Kind of remind you of something?
22/02/09 12:26 Filed in: Technology | Personal
If you’ve read my blog before, you’ll have no doubt spotted the points over time where Alan Sugar has turned up on TV and prompted me into a 5 page monologue on how much of a twerp I think this guy is.
If it’s not dismissing ideas as being unsuccessful because they are “Disney-like” (Disney make more money per day, than Amstrad did in the year he said this; he’s spouting on about his business genius while watching the fortune he made selling (somebody else’s) cheap computers diminish over time, whilst supporting the decreasing market for Sky boxes. Amstrad, it should be noted, don’t DO Sky HD. Sky+ is their only business now.
So it was no surprise to find that there was yet another “also like” product that graced the Amstrad shelves; until finally being put out of our misery some time back. Not that this stops it appearing regularly on “The Apprentice”.
Behold! The Amstrad, it’s a phone, it’s an internet station, it’s a game machine... er device.
The Amstrad E3 or E-m@iler Plus!
Now, I don’t know about you. But while on the phone, I can think of nothing better than playing an old Sinclair game whilst browsing the internet via a 56k modem.
Especially when it comes to the highly competitive rate of;
Now there’s value.
But at least it appeared original.... except....
Behold! Apple patent filling “User Interface for All-in-One Office System”. Filled on November 16th, 1995.
The fax-top-phone combines a mini-computer (think eMate), telephone, fax machine and MODEM in a single box.
Now all this isn’t without precident. Remember when Amstrad beat Apple to the first PDA type device by a matter of days. Apple blaming itself for holding back release in order to iron out all the bugs in the software (something that didn’t stop Amstrad, you should note).
Of course, pre-dating EITHER device is this.. OK monstrosity by ICL.
Powered by a Motorola 68008 processor (16 big CPU, 8 bit bus!! I ask you!!) it was basically a Sinclar QL clone with two microdrives (i.e. mini tape drives) an integrated MODEM and phone. Screen display was separate and of the old school HUGE monitor variety.
And the date of production? 1985, ten years before Apple and nearly twenty before Amstrad. Still, it IS an ugly old brick.
All of which goes to prove, there’s no such thing as a new idea.
If it’s not dismissing ideas as being unsuccessful because they are “Disney-like” (Disney make more money per day, than Amstrad did in the year he said this; he’s spouting on about his business genius while watching the fortune he made selling (somebody else’s) cheap computers diminish over time, whilst supporting the decreasing market for Sky boxes. Amstrad, it should be noted, don’t DO Sky HD. Sky+ is their only business now.
So it was no surprise to find that there was yet another “also like” product that graced the Amstrad shelves; until finally being put out of our misery some time back. Not that this stops it appearing regularly on “The Apprentice”.
Behold! The Amstrad, it’s a phone, it’s an internet station, it’s a game machine... er device.
The Amstrad E3 or E-m@iler Plus!
Especially when it comes to the highly competitive rate of;
- Email at 20 pence each, and
- Internet access at 5 pence per minute
Now there’s value.
But at least it appeared original.... except....
Behold! Apple patent filling “User Interface for All-in-One Office System”. Filled on November 16th, 1995.
The fax-top-phone combines a mini-computer (think eMate), telephone, fax machine and MODEM in a single box.
Now all this isn’t without precident. Remember when Amstrad beat Apple to the first PDA type device by a matter of days. Apple blaming itself for holding back release in order to iron out all the bugs in the software (something that didn’t stop Amstrad, you should note).
Of course, pre-dating EITHER device is this.. OK monstrosity by ICL.
And the date of production? 1985, ten years before Apple and nearly twenty before Amstrad. Still, it IS an ugly old brick.
All of which goes to prove, there’s no such thing as a new idea.
You reckon?
06/09/08 13:25 Filed in: Personal
Just been reading this article on Cnet regarding Tuesdays Apple event.
I think it's pretty obvious the iTunes is going to get a revamp. Apart from the obvious 'falling down on the pure weight' factor of having EVERYTHING go through it, it's not exactly smart of handling multiple iPod / iPhone combinations. But hey, it's a richer environment than the competition; which is why I guess it's so popular.
The Nano... well, it's not lighting my boat. But then I never saw a need for it because I always needed capacity, comments regarding the iPod classic updates just being increased capacity would fit in line with that thinking.
