Burning a Xbox360 Backup for the NME2.0 Chip.

This model has the BenQ DVD drive, installed with the NME2.0 Mod-chip. Lets take a look at the workflow process

Step1: Backing up your XBOX 360 Game

So once you have a successful Xbox360 Game dump, you should end up with two files, a .dvd and a .iso file.

You can check out our article on YouNoob.net for more info.

Step2: Changing the Region with XDVD Mulleter Beta 10

Okay so after backing up your game, you’ll want to change the Region of the game using XDVD Mulleter Beta 10 for windows. It must either be Region Free or your console region.

Step 3: Converting the Backup to be NME Compatible.

We’ll be using the offical NME software NME Associator.

Part 1. Open the Associator and go to the Extract Tab, Here we’ll extract the Security Sector (or .ss file) from the .ISO. Then select the iso and save out your .ss file. in the same folder as your .iso and .dvd

Part 2. You’ll need merge the .ss file with the current .iso file. Next select your iso and browse for your .ss file, and then hit Convert.

Part 3. This will act as our fail safe. So lets make sure your dump is fully converted. So goto the convert tab, select the ISO, and click Create.

If everything went correctly, you’re game dump should now be NME compatible.

Step 4: Burning your backup

There are two different programs that can burn your backup. IMGBurn and CloneCD. In this tutorial we will be using IMGBurn. Before burning we must make sure our preferences are correct for burning the xbox360 disk. You will need a blank DVD+R DL.

I recommend Verbatim brand, as they are the highest quality and most reliable.

Part 1. Change your Booktype to your current DVD burner.

Part 2. Under the Tools / Settings file menu, go to the write tab and you will see “Layer Break” options. Select “User Specified” place this sequence of numbers: 1913760. This gives us the correct spacing between the data when burning the disk.

Step 5: Ready to burn

Ok! Now its ready to burn

Part 1. Click ok and save your settings

Part 2. Click Write Image file to disk

Part 3. For the Source, select the .dvd file of your 360 dump, NOT THE ISO FILE!!

Part4. Set your burn speed to 2.4x. Uncheck Verify. then you are ready to burn!

And there ya have it, a successfully burnt xbox 360 backup. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and please post your feedback and comments on Pixil.info and Younoob.net. Extra information can be found in the Show notes. Thanks and happy hacking.

Being stuck at a red light might not seem like the best place to keep up with the latest breaking news. But if your in terrible traffic, being able to scan the latest headline can help you keep your sanity.

My favorite rss reader for this is Google’s mobile reader. It’s very easy to read, and share content.

You can an Star iteam to read later.

Sharing will post stories you like to other services like friendfeed or a blog.

You can also attach notes with comments.

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My next favorite iPhone app is Qik.

Qik allows you to broadcast live video.

This opens the door to turing you into your own broadcasting station.

You can edit your titles by clicking on the screen. Your titles and tags can default to the last used if you forget.

You can control wether you want your video to be public or private.

here you can toggle audio and user chats.

When recording, you can send twitter a link to your recordings.

When your finished recording, the red text on the top right tells how much of the video is finished uploading.

———————-

Now we’ll look posting pictures.

My preferred method of uploading and tagging my photos, is through Klick.

Klick links to your Flickr account. You can acces all of your contacts photos.

we can use the geo-location features to find photos taken around your area.

You can upload your photos under the more tab, and pick a photo from the camera roll.

You also take a picture from with klcik.

———————-

And now my last one for this episode is, netshare.

Netshare allows you to link up your phone’s net connection to your laptop.

Although the iPhone can juggle many task, there’s still times when you’ll need a computer.

And there you have it, a couple of my on the go iphone work flows,

Utilizing these apps on the go can really help empower your mobile office.

So thats it for this episode of pixil.info, see ya next time

In a past episode, we talked about using layer comps to save time when building out websites. Today we going to take a closer look at layer comps, and how they can change the entire look of your project.

