08.26.07

Going to^D^D with the Movies

Posted in Media, Tech at 12 pm

Of late, I’ve finally started watching more of the movies I’ve got on DVD, because I’ve ripped them to my iPhone. (Please don’t tell the MPAA, kthx)

Office Space was a wish list gift from Amy last year and I finally got around to actually watching it again. It really holds up well even though it’s from 1999. The floppies and the hybrid MacOS menus with the Windows Hourglass wait-state cursor is still a little funky but it’s a fun show.

The latest version of HandBrake is the reason for the sudden interest here. Its latest revision now has automatic presets that work really well. It was only about 5 minutes to get used to the app and look through the windows and panes and preferences before just choosing the default iPhone settings and letting it rip… literally.

Now I’ve got Episodes IV, V, and VI ripped and waiting for the next sync. I think the The Work of Directors discs are next on the list. I devoured the first box set when we got it, but I’ve been slow to getting to the second set, even though it’s got Anton Corbijn’s disc.

So now when I’ve got a free moment at lunch or sitting, waiting, I’ve got a couple of full length feature films that I can watch for great lines and cultural appreciation.

One improvement to HandBrake that I’m hoping will make it in the next version or two is support for auto-ripping and ejecting. Having a whole DVD ripping work flow that works as well as iTunes’ would sure be nice. Drop a disc in, come back later and see and ejected disc and drop the next one in. Bang bang bang.

The last piece of the puzzle after the iPhone rips will be the Tivo rips. Our Tivo has the ability to pick up videos from my Mac, once the proper steps are taken. (Step One, Step 2) but I still need to find a simple way to again rip the DVDs to the proper file format.

Handbrake creates MPEG-4 files from DVDs. But Tivo wants MPEG-2 files:

Resolution 720 x 480, 704 x 480 (D1), 544 x 480 (3/4 D1), 480 x 480 (2/3 D1), and 352 x 480 (1/2 D1). The higher the resolution, the better the video quality and the larger the resulting file, which means longer transfer time and more disk usage on your PC and DVR.
Bit Rate 1 – 8 Mbps. The higher the bit rate, the better the video quality and the larger the resulting file. 4 Mbps is recommended for high-quality video.
Frame Rate 29.97 (standard NTSC). Do not try any different frame rates.
Aspect Ratio 4:3 (recommended) or 16:9
Audio MPEG-1 Layer 2 for TiVo DVRs without DVD; AC/3 (Dolby) for TiVo DVRs with DVD.

Just read an interesting post about this sort of thing. So it looks like Mac the Ripper + Visualhub will be the two step process I’ll need to go through to get this put together.

07.16.07

iThoughts on Phones

Posted in Apple, Design, Tech at 9 pm

“J stood in line for the Friday release and bought us each one. I am suffering from buyer’s remorse and sticker shock…mine is still in the box on my desk. I’m contemplating returning it even though I think it’s super cool. There are just so many things that I can think of to buy with the $600! Talk me into it,” -M

Well, for an old-skool Apple Fanboy like myself, there was a built-in draw to the device, but even beyond that, this goes much further into the realm of ‘tech from the future’ than any device that I’ve had the dubious pleasure of using. Palms, WinCE/PocketPC, Psions, Nokias, Sony Ericsson… You name it, I’ve probably used it and read about it and wondered “wow, if only…” about it.

The iPhone is perfect for me: I do a lot of mail checking and use the web for reference-checking. I’ve got a decent library of music (now with covers) so it’s nice to have a slice of that around. The Phone works just fine, though the $60/month is a bit nerve wracking. Also, I’m in a metro area with really decent coverage by AT&T’s cell service, and though Edge connections are slow, the WiFi makes up for it in the 90% of the time I’m at a place that I’ve set up WiFi: Home and Work.

Let’s put it this way: It’s the first cell phone worth criticizing, to paraphrase Alan Kay on the Macintosh.

Another thought: Apple’s iPhone commercials simply show the phone being used and demoed. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more realistic presentation of a product in television advertising.

07.15.07

HIV in Bodily Fluids

Posted in General at 11 am

After a certain point, this just seems cruel:

Integrating modes of learning with the HIV prevention message (Abstract)

PROJECT: The three main styles of learning are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile. Reading the written words on the board allows the visual learner to process the information. Hearing the song allows the auditory learner to absorb the information. Singing a song provides an opportunity for the kinesthetic/tactile learner to get the body involved receive the information. The goal is to have students remember the four body fluids that transmit HIV from one person to another. To the tune of “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat”, use the following lyrics: THERE ARE FOUR FLUIDS THAT PASS THE AIDS VIRUS, BLOOD IS ONE, SEMEN IS TWO, MOTHER’S MILK AND VAGINAL FLUIDS. Repeat five times or until the whole group is familiar with the song. Then split the large group into smaller groups and perform it in rounds.

RESULTS: Student often come back to class the next day complaining that they cannot get the song out of their heads. Goal achieved: Vital information retained.

07.01.07

Recent Purchases

Posted in Apple, Tech at 10 pm

Coolest purchase of the last few days? ThinkGeek :: Planisphere Watch: The Planisphere Watch displays the constellations visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Simply align the date and time (displayed on the edge of the bezel) and you can view the major constellations visible that evening.