But come on Cnet! The new iPod touch having features from the new iPhone. You think?! I mean how much of a stretch was that to work out. OF COURSE IT WILL! Why maintain two disparate chip sets? It makes no sense. As for hard drive or 64gb option. It's a possibility sure, but what about the price. Most people consider the entry £200 as being FAR TOO MUCH and the £329 for 32gb is even worse. I don't know what the comparison of sales of iPod Touch to iPhones is, but I'm pretty sure the iPhone must sell at the very least double. I mean... it's £159 and you get a decent phone and a REALLY generous data plan.
Anyway, back to the show. There's a slim possibility of a subscription 'all you can eat' model for getting music. I did say 'slim' but Apple does have the technology to manage that kind of thing.
I think it's pretty obvious the iTunes is going to get a revamp. Apart from the obvious 'falling down on the pure weight' factor of having EVERYTHING go through it, it's not exactly smart of handling multiple iPod / iPhone combinations. But hey, it's a richer environment than the competition; which is why I guess it's so popular.
The Nano... well, it's not lighting my boat. But then I never saw a need for it because I always needed capacity, comments regarding the iPod classic updates just being increased capacity would fit in line with that thinking.
But come on Cnet! The new iPod touch having features from the new iPhone. You think?! I mean how much of a stretch was that to work out. OF COURSE IT WILL! Why maintain two disparate chip sets? It makes no sense. As for hard drive or 64gb option. It's a possibility sure, but what about the price. Most people consider the entry £200 as being FAR TOO MUCH and the £329 for 32gb is even worse. I don't know what the comparison of sales of iPod Touch to iPhones is, but I'm pretty sure the iPhone must sell at the very least double. I mean... it's £159 and you get a decent phone and a REALLY generous data plan.
Anyway, back to the show. There's a slim possibility of a subscription 'all you can eat' model for getting music. I did say 'slim' but Apple does have the technology to manage that kind of thing.
Vista Update May Kill MacBook Pro
17/11/07 23:55 Filed in: Technology
I just wanted to get this out there as quickly as I could.
I own a MacBook Pro running Microsoft Vista under BootCamp and I just patched Vista with the latest updates.
The results?
My MacBook Pro will boot Vista, but after the main desktop appears it crashes out.
Clearly something in the system library files has changed, because reverting to a previous working boot fails.
This may be a terrible coincedence; but I just wanted to get the message out ASAP.
Unless you can risk loosing your machine, please be VERY, VERY careful with this.
I'd love to hear from anybody else who has been affected or people who have not. I'd like to get a full picture as to what has gone on.
Thanks
I own a MacBook Pro running Microsoft Vista under BootCamp and I just patched Vista with the latest updates.
The results?
My MacBook Pro will boot Vista, but after the main desktop appears it crashes out.
Clearly something in the system library files has changed, because reverting to a previous working boot fails.
This may be a terrible coincedence; but I just wanted to get the message out ASAP.
Unless you can risk loosing your machine, please be VERY, VERY careful with this.
I'd love to hear from anybody else who has been affected or people who have not. I'd like to get a full picture as to what has gone on.
Thanks
iPhone SDK hits the streets and it's NOT NATIVE EXECUTABLES!
25/10/07 07:00 Filed in: Technology
UPDATE: Since writing this blog post I've had a lot of comments and emails pointing out that this SDK is for web development. I clearly didn't make it clear enough in my posting. But the point I'm making is that calling what is essentially a web design guideline an SDK is somewhat overstating a case and that releasing a simply guideline would have been more appropriate. That was my point. Hope that clears up the matter.
Well, after a turn around and then a little hype the iPhone SDK has finally hit the streets.
Apple have sent me (and ADC member) a link to get hold of the SDK, including a link for iTunes training videos.
So far it's been pretty much a rolling advert to get an iPhone. It's a remarkeable device.
When I get a chance I'll look into this. But not having an iPhone and being in the UK. I'll not get too excited.
But there's a problem. These are NOT native applications. These are applications that run 'from YOUR website'. The guides are merely to describe how to design the web applications for best practice.
In fact, even a quick glimps of the demo code shows they are HTML and JavaScript based applications.
Basically, this IS NOT an SDK to develop applications to run natively on the iPhone.
