Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 87
August 14, 2017
Name your price books on LEGO MINDSTORMS and robotics from Humble Bundle!
Another great new name-your-price book Humble Bundle hit today related to LEGO MINDSTORMS and robotics. Here’s the link and offer details (End date: August 28, 2017 at 11:00:00 PDT):
The Humble Book Bundle: LEGO MINDSTORMS & Robotics presented by Apress
The perfect mindstorm. The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® system allows you to create custom programmable robots from a few bricks, some sensors, and your own brainpower. Get inspired with this bundle full of ebooks, including Beginning LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, Practical LEGO Technics, Arduino and LEGO Projects, and LEGO Technic Robotics… and start brainstorming!
Pay what you want. All together, these books would cost over $569. Here at Humble Bundle, you choose the price and increase your contribution to upgrade your bundle! This bundle has a minimum $1 purchase.
Read them anywhere. These books are available in PDF, ePUB, and MOBI formats, meaning you can read them anywhere at any time. Instructions and a list of recommended reading programs can be found here.
Support charity. Choose where the money goes – between the publisher and, if you’d like, a charity of your choice via the PayPal Giving Fund. If you like what we do, you can leave us a Humble Tip too!
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August 10, 2017
Sale: Final Fantasy Weekend – Save 50%!
FINAL FANTASY Weekend just launched in the Humble Store, with 50% off your favorite titles! The sale will be live through Monday, August 14, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. The link.
FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD REMASTER
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August 9, 2017
Humble Bundles for August 2017 – Name your price games, books, comics, etc.
The latest Humble Bundles – where you name your own price for amazing games, books, comics, and more, all while supporting charities – are as follows:
Humble Monthly – Get over $100 in games for just $12 a month!
Humble microJumbo Bundle – Start with FREE games, and pay what you want for more fun. We’ve bundled some of the best low-price indie games out there, so you can start playing Pony Island or Devil Daggers right now. (Ends 8/22 at 11 a.m. Pacific time)
GameMake Rebundle – The GameMaker bundle was so awesome, we decided to bring it back. Grab a collection of software, games, and source files to help you realize your most ambitious game dreams! (Ends 8/15 at 11 a.m. Pacific time)
Humble Comics Bundle Best of Fantagraphics – The comics publisher is back at Humble with a selection of some of their best work over the years. Grab Peanuts, Love & Rockets, Krazy & Ignatz, and lots more! (Ends 8/16 at 11 a.m. Pacific time)
Humble Book Bundle Unreal Engine & Unity 5 – We’ve teamed up with Packt Publishing to bring you a collection of resources for game development using Unity and Unreal Engine. Get Unity 5.x By Example, Unity Virtual Reality Projects, Unreal Engine 4 Game Development Essentials, and more! (Ends 8/14 at 11 a.m. Pacific time)
Humble Book Bundle Braniac 2 – No Starch is back with a new bundle to tuck under your thinking cap. Start brainstorming with The LEGO Animation Book, Electronics for Kids, Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling, Arduino Project Handbook, and more! (Ends 8/23 at 11 a.m. Pacific time)
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Tachyon Project Limited Edition – Exclusive bundle for PS4 and Vita available for pre-order!
Play-Asia.com has two exclusive pre-order bundles for intriguing twin stick shooter, Tachyon Project. Each bundle is priced at just $29.99, works on all regions of PlayStation 4 (PS4) or PlayStation Vita (Vita), and includes the following:
Tachyon Project Collector’s Box
Tachyon Project Game Disc
Tachyon Project Game Manual
Tachyon Project Original Soundtrack
Tachyon Project Numbered Certificate
To pre-order the PS4 version, click here. To pre-order the Vita version, click here (limited to just 2000 copies!). Expected release date is August 21, 2017.
In the mean-time, check out the game’s trailer:
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August 7, 2017
Review: Vertical Stands for PS4 Pro and Xbox One S
After recently getting a new TV and surround sound system for proper 4K gaming, I ran into a space issue. With an extra long center sound bar and no easy way to wall mount it, I had less space for my consoles.
As of now, on the top of my furniture unit, I have the center sound bar, cable box, Xbox One S, PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), and Nintendo Switch. The Switch in its dock fits neatly behind the sound bar, while the oversized cable box sits in its only available orientation, horizontal. That left me to stack my Xbox One S on top of my PS4 Pro.