Alright so lets say your client likes the layout… but ask you to change the color scheme. Lets also say our client doesn’t know exactly which colors to choose. Instead of picking just one, our client suggests several color schemes.

So the best way to do this… in a non-destructive way, is to use Layer Comps.

Step 1: Create a new layer comp.

First, save our project’s current state, so lets open up the layer comps palette and click the create new button. Lets go over these three check boxes.

Visibility keeps track of what layers turned on or off
Position stores the location of your layers.
and Appearance holds all of your layer style information.

So depending on how drastic you want your layout to change, you’ll need to check the appropriate boxes. In this example all use all three.

Step 2: Changing your layout.

Now that we’ve saved our current state, lets start changing stuff around!
First I’ll start with changing the colors. I’ll be using layer styles to do this. So once the color is changed on this first layer, we’ll copy that layer’s "layer style" and paste it on other layers with similar attributes.

Check out how I can change all of these text layers at one. To do this, I’m using the cmd+shift while clicking on each layer. Right click, and paste the layer style. Works great in situations like this.

Alright next, I’m going to flip the sidebar and content. I’ll need to change the position of the gradient on the sidebar background color.

Next, Lets switch to the header image to something more appealing. Just turn this one on… and the other one off.

Alright, once your happy with your changes, lets save it out as a new layer comp. So in the layer comp palette, create new, leave those boxes checked and okay!

Now lets switch between these two colors. Okay looks pretty good, so now lets setup another color. So just repeating the same steps from before.

Alright here we are….. It’s pretty amazing switching thru layer comps like this.
Sorta resembles Javascript Style Sheet switching.

Alright so with all that done. Let’s export these out. I’ll be using the "Layer Comps to Files" export script.

If your on CS4, you’ll notice adobe added a few new file formats.

Alright and with that, you’ve just created an advanced layer comp workflow. Take a moment to play around the position and appearance, try to create something totally different, thanks and cya next time.

Well lets go a head and open up photoshop. I like to start out with a sketch and scan it in so i have a good base to start painting on. The first thing I like to do is make a white layer and place it on the bottom on the layers.

then I set the sketch to about 50% opacity. make a new blank layer on top of the sketch and start painting.

I have completed some of the painting before but you can see the layers of what i have done.

on that first layer above the sketch I grabbed the brush set the opacity to 20 or 25% and slopped on color to get a basic color pallet.

once the base colors are placed down, i make a new layer and start blending the colors together.

I like to use the eye dropper to pick my next color, that way the colors stay in the came range.

I turn on and off the sketch and bg layer to see my progress at times.

now that I am happy with the hands i will start on the bg. the easiest thing I do is make a new layer and set it behind the hands layer.

GSP Receiver
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bh-49-en-70-1mij.html

Customer Firmware
http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/1210

MapThis!
http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/1246

Google Maps DL Utility

Installation Process of 3.52 M33

————-

Plug your psp in.

you’ll need to download Mapthis! (LINK provided in shownotes)

You will need a Map downloader (Link provided in shownotes)

when download your map, make sure the file name starts with a underscore (_PalmBeach)

Place _Map in the Maps folder in Map Viewer

Upload it to the Mapviewer folder on your Memory Stick.

Quick reminder Installation may very depending on your GPS Receiver.

———

Dissconnect your psp.

Boot up in recovery mode (Hold L+R+Turn On)

Go to configuration: and make sure your Firmware is set to 3.52 M33

Plug your GPS receiver.

Open your MapThis! on your PSP MC.

Select your map.

and you are ready to go.

———–

lets check it out
————

navigate using the Joystick to mark the coordinates of our exact location

Set Marker ( X Button )

Turn GPS Receiver On (Square Button)

Alright now lets open map this.
When it’s done loading select your map.
Okay, here is our maps loaded and running, now lets mark our current location.
Alright, now lets take a ride and test out the live tracking.