So is anybody else disappointed?
You'll need to get a free ADC account to see this page. Should you want to bother
Well, after a turn around and then a little hype the iPhone SDK has finally hit the streets.
Apple have sent me (and ADC member) a link to get hold of the SDK, including a link for iTunes training videos.
So far it's been pretty much a rolling advert to get an iPhone. It's a remarkeable device.
When I get a chance I'll look into this. But not having an iPhone and being in the UK. I'll not get too excited.
But there's a problem. These are NOT native applications. These are applications that run 'from YOUR website'. The guides are merely to describe how to design the web applications for best practice.
In fact, even a quick glimps of the demo code shows they are HTML and JavaScript based applications.
Basically, this IS NOT an SDK to develop applications to run natively on the iPhone.
So is anybody else disappointed?
You'll need to get a free ADC account to see this page. Should you want to bother
And the best computer to run Office 2007 is....
02/08/07 20:06 Filed in: Technology
What the !!!
So first we had Microsoft showing off the Windows Vista on an Apple MacBook Pro. Then it was revealed that they are demonstrating Office 2007 on the same platform.
But this latest promotion image from Microsoft just goes one step too far.
Yes. That's a 12" Powerbook G4 in the picture. A lovely little laptop that's totally unable to run either Microsoft Vista or Office 2007 (Trust me, I had Virtual PC for the Mac).
And just in case you think it's a one off.. here it is again!
Obviously, Microsoft are not exactly paying more attention to how their Getty provided images look rather than the actual content. That or they are trying to absorb some of the Apple chic via it's older products. Next thing the Zune will be all white with just four buttons on it! Ohhhh. It is available in white. Hmmm. IC
See: here or here
Bad news for Apple and IPhone as mobile phone growth stalls
18/04/07 20:07 Filed in: Technology
Mixed fortunes are abound in the mobile phone market as it was annonced this week that the total number of handsets shipped in the first quarter of 2007 (January to March) were 252 million handsets, up 12% from the year earlier.
At first glance this would strike you as being something of an achievement, not to mention a gigantic landfill waiting to happen. But according to the study group Strategy Analystics, this has been the first annual rate of growth in nearly two years to have fell below the 20% mark. In plain speak, 8 million handsets failed to attract new customers at the start of the year.
Furthermore Motorola's shipments fell 1.5%.
But not everybody is having a bad time of it. Sony Ericsson saw a 63% rise in its sales to 21.8 million, while Nokia had a 21% increase.
Motorola looks like it will need at least a year of recovery to gain back its lost sales while third place Sony Ericsson snaps around its heals with a seires of impressive new phones. Motorola by comparison seems content to make yet more umpteen flavours of its 'Razor' phone while licking it's wounds over the (not very) iTunes compatible Rocker. Having been kicked in the teeth by Apple as it brings out its own iPhone it must come as some solice to Motorola that Apple are entering the mobile/cellular phone market just as it takes a downturn. Especially when you consider that Global Insight predict the biggest growth in the mobile phone subscribers will be in China and India; a market not generally associated with purchasing the latest and greatest forms of technology and more included to sell the best and use last decades model until it falls apart at the seems. China on the other hand seems hell bent on pattern infringement and general lawlessness in the eyes of the west. Quite how do you expect copyright to be upheld in a country with no legal precident of ownership is anyones guess.
Which brings me to the idea that Apple is merely creating the iPhone not because it wants to innovate the industry (because it ain't) but more because it's totally ran out of ideas to do with the iPod and making a widescreen unit would look like a copy of Microsofts ever so crippled Zoon player. "Welcome to the social." (for 3 days tops).
Is it yet another case of Apple being later to the market yet again? One thing is for sure. After all the rhetoric, unless the iPhone is the best thing since bread got sliced there could be a lot more than egg on faces in Cupertino. Something I'm sure hasn't been missed on them.
At first glance this would strike you as being something of an achievement, not to mention a gigantic landfill waiting to happen. But according to the study group Strategy Analystics, this has been the first annual rate of growth in nearly two years to have fell below the 20% mark. In plain speak, 8 million handsets failed to attract new customers at the start of the year.
Furthermore Motorola's shipments fell 1.5%.
But not everybody is having a bad time of it. Sony Ericsson saw a 63% rise in its sales to 21.8 million, while Nokia had a 21% increase.
