The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

Some late breaking news from Nintendo. At the end of January 2019, they will shut down the original Wii Shop Channel for the Wii/Wii Mode. Points can be added until March 2018, but after that you can only purchase games until the service ends. You also won't be able to re-download previously "purchased" games after the shutdown.

http://nintendoeverything.com/wii-shop-c...-and-more/

This is one problem of digital distribution I don't like. It's convenient and cheaper for developers to just do a digital release, but when the service eventually shuts down, you lose access to games you have "purchased". Technically, you are just renting the game for an indefinite period.

After the Shop Channel closes, you better hope your console lasts for a while. Once the SD card dies or the console itself goes dead, those WiiWare and VC titles are history. Some of them have been brought over to the eShop, but you have to purchase them a second time. One of the criticisms of Nintendo's Virtual Console is the habit of re-releasing the same games on newer systems but not allowing people to count their older Wii purchases towards the newer Wii U releases. It's one of the many missteps of the Wii U, and people are hoping the Switch VC will let people transfer their previous VC purchases from the Wii U or 3DS. There isn't even any indication a Switch VC will even happen yet.

[huckleberrypie]

Valve stated that if they were in the situation that they have to close up shop, Steam would be updated to run offline for the games to still work. But yes I do get your drift about this pitfall with digital downloads.

[cpd2009]

I decided to try Norton Internet Security.

That may seem like blasphemy in most IT circles due to their sketchy reputation during the 2000s, but I do remember using it for a few years from 2012 through 2014 and I never came across any serious issues with the software. The main reason why I dropped it after 2014 is I didn't have enough funds to purchase another subscription.

When I purchased some eBooks from Bloomsbury, it required Adobe Digital Editions and along came a 30 day offer for Norton, obviously bundled with the ADE installer. After Avast not really being my thing, I decided to give it a try again. So far, so good, though it did false flag Gigabyte EasyTune (part of App Center) as malware, so I excluded it and Norton seems to have submitted the signature back for review.

Adobe is known for bundling offers with their products. If you download Adobe Reader or Flash, you will need to look carefully as the optional offer is always ticked. It's either Google Chrome or McAfee Security Scan.

[huckleberrypie]

Though the reason why most techs would scoff off on Norton is due to them being not as effective as the likes of Avast. Not that I'm coaxing you to try the latter though.

[cpd2009]

And, seems I will have to reset the 30 day trial. I learned that MS still allows PC's with valid Win7/Win8.1 keys to upgrade to Windows 10 for free despite the free upgrade period officially ending.

Seeing as how Win8.1 is rather clunky compared to 10, I will try to perform a fresh install on Greta using her Win7 Home key. Failing that, I will use my Win8.1 key.

Greta may be getting old, but she still works well for my needs, having a full computer while on road trips or away from home.

---

Forgot to add... I have been playing Flash Focus for the DS. It's Brain Age... for your eyes. I have been trying it out for the past two days, and it's quite interesting and fun at times. The music really reminds me of Super Mario Kart's music since it has some electronic synth sounds similar to those used in SMK's music tracks.

Flash Focus is one of those games that everyone seemed to try since I went to two separate pawn shops last weekend, and they had several copies of this game for $5. They also had many copies of Kung Zhu, a Zhu-Zhu Pets tie-in. I was able to find brand new copies of Kung Zhu at some Walmart locations.

Overproduction of licensed shovelware is VERY common. :/

[huckleberrypie]

Not to mention the idea of producing games for every contemporaneous platform available. The Need for Speed series used to be PortOverdosed during the Underground to MW2012 years, with ports, conversions or adaptations from the PS2 all the way down to a crappy mobile phone or a Zeebo of all things just because EA wants the $$.

Wonder if Windows 8 RTM is eligible for the free upgrade though. I think not but let me see about legitimising the Windows 10 on my mum's laptop.

[cpd2009]

Not to mention the idea of producing games for every contemporaneous platform available. The Need for Speed series used to be PortOverdosed during the Underground to MW2012 years, with ports, conversions or adaptations from the PS2 all the way down to a crappy mobile phone or a Zeebo of all things just because EA wants the $$.

Wonder if Windows 8 RTM is eligible for the free upgrade though. I think not but let me see about legitimising the Windows 10 on my mum's laptop.

A rather unique case of PortOverdosed is the infamous Mighty No 9. It got released for the Xbox One, 360, PS4, PS3, PC, Mac OSX, Linux, and Wii U, with plans for an PS Vita and 3DS port as well. The Vita and 3DS ports have yet to be seen.

Win8 RTM should still be upgradable to Win10 using the Win8 product key. I used Greta's OEM Win7 key during install and it activated. Most of the drivers installed automatically, though I had to install the Win8.1 SATA and Realtek audio drivers I found on the Gateway support page for my particular laptop model.

Interestingly, I was wondering if the Fall Creators Update would be spooling via the Media Creation Tool. Not yet. It's hit the Windows Insiders as a Release Preview.

[cpd2009]

Looks like the Fall Creators Update has turned up in my Windows Update as 'Feature Update to Windows 10, version 1709'.

It's downloading now.

[cpd2009]

My initial impressions of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

The desktop itself seems unchanged from the previous version, but once you open the Start menu, you can see MS' new Fluent Design in action. The Start background is in the semi-transparent Acrylic effect, and this extends to the tab bar of Microsoft Edge and some parts of Groove Music. I'm not a heavy Modern app user just yet, so there's probably more Fluent Design present than I can see.

As with all previous quarterly updates, all your program defaults will reset to MS' preferred defaults and you'll have to reset them again. It didn't affect me much other than switching my preferred video and audio players from WMP to their Metro equivalents.

Microsoft Edge browser has improved quite a bit in terms of performance. Page loading seems much faster now.

I don't really have any complaints just yet, but I have a minor nitpick. Microsoft seemingly wants to embrace the Linux developer community by having a couple Linux distros run through a command prompt, but they still haven't officially introduced Ogg Vorbis support into their built in apps like Groove or WMP. Ogg support is one of the few things I use VLC for these days.

[cpd2009]

Earlier, I was reading through some pages of the Spam Thread, made back in 2011! I found the page after trying to do a Google search for my old friend from Ohio who still hasn't contacted me since vanishing several years ago.

I'm starting to regret selling my Mac Mini last year, and at times I do think about saving up for an iMac despite knowing how hard-fisted Apple is becoming with hardware upgrades and third-party software downloads. I also still have a collection of Mac App Store software that I have purchased, mostly games. I wanted an iMac to start with but David convinced me to go for a Mac Mini. I'd think I would have been happier with an iMac at the time, but if that were the case, Pearl wouldn't exist.

I also found some of David's anti-MLP ranting a bit... prophetic, if I'm using the correct word. At the time, villains were starting to be introduced to MLP G4 and David didn't like that one bit. Not long after, he stopped watching. Turns out, villains have become a staple of MLP G4 since then, and they seem to pander to their fanbase as well, as was the case with episode 100. I don't think the pandering is bad and the show overall is still rather decent IMO. I just wish David would go beyond his preference of slice-of-life shows and just enjoy all kinds of media. :/

Also, the forums were far more active then. I miss Grapes, Evalana, and Angel. Angel recently came back online via Facebook, but I haven't heard from Grapes in months. Evalana hasn't been heard from for much longer than that.

Oh, and several posts with Photobucket links were nixed thanks to their new paywall.

I wonder if I would feel nostalgic or depressed reading through the archives more?