Unfortunately, doing this type of stacking seemed to cause the PS4 Pro to overheat; the center top of its case appears to be a heat transfer point. With the Xbox One S on top, there was no way for this heat to naturally dissipate and/or stay under control. The solution was to place both of those consoles in a vertical position.
The Xbox One S stand in action.
The DOUBI Vertical Stand for Xbox One S is a simple stand that clicks into place on the bottom of the console. While indeed simple, it’s effective, and it has a reasonable low price to match.
The PS4 Pro stand in action.
The Younik PS4 Pro Vertical Stand is similarly a simple stand that encloses the bottom of its console. It’s a little bigger than its Xbox One S counterpart, but then the PS4 Pro is slightly larger and has an angled shape that requires a different type of accommodation. Regardless, it too is effective with a reasonable low price to match.
Living side-by-side in harmony.
It’s hard to muster much enthusiasm for products that are so simple, but it would be disingenuous to ignore the fact that they solve a very real problem without breaking the bank. You can pay a lot more for other vertical stands that are frankly over-engineered.
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Special Offer: Save 10% on Tactink PLA 3D Printing Filaments
Coupon codes are valid through August 14, 2017.
Get 10% off on Tactink RED PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code MJVOZW94 . Amazon Purchase link. The Armchair Arcade review.
Tactink RED PLA 3D printing filament
Get 10% off on Tactink WHITE PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code 8DZWPNII . Amazon Purchase link.
Get 10% off on Tactink BLACK PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code EYLZ7O59 . Amazon Purchase link.
Tactink BLACK PLA 3D printing filament
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Review: GoolRC GC002 2.4G Remote Control Flip 20 KM/H High Speed Electric RC Racing Boat
While drones seem to get all the buzz these days, “old fashioned” RC vehicles can still be a blast. The GoolRC GC002 2.4G Remote Control Flip 20 KM/H High Speed Electric RC Racing Boat proves that point.
The box.
In the box you get the boat, an unassembled display stand, remote control, 7.4V 600mAh lithium-ion boat battery and USB charging cable, spare propeller and wrench, spindle tube lubricant, and instructions. Four AA batteries for the remote control are not included.
Inside the box.
The boat has a removable top (cabin cover) that contains the inner workings and battery connection. On the side of the boat is a drain. On the back of the boat is the small cruise rudder and larger steering rudder.
The remote.
The 2.4G remote control has right and left handed modes, and functions for throttle and direction, as well as left, right, backward, and forward trim. An informative LCD screen rounds out the remote’s feature-set.
The boat.
An interesting feature of the boat is that if for some reason it gets capsized, you can right the ship (literally) with a simple flip maneuver. Combined with a range of greater than 100 meters, this boat is about as safe to take out on the water as you’ll get, especially for beginners.
Inside the boat. I found the cabin cover a bit of a challenge to get back on properly.
Maximum speed is about 20 km/h, although going that fast will likely halve the maximum run time of about 10 minutes. To recharge the battery takes about 100 minutes.
In use, I found the GoolRC a joy to operate (keep in mind that the boat will only communicate with the remote when actually in the water). Although it was my first remote controlled boat and despite the fact that I struggled with securing the cabin cover (make sure it’s closed properly or water can get in the cabin and the boat will sink!), I had no issues with setup and handling on an open body of water. Considering the low price and all of its features, this is an easy remote control boat to recommend. And contrary to a lot of these low-priced toys, if needed, there are even spare parts available.
A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 6, 2017 at 3:14pm PDT
Pluses:
– Feature-packed
– Low priced
– Beginner friendly
– Includes boat battery
– Spare parts are readily available
Minuses:
– Remote batteries are not included
– Cabin cover can be tricky to secure
Summary:
An inexpensive, feature-packed RC boating experience that’s easy enough for beginners to work with.
Thanks to RCMOMENT.COM for the review unit.
The post Review: GoolRC GC002 2.4G Remote Control Flip 20 KM/H High Speed Electric RC Racing Boat appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
August 4, 2017
Review: HORI Compact Playstand for Nintendo Switch
In looking for a good stand for my Nintendo Switch to play some of the vertically oriented arcade games from the excellent NAMCO MUSEUM, I came across the HORI Compact Playstand. Superficially, it seemed to tick all the necessary boxes: performance, price, and compactness. In practice, it definitely ticked all those boxes.