Motorola looks like it will need at least a year of recovery to gain back its lost sales while third place Sony Ericsson snaps around its heals with a seires of impressive new phones. Motorola by comparison seems content to make yet more umpteen flavours of its 'Razor' phone while licking it's wounds over the (not very) iTunes compatible Rocker. Having been kicked in the teeth by Apple as it brings out its own iPhone it must come as some solice to Motorola that Apple are entering the mobile/cellular phone market just as it takes a downturn. Especially when you consider that Global Insight predict the biggest growth in the mobile phone subscribers will be in China and India; a market not generally associated with purchasing the latest and greatest forms of technology and more included to sell the best and use last decades model until it falls apart at the seems. China on the other hand seems hell bent on pattern infringement and general lawlessness in the eyes of the west. Quite how do you expect copyright to be upheld in a country with no legal precident of ownership is anyones guess.
Which brings me to the idea that Apple is merely creating the iPhone not because it wants to innovate the industry (because it ain't) but more because it's totally ran out of ideas to do with the iPod and making a widescreen unit would look like a copy of Microsofts ever so crippled Zoon player. "Welcome to the social." (for 3 days tops).
Is it yet another case of Apple being later to the market yet again? One thing is for sure. After all the rhetoric, unless the iPhone is the best thing since bread got sliced there could be a lot more than egg on faces in Cupertino. Something I'm sure hasn't been missed on them.
Hooray for Parallels
11/03/07 15:20 Filed in: Personal
I'm not telling you anything you already know. But Parallels is THE best product to get for your Intel Mac.
At first it might seem like its something of a gimmick, after all BootCamp is free and works very well. It's not even that Parallels allows you to run Windows under the control of a Virtual Machine because VMWare have released BETA (and not very stable) versions of its virtualisation product for free.
No. Because Parallels DOES have a super smart feature under its belt and its something that sounds 'ok' but is in fact such a useful feature you'll find yourself being happy to have paid the £40 or so.
It's the mode called Coherence and its awesome. It's not exactly unprecedented. If you can cast your mind back to when Apple switched from OS 9 (don't get me started on that... OS 8 version 4 more like) to OS X they provided a funny little trick called 'Classic' mode. This allowed you to run old Pre-OS X software under OS X using a virtual Mac. To cut a long story short the system loaded a version of OS 9 into a virtual machine and the software ran within that.
Now, years later PowerPC is a memory and this technology is gone. But the idea of running applications from one OS inside the desktop of another is the pure idea behind Coherence mode. So you get a Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen and the rest is pure Mac Desktop. Click Start on the Fisher Price control and up pops the Windows applications and hey presto your developing new software under Visual Studio or creating charts and diagrams with Visio. In fact the only thing you really can't do with MUCH gusto is play games. Mainly because the graphics are run under emulation which is then connected to the Mac hardware.
After all, MacBook's have Intel graphics, MacBook Pro's have ATI etc. etc. However, what is interesting is that Parallels does have direct hardware support for internal CD/DVD drives, USB devices etc. What's more interesting is that in forums they are suggesting that in the future, direct graphical interfaces will be available.
But I digress from the point because the software is most useful as a business tool first and foremost. The sheer fact that I'm doubling up writing this blog and developing in VS 2005 without having to bootcamp between the two is impressive. But given I can now test how Mac browsers will see my work without having a second machine available. It's FANTASTIC!
If there is a catch it's memory. You can get away with using 1GB of ram in your Intel powered Mac and running XP. But you'll really, really hanker after 2GB. Given the recent and seemingly unrepentant drops in memory prices. Is this such a hardship.
Parallels can be bought from Parellels.com and costs just $79.99. For UK buyers, if your after memory for your MacBook or MacBook Pro can I suggest the SHOCKINGLY cheap Crucial. They offer a 2GB kit for your MacBook (Pro) that's actually cheaper than most Ebay sellers. See the site for the latest prices and offers.
Well, that's about it for now.... back to the grind stone as they say.
At first it might seem like its something of a gimmick, after all BootCamp is free and works very well. It's not even that Parallels allows you to run Windows under the control of a Virtual Machine because VMWare have released BETA (and not very stable) versions of its virtualisation product for free.
