game Informer]
Popular YouTuber TotalBiscuit explains the downside of being famous on the internet. [/r/CynicalBrit]
In something of a surprise, the internet has reacted favourably to The Escapist reviews editor Jim Sterling being cast in Volume. How does he get a pass but a Jessica Chobot and IGN get raked over the coals? [Stick Twiddlers]
Good news for people who are roughly my age: Tony Hawk says that Activision is working on a new Tony Hawk skateboarding game. Just make a game and use the soundtracks from THPS1 & 2 and you’ll be fine. [IGN]
FYI: GOG is moving to a regional pricing model at the request of publishers. That probably doesn’t benefit anyone who is now subject to regional pricing. They say it’s necessary so more publishers will release DRM free on the service. [GOG.com]
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What if Disney Princesses Were Game of Thrones Characters?
Since we’re only six weeks away from the season premiere of Game of Thrones, I think that now is the time for the return of regular Game of Thrones posts in a series that I’ve come to dub Fridays of Ice and Fire.
For the return of Game of Thrones posts, I found this mashup of Disney princesses with characters from Game of Thrones in the gallery of DjeDjehuti. So what would Disney characters look like if they were in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros?
et geekera 