The box.
It’s quite compact when folded.
The foldable stand can prop up the Switch at 30, 50, and 60 degree angles. When the Switch is placed horizontally like you would in any other dock, you can still charge the console without issue since the bottom port is fully accessible. While you can of course just use the cable from the official dock to charge the Switch in this stand, the Cable Matters USB-C cable is inexpensive and has worked well for me so that I never have to disturb my primary dock setup.
Unfolded and its kickstand placed in one of its three available positions.
The Switch placed horizontally.
While I admit my primary use case is rather specific, I definitely anticipate using this stand for other Switch games. It’s easy to fold and store, and is inexpensive enough not to worry about. It’s definitely recommended if you need a portable stand that can also accommodate your Switch in vertical mode.
Vertical placement, the way these classic arcade games were meant to be played.
Another look.
Pluses:
Functional
Compact
Inexpensive
Minuses:
None!
Summary:
A simple, yet effective portable Nintendo Switch stand.
The post Review: HORI Compact Playstand for Nintendo Switch appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 26, 2017
Infographic: How Increased Awareness About Concussions Is Driving Football Tech Innovations
Ohio University OnlineDiagnoses of concussions are on the rise in contact sports, particularly in football. Although professional football garners much of the attention due to publicity about lawsuits from former players, the concussion issue is generating attention at all levels of play.
To learn more, check out the infographic below created by Ohio University’s Online Masters in Coaching program.
Concussion Diagnoses Increasing Significantly
On the professional level, the number of concussions diagnosed in the National Football League (NFL) during the regular season increased 58% from 2014 to 2015. A recent report in the New York Times, however, indicated that the NFL may have under reported concussions. Data in some of the league’s studies appears to be flawed, with more than 100 concussions omitted from the figures.
What’s more is that 96% of deceased NFL players have tested positive for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), while 79% of all deceased football players from any level have also tested positive. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease that is often found in individuals who have experienced brain trauma, including concussions. It may also be caused by asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head. The trauma causes progressive degeneration of brain tissue along with a buildup of the abnormal protein called tau. Change can begin months after the end of active athletic involvement and can cause memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and even dementia.
Occurrence of Concussions Among Lower Levels of Football
Professional football players aren’t the only ones diagnosed more frequently with concussions, as high school and college players also have experienced a higher percentage. According to the Injury Surveillance Program of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), high school football players suffered 11.2 concussions for every 10,000 practices and games, leading to more than 10,500 concussions annually. The most common causes of concussions involved hits to the head with another helmet, followed by coming into contact with the playing surface, and contact with a shoulder.
A report from insurance company Blue Cross and Blue Shield, reveals that the number of reported concussions increased 43% in the United States between 2010 and 2015, with concussions increasing a whopping 79% for patients 10 to 19 years old during the same time period. Current thinking is that it is not the number of concussions that have increased but that the incidence of “shaking off” a head injury has decreased. Also, incidents of receiving proper diagnosis and treatment have increased.
Concussions More Prevalent in Males
Autumn is the peak season for youth concussion because that is the time when the most football is played. Concussion diagnoses for teenage males in autumn nearly double those suffered by females of the same age. Concussion diagnoses for all adults aged 20 through 64 increased 26% during the same period, but there was no seasonal difference in this age group.
Another increase reported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield involves the incidence of post-concussion syndrome, which nearly doubled between 2010 and 2015. The syndrome occurred nearly equally in teenage males and females, but was 60% more prevalent in women aged 20 to 64.
Other Sports Where Concussions Are Common
Concussions aren’t only limited to football players. Other sports where the injury is common include ice hockey, soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, field hockey, basketball, softball, baseball, cheerleading, volleyball, and gymnastics. In addition, evidence of CTE has been found in pro wrestlers, hockey players, soccer players, and individuals who have participated in professional mixed martial arts competitions.