No. Because Parallels DOES have a super smart feature under its belt and its something that sounds 'ok' but is in fact such a useful feature you'll find yourself being happy to have paid the £40 or so.
It's the mode called Coherence and its awesome. It's not exactly unprecedented. If you can cast your mind back to when Apple switched from OS 9 (don't get me started on that... OS 8 version 4 more like) to OS X they provided a funny little trick called 'Classic' mode. This allowed you to run old Pre-OS X software under OS X using a virtual Mac. To cut a long story short the system loaded a version of OS 9 into a virtual machine and the software ran within that.
Now, years later PowerPC is a memory and this technology is gone. But the idea of running applications from one OS inside the desktop of another is the pure idea behind Coherence mode. So you get a Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen and the rest is pure Mac Desktop. Click Start on the Fisher Price control and up pops the Windows applications and hey presto your developing new software under Visual Studio or creating charts and diagrams with Visio. In fact the only thing you really can't do with MUCH gusto is play games. Mainly because the graphics are run under emulation which is then connected to the Mac hardware.
After all, MacBook's have Intel graphics, MacBook Pro's have ATI etc. etc. However, what is interesting is that Parallels does have direct hardware support for internal CD/DVD drives, USB devices etc. What's more interesting is that in forums they are suggesting that in the future, direct graphical interfaces will be available.
But I digress from the point because the software is most useful as a business tool first and foremost. The sheer fact that I'm doubling up writing this blog and developing in VS 2005 without having to bootcamp between the two is impressive. But given I can now test how Mac browsers will see my work without having a second machine available. It's FANTASTIC!
If there is a catch it's memory. You can get away with using 1GB of ram in your Intel powered Mac and running XP. But you'll really, really hanker after 2GB. Given the recent and seemingly unrepentant drops in memory prices. Is this such a hardship.
Parallels can be bought from Parellels.com and costs just $79.99. For UK buyers, if your after memory for your MacBook or MacBook Pro can I suggest the SHOCKINGLY cheap Crucial. They offer a 2GB kit for your MacBook (Pro) that's actually cheaper than most Ebay sellers. See the site for the latest prices and offers.
Well, that's about it for now.... back to the grind stone as they say.
Not so terrific service from Saab Wilson and Co in Bolton
23/02/07 17:51 Filed in: Personal
Apple really ought to buy Saab.
It would make me a happy chappy, because in the scheme of things I've had better service from Apple than any other manufacturer.
Now, I'm not saying that Apple is perfect, not by a long chalk. They hide the details of new and better systems from happy customers so that they spend hard earned cash and two days later the next best thing comes out. Everybody does this though, it's how you sell old stock. But for some reason, it's MORE displeasing when Apple does it.
The fact is that if you have visited a Saab dealership recently and should have had the good fortune to live near an Apple store; you'll have noticed something. It's something as subtle as a cockroach dashing across a white rug and its the basic fact that somebody at Saab appears to have ripped off the entire look and feel of an Apple store and installed it across all UK dealers.
It's that all white, black letters in bold black font look. The brochures are even more so. Saab is on the left above.
My problem with Saab, and to be exact Wilson & Co in Bolton, is that despite the assurances of paying more for a quality mark... the service is pretty poor.
Lets go through the list.
1. They have failed and continue to fail to send us proof of the Gap insurance we paid for.
2. They have failed and continue to fail to send us the details of the warranty that applies to the car.
3. They failed to setup our 'inclusive' AA membership.
4. They sold the car 'with new service' but it now appears that the service not carried out. Which is terrible because I was advised that the indicator light mustn't be right.
5. I ran over a rock (better that than hit an oncoming truck or end up in a ditch) and damaged a wheel. They charged me £50 for a safety inspection but failed to notice that my rear brake like was spraying brake fluid out.
And finally;
6. Today I called the Sales Director and explained very nicely my problems and he promised to get back to me in two hours time. He didn't.
So what am I to do? Well, this for one. I'm blogging this because I know that I get at least a few thousand hits per month on my blog and next if I don't get satisfaction (which I will also blog in the effort to be fair) I will be contacted trading standards and just about anybody else I can think of because the car was not describe correctly at point of sale. Not to mention how very poorly the service has been.
So remember, that's Saab Wilson & Co, of Manchester Road, Bolton. Think before you buy.