It’s great! I’ve been looking for a new watch to ahve as an alternate to the solid blue Fossil watch that I’ve had for a few years. The band on the Planisphere is really sucky, (mine’s different than what they show at ThinkGeek) but I’m thinking I might be able to replace it with relative ease.

The dial’s glow-in-the-dark face was an unexpected surprise, and obviously quite a good idea for such a device. I can’t wait to get out of the city some night to use it fully.

This is the kind of watch that’s more than just a time piece. I really like something that’s a little unique and if that uniqueness lends itself to something useful, then all the better.

This isn’t quite TokyoFlash but it’s still got the little extra that I like.

Oh and I also got a new phone this weekend. It’s not bad either.

06.29.07

Change from the iNside

Posted in Apple, Media, Tech at 9 am

I just saw this on Boing Boing where Working Assets is asking for an iPhone boycott because of AT&T’s practices.

I just want to point out that when Apple launched the iTunes Store and got in bed with all of the RIAA labels, it was Apple who changed (so far) EMI, not the other way around. Will AT&T go green, or suddenly become a non-profit? Of course not, but I can’t think of too many companies that would be a better influence, based on their recent history, as Apple.

06.03.07

Status Report

Posted in Apple, General, Life, Tech at 9 pm

Been working hard: day job, teaching and diagnosing a faulty USB port on the Tivo. That’s what I get for cleaning up the entertainment center’s wiring.

But, I’m happy to report that the Tivo is now happily gathering broadband content and the Mac Mini and the Tivo are now sharing a cozy little hub. I guess I can get the PlayStation 2 connected to that too, but I rarely fire the old PS2 nowadays. Perhaps a Wii might make a nice addition.

Speaking of nice additions, the iPhone is looking more and more like a a modern jackalope. Everyone wants one, but it’s going to tough to get a hold of. I’ve got my eye on a couple of prime spots that may carry it. I’m guessing that only two types of stores will have it: Apple Stores and Cingular/AT&T stores. It’s the latter that will be the best bet, I’m sure. I’m hoping that perhaps some of the third party reseller cellphone stores might have it, but on reflection, that seems unlikely.

Recent purchases at Powell’s Books include the latest issues of Home Power magazine and 2600. Both of these are the equivalent to to purchasing Architectural Digest or the Robb Report: Discussion of things that are out of reach entirely or just fun to think about.

Other items put on the Done section of the To Do list? Haircut, flexible medical account reimbursement form and scanned receipts, updated registration for the Ghia, Oil change and check up for the 170,000k Prius, some trash and boxes expelled from the my desk, repaired the toilet handle (Note: just buy the metal version. The plastic handle barely lasted a year.) Now to reformat the Mini’s new external hard drive and I’m off to bed.

Boy a vacation sure sounds good…

05.13.07

Parking at PSU

Posted in Life at 12 pm

To Whom It May Concern:

RE: Citation C429371

I parked my car in a parking space reserved for a car pool car at exactly 6:00 PM on April 11. I know this because my class was starting at 6 PM, and I called and told my co-instructor to start the class on time, as I was held up in traffic. The posted hours on the sign stated the car-pool permit reservation was from 6 AM to 6 PM. As of 6:00 PM it was entirely acceptable to park in this location, according to the sign.

The ticket left on my windshield that evening and the time stamp on the violation notice you sent me both say that the ticket was issued at 5:58 PM. I dispute the time of the watch that was used to set the violation’s time. My car’s clock read exactly 6:00 PM, and I saw no other clock in the parking structure that would have shown a different time in comparison.

Let’s set aside time issue to focus on another aspect of this: Why wasn’t a warning used instead of a violation? Certainly it would make more fiscal sense to simply leave a warning on a car if it uses a reserved space within 5 or 10 minutes of it being available for general use.

Now you and I have to have this correspondence to work this out, when a simple warning would have let me know that your clocks are off, and to avoid the reserved spots until… 10? 15 minutes after the posted end of the reservation time?

Since April 11, I have parked at the higher levels of Parking Structure 1 and have avoided these pesky time-reserved spots entirely.

Please consider this my notice of dispute of this citation. I ask that you remove/rescind this citation and consider a policy of using warnings as opposed to inappropriate fines for such easily disputed reserved times.

Sincerely…

05.06.07

Two days later

Posted in Dreams at 7 am

Two days later and i’m still waking up from dreams where I’m ordering people around. Being a Stage Manager at WebVisions really does something weird to my brain, it seems.

05.05.07

Looking for Videos from WebVisions Wrap Party

Posted in Media, People, Tech, Web at 10 pm

I heard that someone got video of Michael at the wrap party for WebVisions at the Greek Cusinia. Please get in contact with me if you do. It will be the highlight of next year’s show!

UPDATE: YES!! Yes yes yes!

04.30.07

Angry Rage Monkey

Posted in People at 9 pm

Angry Rage Monkey: “Welcom Ross!”

Thanks Jock! it’s nice to be… there? here?

“In cyberspace, nobody has to be anywhere, since you’re already there.”