Zoom In and Out Using the Up and Down (Arrow Keys Up & Down Arrow keys)

Record your GPS (left arrow)

switch between views

Rotate Map using (L+R Buttons)

Select a action (Start)

How to Create Layer Comps for build out:

Alright so when your design is ready for build out, you’ll want to first make text layer comps. This will help us easily export our slices. So just click on the new layer comp icon in your layer comp palette, and name it Text On. Make sure you only have "visibility" checked.

Next, make a Text Off layer comp. Then start turning off all the HTML text.

To select a text layer with the move tool, you can hold down cmd or control key and click on the layer.

so with all the text turned off and the layer comp selected, click on the Update icon to save the layer comp.

Okay, now we can cycling threw them.

This will now let us quickly turn off all the HTML text with a single click, which will lets us to export slices much faster.

How to setup the Navigation for build out (with Smart Objects):

Next, let’s take a look at our navigation. The goal here is to set up the document to have roll over graphics. we can do this by converting the nav into a smart object, and then create roll over graphics along with layer comps and slices.

First make a selection of the background layer, make it the size you want the smart object to be and convert it that into a smart object.

So just copy merge, Paste, and name the layer. Right click the layer and convert to a smart object.

now open the smart object and copy the graphics over. just click and drag on the folder, and plop it into place.

Now we have to double our canvas height. Basically we’re going to set up the navigation for the CSS sliding doors technique.

Duplicate the background layers and folders then shift them down. Create some cool graphics for the roll overs and save.

When you switch back to our main layout, make the same marque selection of the background layer. Make that into a mask so you can mask out the roll over graphics.

Also you might get warnings the layer comp palette. All you have to do to fix these is to hit the update icon or double click on the warning icon to clear the warning flag. So just cycle threw the layer comps and make sure their set properly.

How to setup Sidebar for build out:

Okay next, we’ll convert our sidebar into a smart object. So just like before, create a marque selection to determine a canvas size for our smart object. drag over the graphics Adjust the layers, save it.

Next create text layer comps. These may become tedious if your layers aren’t organized, so its important to have layer organization.

How to create slices for build out:

Creating slices is a much better method then manually making selections, and exporting each image, piece by piece. By creating slices, we’re able to save image name, compression setting, dimension, and the ability to export them out all at the same time.

Before we start slicing, make sure we have guidelines set up so that they snap easily.

Now draw out some slices.

Name your slices simple and Make sure they’re all consistent. So having a naming convention comes in handy.

Next create slices in your smart objects.

When you export your slices, make sure you switch to the Text Off layer comps.

In the Save for Web & Devices dialog, you can change the name of the slices and set the image compression settings. In our save window, we can set to export selected slices only. I almost always have it have it set to this setting.

Next export the slices inside the smart objects.

You can select multiple slices by holding down the shift key and set the compression settings for all them at the same time.

Check on our images when you’re finished.

Alright, that’s it for my web build out workflow. I hope you’ve gotten something out of it, try it out. Let me know what you think, by post some comments.

I’ll be posting the PSD file on our site for reference. So you can download it and test it out.

Remember, its all about using slices, layer comps, and smart object’s. Dont forget, the key to making it easy is to being organized.

Until next time, im ecken, cya later.

Before we Start Disassembling the wii, We want to make sure we have all the appropriate tools to get the job done.

• Wiikey
• Triwing Screwdriver
• 15w Soldering Iron
• Small piece of 30 AWG wire
• Silver Bearing Solder
• Tweezers
• Rosin Soldering Flux
• Electrical tape
• Wiikey Setup Disc

First, test and see how our wiikey is going to be positioned on the Circuit Board

Apply Soldering Flux to each of the 6 pad points. Then apply silver bearing solder to each of the 6 pad points

Position the chip so all of the 6 pad points match the correct spot on the circuit board. For this next step You will need 2 inch, 30 gauge wire

Apply soldering flux to each of the six points on the circuit board.