It would make me a happy chappy, because in the scheme of things I've had better service from Apple than any other manufacturer.
Now, I'm not saying that Apple is perfect, not by a long chalk. They hide the details of new and better systems from happy customers so that they spend hard earned cash and two days later the next best thing comes out. Everybody does this though, it's how you sell old stock. But for some reason, it's MORE displeasing when Apple does it.
The fact is that if you have visited a Saab dealership recently and should have had the good fortune to live near an Apple store; you'll have noticed something. It's something as subtle as a cockroach dashing across a white rug and its the basic fact that somebody at Saab appears to have ripped off the entire look and feel of an Apple store and installed it across all UK dealers.
It's that all white, black letters in bold black font look. The brochures are even more so. Saab is on the left above.
My problem with Saab, and to be exact Wilson & Co in Bolton, is that despite the assurances of paying more for a quality mark... the service is pretty poor.
Lets go through the list.
1. They have failed and continue to fail to send us proof of the Gap insurance we paid for.
2. They have failed and continue to fail to send us the details of the warranty that applies to the car.
3. They failed to setup our 'inclusive' AA membership.
4. They sold the car 'with new service' but it now appears that the service not carried out. Which is terrible because I was advised that the indicator light mustn't be right.
5. I ran over a rock (better that than hit an oncoming truck or end up in a ditch) and damaged a wheel. They charged me £50 for a safety inspection but failed to notice that my rear brake like was spraying brake fluid out.
And finally;
6. Today I called the Sales Director and explained very nicely my problems and he promised to get back to me in two hours time. He didn't.
So what am I to do? Well, this for one. I'm blogging this because I know that I get at least a few thousand hits per month on my blog and next if I don't get satisfaction (which I will also blog in the effort to be fair) I will be contacted trading standards and just about anybody else I can think of because the car was not describe correctly at point of sale. Not to mention how very poorly the service has been.
So remember, that's Saab Wilson & Co, of Manchester Road, Bolton. Think before you buy.
Got a Sony CyberShot W30 and do not hear sound in iMovie?
18/02/07 12:07 Filed in: Technology
So.. like me. You have got yourself a Sony Cybershot W30 (and I've no doubt over Cybershots have a similar issues).
Why not, it's good value. Has a decent lens and offers plenty of shots per battery life.
But here's the bad. You plug in your camera, OS X detects it fine. You can import or simply copy of movie files over.
What's more, when you open them in QuickTime all seems well. The movies play, the sound is bright and perky.
The trouble only starts when you import the movies into iMovie.
iMove, as you know, converts any video footage into its default DV format and it is during this conversion that the sound is lost.
Careful examination of the native movie format of the Cybershot shows that it is Mpeg 1 640x480 MUXED. It's the MUXED part that's causing the problems. My other camera is an Olympus C-770UZ. It sports MP4 format, with AAC sound. So it's easy for iMovie to seperate video from sound.
Not so for the Mpeg1. iMovies needs a little help.
Now there are lots of options and applications out there that will do the work, and I don't claim to have exclusive knowledge. However, I did find an excellent, OpenSource solution that does just the trick.
The application in question is MPEG Streamclip by Squared 5. It runs on both Apple and Windows.
To convert your video, simply drop the video into the Dice (you'll see what I mean when you use the software). Then to cut all the corners you can choose File -> Export to DV...
Simply select you target location and the exported DV file not only has perfect audio, but its in the correct format to import into iMovie.
Perfect!
Why not, it's good value. Has a decent lens and offers plenty of shots per battery life.
But here's the bad. You plug in your camera, OS X detects it fine. You can import or simply copy of movie files over.
What's more, when you open them in QuickTime all seems well. The movies play, the sound is bright and perky.
The trouble only starts when you import the movies into iMovie.
iMove, as you know, converts any video footage into its default DV format and it is during this conversion that the sound is lost.
Careful examination of the native movie format of the Cybershot shows that it is Mpeg 1 640x480 MUXED. It's the MUXED part that's causing the problems. My other camera is an Olympus C-770UZ. It sports MP4 format, with AAC sound. So it's easy for iMovie to seperate video from sound.
Not so for the Mpeg1. iMovies needs a little help.
Now there are lots of options and applications out there that will do the work, and I don't claim to have exclusive knowledge. However, I did find an excellent, OpenSource solution that does just the trick.
