So there’s this commercial on TV right now for some computer maintenance service with technologically-inept people frustrated over their crappy, virus-laden, machines. At one point an iBook even flashes a BSOD…wait, what?
Reader Gianpaolo was wandering through Burwood shopping centre when he noticed this borked digital sign for Nokia. While it’s no BSOD, it’s good to see that Microsoft isn’t the only software company that can bring a digital display to its knees (click the image for a larger version).
[Thanks Gianpaolo!]
We’ve been fiddling around with the Windows 7 Beta for a few days, but just now finally run into that old staple of Windows users: the blue screen.
Seeing a Windows blue screen of death is fine, if annoying, if you’re just balancing your chequebook, but what if you see it in more…precarious situations? Like when you’re pumping gas? Reader Dave saw this at a San Diego Shell station, after which he bravely continued filling up—but not without hiding his face behind his arm to shield himself from the inevitable gas station explosions of death. You’re a ballsy man, Dave. See the close up after the jump. [Thanks Dave!]
The high-lariously named BSODomizer is a little gadget that interfaces between a computer and monitor to display an image at either random intervals or when triggered by an IR remote control. The best use of this kind of toy, of course, is reminding Windows devotees like myself that the nerld-famous (nerd world) BSOD is always lurking around the corner, along with a Mac user who’s waiting to screech “Get a Mac! Get a Mac!” like the most annoying parrot ever.
Trent Reznor, front man for Nine Inch Nails, is no stranger to cool tech, incredibly in-depth viral and ARG marketing campaigns, and new ways to entertain his fans live in concert. During their current Lights in the Sky tour, they let Wired writer Brian Gardiner and photographer Jon Snyder record and catalog basically everything that goes on behind the scenes to make things tick. That includes a system run entirely by Linux; hundreds of LED lights, lasers; intentional BSoD’s, and “Stealth Screens”—huge, interactive marvels of tech and engineering that Reznor and his band mates can pass through and control in real time as the concert unfolds. “I’m not really a purist,” Reznor told Wired. “If I’m in the studio working on an album, I try to only please myself. But when it’s a tour, it feels a bit more like I have a responsibility to some degree to entertain people.” No shit. [Wired]
Apple’s posted the solution for Vista users getting smacked in the face by a BSoD when they connect an iPod to iTunes 8: Uninstall iTunes and Mobile Device Support, restart, and then re-download. Wha? It looks like a crappy driver is to blame, so they’ve silently replaced it with an older version from iTunes 7.7 that won’t kill your system. Try it, let us know if it works. [ZDNet]
BSODs have been plaguing NIN on their current tour. In fact, one has been popping up on the giant display behind them at just about every concert. So what’s the deal? Will Trent be forced to fire his tech guy? Hardly. The truth is that it is all part of the act. The BSOD pops up for a split second near the end of the song The Great Destroyer, and there are videos after the break from two separate concerts to prove it. We all know Trent is a Mac man—so this is obviously a subliminal jab at Windows. I’m sure the nerds in the audience get a kick out of it.
Looks like iTunes 8 is really not playing so well with Windows. Users of both 32-bit and 64-bit Vista are reporting getting the blue screen of death whenever they plug in an iPod or iPhone. Downgrading back down to 7.7 appears to solve the problem, but not without some weird, but easily fixable, app-erasing hijinks.
What exactly constitutes madness? Craziness? Being a complete nutball? Is it a lack of control of mental function? Or the inability to interact with society at a level considered “normal” by society? Or is it just the term you would use to describe anyone who actively wants to create the dreaded BSOD on their Windows machine?
If you take the latter definition, then the guys at ZDnet AU are a textbook example of the crazy. Not only have they discovered a way of manually creating the BSOD, they’re actually sharing instructions on how to do it on their site.
The hack involves a little bit of registry editing, but is fairly easy to follow should you be equally insane.
Of course, there is a method behind the madness at ZDNet – apparently they use it as a way of trialling remote recovery software. But I know better – these guys really just want to watch the world burn in an ocean of blue computer monitors…
[ZDNet AU]
