The MPAA has a hard time selling the analog protection scheme to Hollywood. "This is a room full of people whose living depends on this working. You're getting pushback to the point of hostility. If you can't sell this to us, how are you going to sell it to the target 16-45 demographic?"
read more | digg story
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Apple Presentation Comments
Apple had a presentation today where they promised to unveil some "fun new products." The vague description and lack of hints as to what would be presented had the internet buzzing with speculation over the past week. Now that it has all come and gone I can't help but feel somewhat underwhelmed. Here's what was released:
Updated Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is now available with an Intel Core processor. The baseline model gets you a 1.5 Ghz Core Solo and the more expensive model has a 1.67 Ghz Core Duo. While I like the fact that it's available with a Core Duo, the Intel Integrated GMA950 graphics chipset is very disappointing.
However, the unveiling of the updated Mac Mini could give us some insight into what the specs of the Intel iBook will be. Traditionally the Mac Mini and iBook share a lot of common components. A Core Duo iBook would be very nice.
iPod HiFi speakers
It's a large rectangle with lots of speakers in it, an iPod dock, and that's pretty much it. Oh, and it costs $350 US. No thanks!
Leather cases for iPod Nano and iPod 5G
$100 US and it does not give you access to the screen or controls while the iPod is in the case. About $15-$30 will get you a leather case from another manufacturer, and you'll be able to use the iPod while its in the case.
More info:
New Intel Mac Mini [MacRumors.com]
iPod Hi-Fi Introduced (Plus Leather iPod Cases) [MacRumors.com]
Updated Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is now available with an Intel Core processor. The baseline model gets you a 1.5 Ghz Core Solo and the more expensive model has a 1.67 Ghz Core Duo. While I like the fact that it's available with a Core Duo, the Intel Integrated GMA950 graphics chipset is very disappointing.
However, the unveiling of the updated Mac Mini could give us some insight into what the specs of the Intel iBook will be. Traditionally the Mac Mini and iBook share a lot of common components. A Core Duo iBook would be very nice.
iPod HiFi speakers
It's a large rectangle with lots of speakers in it, an iPod dock, and that's pretty much it. Oh, and it costs $350 US. No thanks!
Leather cases for iPod Nano and iPod 5G
$100 US and it does not give you access to the screen or controls while the iPod is in the case. About $15-$30 will get you a leather case from another manufacturer, and you'll be able to use the iPod while its in the case.
More info:
New Intel Mac Mini [MacRumors.com]
iPod Hi-Fi Introduced (Plus Leather iPod Cases) [MacRumors.com]
Monday, February 27, 2006
What if Microsoft Redesigned the iPod Packaging?
Someone posted a very well-done, and funny video showing what the iPod packaging might look like if Microsoft designed it. You can view it here.
Behold, Microsoft iPod Pro 2005 XP Professional Edition with Subscription!
Update:
The original link appears to be down. You can watch it on Google Video here.
Behold, Microsoft iPod Pro 2005 XP Professional Edition with Subscription!
Update:
The original link appears to be down. You can watch it on Google Video here.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Origami video: the real deal?
Kevin 2.0 » Blog Archive » Origami video: the real deal?
Look at the instructions in the link above to view the video for Origami. It's difficult to tell if it's a small tablet PC or a large PDA.
Look at the instructions in the link above to view the video for Origami. It's difficult to tell if it's a small tablet PC or a large PDA.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Top ten reasons Geeks make good fathers
This is avery well-written (and very true) list of reasons that geeks make good fathers.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Saturday, February 18, 2006
New DVDs already sparking copy-protection confusion | CNET News.com
New DVDs already sparking copy-protection confusion | CNET News.com
By what I've gathered about these next-generation DVD formats, I'll need to do the following to play them at full resolution:
To watch on TV:
- Buy a new TV, ensuring that it has all the proper inputs and outputs. Low-end HD TV's may not meet this criteria.
- Buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player that costs more than my laptop did. Oh, and I'll only be able to play 1 of the 2 formats.
To watch on a PC:
- Buy new monitor. None of the current ones are compatible.
- Buy new video card. Again, none of the current ones are compatible.
- Buy new operating system since only Windows Vista will be supported. Linux gets no love. I am assuming that Mac OS X will be supported eventually.
Personally, I'm not looking forward to the next generation of DVD formats. I already had enough problems getting the current generation to work the way I wanted. Besides, I don't even watch very many movies as it is. A ninja has better things to spend his money on, such as diamond-tipped shurikens and every new iPod that comes out.