Now apply silver bearing solder to each of the six points on the circuit board. Carefully solder the 2, inch, 30 gauge wire to the points on the circuit board

Place the wiikey on the board and feed threw the wired points.

Curve all the wires to match to the correct pads and solder all wires closed to from the wiikey to the circuit board points

Cut the access off the wires.

Apply some black electrical tape over the key to prevent any shortages. plug the everything back in and place the wiikey setup disk in and should look like a game cube game. If so proceed, if not double check your points.

Enjoy your Wii!

Layer Comps for Build Out
Layer comp are a convenient way to store a snapshot of certain aspects in a document. Here we’re able to save a layer’s visibility.

Take a look at these two layer comps, text on and text off. When we cycle thru these two you’ll notice that all this is really doesing is turn off and on the soon-to-be HTML text.

By having your comp setup this way, it allows us to quickly export slices with out having to worry about the html text getting exported along with a background image.

Smart Objects & Slicing
Here we have an entire sub-page reside in one smart object. Inside our smart oubject we have slices and layer comps. Thats right folks, smart objects support slices.

By converting your sub-page into a smart object, your able to create new slices for each new page.

Also, notice we have our handy text on and text off layer comps. This is essential for exporting your slices.

So in addition to converting your sub-pages into a smart objects, lets take a look at how we have our navigation set up.

Here you’ll find our favorite text on and text off layer comps. We also have our slices.

Just by looking at the layout, you’ll notice we have it set up for the CSS sliding doors technique. This basically allows one background image contain different anchor states. so If you’ve done css menus before, you know the drill. thats basically all their is to the navigation.

Alright so to sum thing ups, lets take a look at what we’ve learned so far.

• Use layer comps to set up sub-pages and ready-to export slices.
• Create your slices inside of smart objects.
• Organize your layers and folders to help you structure your sub-pages.
• Don’t forget you can convert pieces of your website into smart objects.

3D Objects
So using 3D objects to more easy rotate a products position is a huge time saver. Before we could only use 3D object inside illustrator, which has flaws. So lets run through the illustrator workflow to show you what I mean.

In illustrator we’ll draw half of the objects path Under Effects >3D > Revolve

We then map the lable. Then copy and past into photoshop. Now this is great, but if we needed to rotate the object, we have go back into illustrator . Heres where we start to see the cons. First we can’t see what it will look like on the comp.

We have to re-render the object each time we move the object around. We even have to re-render if we cancel out.

Photoshops ability to read 3D objects is a huge time saver.

To set this object up, we can model in any 3D app. We’ll using maya in our example. We can Modify a cylinder and or import an illustrator curve and revolve the surface.

A couple things to keep in mind when texturing. First is to not use a small pic to repeat a pattern. Make sure the textures are big enough to cover your UVs.

Second is that material shaders will not export. To make a color make sure the add it to your texture map. Another draw back is that lights do not render correctly.

We can export this as an OBJ file. Here we can see the two file it exports. The .obj and a .mtl fle that has info on the textures.

In addition you will also need the 3 textures files this object use for its cap, label and bottle color.

Open up in photoshop. We can use the default size. So we get to our 3D tools by double clicking on the layer. The tools open on at the top. We select the rotate and roll tool to orbit around.

This doesn’t look like the texture was in maya.
The light info isn’t read properly. We can change the light settings and render mode to something else.

The one I found that looked the best is under
render mode >shaded illustration

Thats better, but the con to using this render is that it adds a stroke around the object. We can workaround this by cranking up the crease threshold all the way up.Then we can change the line color.

If we drop down the the layer options, we can see the textures attached. Something to keep in mind is that we can’t add any new textures, but we can edit.

We double click the texture name to open the texture.Inside the label texture we can see that it can handle multiply layers.

This make editing so fast and easy. Just save to update any changes that always come up. The file does not overwrite the original file, but imbeds it as a psb file.

Plus we can still apply layer styles.

So that’s working with 3d objects in photoshop and illustrator.