The application in question is MPEG Streamclip by Squared 5. It runs on both Apple and Windows.
To convert your video, simply drop the video into the Dice (you'll see what I mean when you use the software). Then to cut all the corners you can choose File -> Export to DV...
Simply select you target location and the exported DV file not only has perfect audio, but its in the correct format to import into iMovie.
Perfect!
Crimes against music - Seven of the worst!
03/02/07 14:30 Filed in: Technology
Often or not, I find myself having a quick look around YouTube now again and I somehow always manage to find the VERY worst in music.
I'm not sure if there is a specific category for this... and certainly it seems like Apple/Mac seem to be greatest inspiration.. but check out some of these pretty terrible musical tributes.
There would be more... but I can't be bothered looking harder
1. I'm the computer man
I'm particular keen on the bloke 'chair dancing'. But why is the 'Computer Man' dressed as an ice cream salesman.
Worst of all... after about 5 or 6 times you actually enjoying the b-b-b-biddy-bop bits. Tragic.
2. "I think we're a clone now"
This 'classic' from the old days of Apple - that's Apple MISUS Steve Jobs.
As for Intel stock crashing in response to the effects of RISC. Hmmm. Perhaps not. Think that might have been a little pre-emptive and I don't think Microsoft screamed that much. Sorry lads. Still, nice campus. Wonder what happened to the giant icons on the lawn?
One final point on this one - "Themselfes"
3. Apple tribute song - James Blunt's lawyers on stand by.
"Some would call it dorky, some would call it cheesy" - And they would of course be right. Still, nice piano.
4. Apple Song
You'll need to click through to YouTube to see this.
We touch the world... and make it deaf! Just about as close you can get to "What a feeling" by Irene Cara without having to take a visit to the nearest courts. I think the video slip with this video actually ENHANCES the soundtrack.
Apple, a company synonymous with media and good taste; long AFTER this video. Because this is just bloody awful.
Not to show biased... Here are some Windows songs.
5. Windows 386 Song... Somebody PLEASE shoot her.
This song is so shockingly misguided that it beggars belief.
Woah Woah Woah Windows 386, Woah woah rubbish ad. Woah woah dreadful idea.
Also, does Windows really remove your need to wear prescription spectacles? Quite a claim I think.
6. Windows 95 Launch Video
"Start me up!". Then about 30 minutes later when something crashes and brings down the entire OS you have "Start me up!" again. Song OK... sentiment not.
7. Expect more with Quest Software
Yes, expect 30 year old white nerds rapping. I'm sure it sounded like a VERY good idea at the time. But now... Oooooh.
Of course no computer related video would be complete without these Doom 3 guys.
Nothing to do with music... Just very funny
Can a boy REALLY scream that high? Wow...
For all those feeling just a little smug, just remember who it was who used to watch Doctor Who from BEHIND the sofa. You know whom I'm talking to. Anybody 35 years and older.
I'm not sure if there is a specific category for this... and certainly it seems like Apple/Mac seem to be greatest inspiration.. but check out some of these pretty terrible musical tributes.
Top Seven Worst Computer Related Songs!
There would be more... but I can't be bothered looking harder
1. I'm the computer man
I'm particular keen on the bloke 'chair dancing'. But why is the 'Computer Man' dressed as an ice cream salesman.
Worst of all... after about 5 or 6 times you actually enjoying the b-b-b-biddy-bop bits. Tragic.
2. "I think we're a clone now"
This 'classic' from the old days of Apple - that's Apple MISUS Steve Jobs.
As for Intel stock crashing in response to the effects of RISC. Hmmm. Perhaps not. Think that might have been a little pre-emptive and I don't think Microsoft screamed that much. Sorry lads. Still, nice campus. Wonder what happened to the giant icons on the lawn?
One final point on this one - "Themselfes"
3. Apple tribute song - James Blunt's lawyers on stand by.
"Some would call it dorky, some would call it cheesy" - And they would of course be right. Still, nice piano.
4. Apple Song
You'll need to click through to YouTube to see this.
We touch the world... and make it deaf! Just about as close you can get to "What a feeling" by Irene Cara without having to take a visit to the nearest courts. I think the video slip with this video actually ENHANCES the soundtrack.