Technological Innovations Hope to Prevent Future Concussion
Because of the adverse rise in reported concussions, the NFL has provided funding to create technologies that will help reduce the incidence of head injuries. Entitled the Head Health Challenges, the initiative is a three-stage collaboration among the NFL, General Electric, and Under Armour to advance the development of technology to detect mild traumatic brain injuries and improve brain protection.
The initiative has paid $20 million over five years for technologies under development by the United States Army, the University of Washington, and Viconic Sporting, a company based in Dearborn, MI.
The US Army’s research laboratory has created a material resulting in more stable tethers that attach from the lower bars of the football helmet to the chest. This innovation allows voluntary head movement during play yet minimizes sudden accelerations caused by high-speed collisions where the head may snap back, a movement often associated with concussions.
The University of Washington has developed the Zero1 helmet in conjunction with Viconic. This helmet address not only linear forces caused by direct hits but also angular and rotational acceleration. The shock absorbing structures within the helmet help reduce force created at the point of impact. Unlike helmets currently on the market, it has a soft outer shell that changes its shape on impact, and a column-like inner structure that provides protection.
The third innovation is a special synthetic surface created for placement underneath the helmet to reduce impact. Viconic Sporting already had the technology for this blast-resistant mat, as it had sold the product to military installations. This patented technology, made from highly recoverable thermoplastic, recovers fully to its original shape after impact. The mat absorbs significantly more energy than traditional foam materials.
Each organization will be able to receive up to an additional $1 million if they continue their research and bring their product to market.
Advances in Detecting Concussions
BrainScope Company, Inc., has developed a new technology that detects signs of a concussion in an individual’s brain waves. The Ahead 300 is a hand-held device, recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, that uses proprietary technology based on qualitative electroencephalography (QEEG). The algorithms developed by BrainScope detect sets of abnormalities in the EEG signal associated with brain injuries.
The Ahead 300 provides emergency room physicians with a fast, objective assessment of the likelihood of traumatic brain injury in patients who have mild symptoms when they come in for care. Up to 95% of all patients who come in for care only exhibit mild symptoms. The device also provides digital, streamlined reports to help facilitate accurate diagnoses.
Although doctors caution that such innovations won’t fully prevent concussions, the hope is that they will be greatly reduced. Following is a summary of how increased awareness is making a difference.
The post Infographic: How Increased Awareness About Concussions Is Driving Football Tech Innovations appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 25, 2017
Review: Stronghero3D FDM 3d printer filament PLA Multicolors Gradient
It’s difficult for a company to distinguish their 3D printing filament without resorting to incorporating exotic materials into their plastic formulations. Unfortunately, filaments that incorporate exotic materials are typically more challenging to work with, don’t work with every printer, and can be rather expensive. PLA is obviously the most common filament and the easiest to work with, but, with color choices being equal, there’s usually little to distinguish one quality brand from another. Stronghero3D has addressed this issue of PLA distinction by creating a glossy gold color infused with additional colors like green and orange.
The box.
Inside the box.
The Stronghero3D comes packaged inside a solid cardboard box. As expected, the spool is shrinkwrapped with a silica gel pack. The PLA raw materials are from Natureworks 4032D with a roll size of 0.75 kg (1.65 lbs) in a standard 1.75mm diameter with the expected +/-0.05mm dimensional accuracy.
The spool loaded on my printer.
The fish printed well, but my printer didn’t fuse part of the tale properly, which fell off midway through.
Usage was straightforward. I placed it on my Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder and used default settings on my New Matter MOD-t. As you can see from the output, overall quality was excellent, even on my modest test printer.
The emoji printed well.
Because of the way the roll is colored, you really don’t know quite what the coloring of the final model will ultimately look like. For instance, my first prints were somewhere between a peach and a pink. While this is obviously a no-go for models that you need output as a specific, uniform color, it does create a great, distinctive look when the exact coloring doesn’t matter.
A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Jul 23, 2017 at 7:58pm PDT
Thanks to Stronghero3D for the review unit.
The final output.
A closer look.
Pluses:
– Clever concept
– Quality design
– Relatively inexpensive for an unusual filament
Minuses:
– No way to predict the coloring of the output
Summary:
If you don’t mind unpredictable color output, the quality and distinct look of this unusual 3D printer filament is rather nice.
The post Review: Stronghero3D FDM 3d printer filament PLA Multicolors Gradient appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