By what I've gathered about these next-generation DVD formats, I'll need to do the following to play them at full resolution:
To watch on TV:
- Buy a new TV, ensuring that it has all the proper inputs and outputs. Low-end HD TV's may not meet this criteria.
- Buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player that costs more than my laptop did. Oh, and I'll only be able to play 1 of the 2 formats.
To watch on a PC:
- Buy new monitor. None of the current ones are compatible.
- Buy new video card. Again, none of the current ones are compatible.
- Buy new operating system since only Windows Vista will be supported. Linux gets no love. I am assuming that Mac OS X will be supported eventually.
Personally, I'm not looking forward to the next generation of DVD formats. I already had enough problems getting the current generation to work the way I wanted. Besides, I don't even watch very many movies as it is. A ninja has better things to spend his money on, such as diamond-tipped shurikens and every new iPod that comes out.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
RIAA Says Ripping CDs to Your iPod is NOT Fair Use
The RIAA argues in a DMCA rule-making filing that copying for personal use (to an iPod) is not fair-use.Good luck with that, RIAA. I don't own a CD player. Many of my friends don't own CD players either. However, we all own an iPod or other MP3 player, and also enjoy listening to music on our computers. It sounds like the RIAA could benefit from a ninja visit.
read more | digg story
Don't listen to your iPod on a bike, but buy an iBikeMount?
Check out this link. In the second paragraph it says,
Following the death of an Australian woman, police in the country have warned that cyclists should never listen to an iPod while riding. “If you’re a cyclist and you want to stay alive, I wouldn’t wear an iPod under any circumstances,” Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Noel Ashby said.Isn't it just a little ironic that the previous story, directly below, is for a bike mount for the iPod Nano? I guess iLounge isn't taking any sides on this issue.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Which OS is Easiest to Learn?
Over the weekend I had a small debate with some fellow ninjas and computing science students regarding operating systems. It all started whene I said that I would buy an Intel Mac if dual booting to Windows worked.
I explained to them the advantages of doing non-administrative tasks as a non-privileged user. By the end of the debate I managed to convince some of them that if you are teaching a typical desktop user to browse the web, check email, and do some word processing, then all three OS' (Windows, Linux, and Mac OS) are equally easy to learn.
Having used Linux and Mac OS more than the typical person, I wondered if my point of view was biased. I asked my sister what she thought. She isn't nearly as technical or interested in computers as myself, but she is a heavy user of Windows and has used Linux and Mac OS on occasion. I asked her which she felt was easiest for a new user to learn. Her answer surprised me: "They're about the same."
What does everyone else think?
I explained to them the advantages of doing non-administrative tasks as a non-privileged user. By the end of the debate I managed to convince some of them that if you are teaching a typical desktop user to browse the web, check email, and do some word processing, then all three OS' (Windows, Linux, and Mac OS) are equally easy to learn.
Having used Linux and Mac OS more than the typical person, I wondered if my point of view was biased. I asked my sister what she thought. She isn't nearly as technical or interested in computers as myself, but she is a heavy user of Windows and has used Linux and Mac OS on occasion. I asked her which she felt was easiest for a new user to learn. Her answer surprised me: "They're about the same."
What does everyone else think?
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Google Talk - now with people actually online
Google is adding a new chat feature to Gmail, which is essentially a web-based version of Google Talk. While using Gmail people will (supposedly) optionally show up as being online. Any chatting done through this interface can also be searched in Gmail.
I'm interested in seeing how many people actually start using this. I have many friends who use Gmail but none of them use Google Talk.
read more | digg story
Update (Feb 14):
I've had this feature for almost a week now and I must say it is very slick. It is fast, efficient, and has not interfered with any of my regular Gmail usage. Having all my conversations archived in one place, regardless of which computer I used, is one of the most useful features I've ever seen in any IM application.
I'm interested in seeing how many people actually start using this. I have many friends who use Gmail but none of them use Google Talk.
read more | digg story
Update (Feb 14):
I've had this feature for almost a week now and I must say it is very slick. It is fast, efficient, and has not interfered with any of my regular Gmail usage. Having all my conversations archived in one place, regardless of which computer I used, is one of the most useful features I've ever seen in any IM application.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
New Job in May...
I just accepted a co-op job offer for a position that starts in May. This time I will be doing QA instead of technical support. What makes this position interesting is that it seems to be mostly Mac-based.
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