Apple, a company synonymous with media and good taste; long AFTER this video. Because this is just bloody awful.
Not to show biased... Here are some Windows songs.
5. Windows 386 Song... Somebody PLEASE shoot her.
This song is so shockingly misguided that it beggars belief.
Woah Woah Woah Windows 386, Woah woah rubbish ad. Woah woah dreadful idea.
Also, does Windows really remove your need to wear prescription spectacles? Quite a claim I think.
6. Windows 95 Launch Video
"Start me up!". Then about 30 minutes later when something crashes and brings down the entire OS you have "Start me up!" again. Song OK... sentiment not.
7. Expect more with Quest Software
Yes, expect 30 year old white nerds rapping. I'm sure it sounded like a VERY good idea at the time. But now... Oooooh.
Of course no computer related video would be complete without these Doom 3 guys.
Nothing to do with music... Just very funny
Can a boy REALLY scream that high? Wow...
For all those feeling just a little smug, just remember who it was who used to watch Doctor Who from BEHIND the sofa. You know whom I'm talking to. Anybody 35 years and older.
Zealots at the ready
23/01/07 19:14 Filed in: Technology
Apple have launched the iPhone; at long last and so far there's a 50/50 split in the media about whether or not its the best thing since the invention of the wheel or just a fancy Blackberry.
Personally, while I can't help but have Apple envy at the style. I can't just help thinking about the market for;
a) Screen cleaners and;
b) Screen protectors
You get the idea. Any device that uses its most expensive component, its screen, as an active part of the interface is in for some stick. You can't help but wonder if Blackberry looked at the cost, the needs and thought better of it. I'm not saying for a minute that they are in the same market. But Steve Jobs seems to think so, because he said so in his big introduction. Which is odd, because I can't imagine a business, outside media, that's going to think all funky and go for the iPhone. Which is a shame, because its bound to impress at meetings.
Personally, while I can't help but have Apple envy at the style. I can't just help thinking about the market for;
a) Screen cleaners and;
b) Screen protectors
You get the idea. Any device that uses its most expensive component, its screen, as an active part of the interface is in for some stick. You can't help but wonder if Blackberry looked at the cost, the needs and thought better of it. I'm not saying for a minute that they are in the same market. But Steve Jobs seems to think so, because he said so in his big introduction. Which is odd, because I can't imagine a business, outside media, that's going to think all funky and go for the iPhone. Which is a shame, because its bound to impress at meetings.
iTV. What's in a name
15/12/06 21:27 Filed in: Technology
Apple's iTV has caused something of a sensation over the last few months since it was first announced. First, there was all the speculation whether or not it will be HD. Certainly the fact it sports a HDMI port seems to point towards that being an affirmative. Of course, in the scheme of things there is HD and then there's HD.
Given the general source of the output for iTV is likely to be from iTunes, it would makes sense if it was just 720p as 1080p would be both gigantic in file size and impossible to stream over wireless in a coherent way (or at all). But 720p make a lot of sense in the US where scan lines for TV are as low as 480 lines (NTSC). Probably the wow factor is less so in the UK and other PAL format countries.
All that aside and ignoring the iPhone for now; iTV has something of a problem that's not going to go away. It's the current name. Because iTV isn't just a snazzy new 'i' in Apple's current arsenal. It's also the moniker for the Independent TeleVision group in the UK. So getting that name across the Atlantic in its current form is going to be something of a problem.
But then its been noted that the name iPhone is also in trouble because its owned by Cisco/LinkSys as a Skype like VOIP device. Ooops a daisy.
Given the general source of the output for iTV is likely to be from iTunes, it would makes sense if it was just 720p as 1080p would be both gigantic in file size and impossible to stream over wireless in a coherent way (or at all). But 720p make a lot of sense in the US where scan lines for TV are as low as 480 lines (NTSC). Probably the wow factor is less so in the UK and other PAL format countries.
All that aside and ignoring the iPhone for now; iTV has something of a problem that's not going to go away. It's the current name. Because iTV isn't just a snazzy new 'i' in Apple's current arsenal. It's also the moniker for the Independent TeleVision group in the UK. So getting that name across the Atlantic in its current form is going to be something of a problem.
But then its been noted that the name iPhone is also in trouble because its owned by Cisco/LinkSys as a Skype like VOIP device. Ooops a daisy.
