Sunday, December 18, 2005
Tech News
11a-Noon
QDennis in Marina del Rey - computer is slooooow
Even after a reinstall it takes forever to do anything. After the reinstall he installed AOL 9 and that could be the source of the problem, but so could many other things. Try the diagnostics at PC Pit Stop.
Dan in Des Moines suggests: The AOL 9.0 Security Edition is a very likely cause. Try installing AOL 9.0 Optimized instead - it runs much faster than the Security Edition. Then use Leo’s suggested spyware solutions instead of AOL’s - much less overhead.
QRick in Hacienda Heights - Converting DVDs to PSP
Get the free PSP Video 9 - it’s perfect for converting videos to a suitable format for the PSP.
You must also put the video put the right place. x:MP_ROOT/100MNV01
QKen in North Hollywood - OS X Dock freezes
He’s tried a OS reinstall - but one thing the archive and install doesn’t do is replace extensions in your Home directory. Try logging into a different user account (if you don’t have one make one now - it’s a very useful diagnostic tool - in the Accounts preference pane). If the problem is local to your account it’s something in your Library folder.
bruceb adds:
Have you tried running Disk Utility Repair Permissions? Have you tried dragging the Dock preferences file to the Desktop? (The Dock preferences file is called “com.apple.dock.plist” and is located in your Home folder > Library > Preferences folder.)
—bruceb
ljarrett adds:
In addition to removing the “com.apple.doc.plist” (I would just it to the trash), also delete the “com.apple.finder.plist” then immediately restarting or logging out. 99% sure that removal of those 2 plist files will fix your problem.
—ljarrett
I also recommended the Garmin i5 as my current favorite car GPS device - it’s tiny, can run off 4 AA batteries, and for $300 comes with complete maps for North America and Puerto Rico.
Noon-1p
QBuddy in San Diego - subscribing to podcasts
Use iTunes
quantumBlog says
If you’re using a Windows machine, you may want to consider using Podnova because of its ability to synchronize your subscriptions with the website. Put another way, you can choose the podcasts you want from the website, and the client (you download and install on your local machine) automatically updates the information. This is quite handy especially if you’re not available at your local computer. Of course, you can also manually add the podcast yourself. I don’t particularly like its color scheme, but I’m all for function.
QRyan in Redlands - should I use the new 64-bit Windows
He has the 64-bit mobile Athlon but I don’t recommend 64-bit Windows unless you’re using 64-bit applications. Otherwise it may actually be slower.
QCarl in Johannesberg, South Africa - Which Linux?
I like Ubuntu - a free Linux that focuses on giving you the best application in each class instead of burying you with five word processors, a dozen browsers, etc. Download it free from www.ubuntulinux.org - or they’ll send you a disc free.
Read about other distributions at Distro Watch.
QRusty in Riverside - Making DVDs from home video
If you’re using Windows the best way to do it is with Adobe Premiere Elements. When it comes to copying over the video it’s better using a Firewire cable than USB if you have one.
Q Mike in Brooklyn - creating a podcast feed
He hosts the The Michael Hurdle Show video podcast, but he needs to make the podcast feed. If you use blog software to create your web page Feedburner is the easiest way to turn your blog postings into a podcast.
Since Michael has a static web page, it would be easier to use Feed-for-all to create his feeds - it works in Mac or Windows.
bdude adds:
Also, if you want a whole blog solution designed for Podcasting try LoudBlog
1–2p
QSteve in San Diego - iTunes won’t install on Windows 2000
Make sure you have Service Pack 4 installed. Also make sure you have the latest Windows 2000 Installer installed (download it from Microsoft). You might want to install Quicktime first.
QFred in Seal Beach - time for a new TV
Sony’s SXRD use LCOS - which many reviewers consider superior to DLP.
QHerb in Rancho Santa Fe - Using EVDO on an iMac
Verizon’s high-speed data access, EVDO, is fast enough to be usable for home Internet access (it’s around 800kbps). Herb can’t get cable or DSL Internet but how does he get EVDO working on his iMac.
Apparently Apple does offer drivers - read up on it at www.evdo4mac.com. But then there’s the hardware issue. You might be able to use Bluetooth and an EVDO cell phone (although Verizon seems to prohibit this use with their phones).
This box will allow you the put in a pc card and will give you wifi and ethernet out.
http://www.junxion.com/product/
bruceb adds:
There’s also an EVDO router mentioned here, that might work for a desktop Mac such as an iMac: http://www.evdoinfo.com
Then, you’d just connect the iMac to the router with a common Ethernet cable, with no need for a PC-MCIA card slot at the computer.
—bruceb
QCharles in Glendale - Sirius S50
He wants to get Sirius to listen to Howard Stern but the price is so high. I love the S50 - it’s both an MP3 player and a satellite radio receiver - with 50 hours of recording time - but it’s $300. Anyone know of any deals?
There is a $50 rebate on the S50
Chat Logs and Show Audio
Listener Comments
18 December 2005
I heard Leo mention the logmein.com service. I have tried using it and it works great on the windows environment and I have even heard that it works well with OS X Panther, but I am on Tiger 10.4.3 and I cannot get the site to work in java mode (and the html mode stinks) Anyone out there find a way to make it work. I have tried in Safari, Firefox 1.5 and 1.07, Opera, and IE for OS x. In Firefox I keep getting a message that I need a missing plugin that it cannot find and then I get a message that states remctrl.class error. I am desperate for some help and would appreciate any that can be offered…
Hey Leo, thanks again for all the great work. I have been with you since the ZD days and I get everything you do to this day and listen to it in my car…
10:53 by JD?.
Hey jtb to delete your OLD restore files in XP just turn off your system restore in system propertys ---restart ----then turn it back on
Google does not understand that we don’t want to be part of AOL.
Come on now!
I love google and if they are “bought” I will not use them any more. The good thing about America is some one will come up with an alternative.
AOL sucks! That must be why Gmail started using up all my memory! If I start seeing any AOL results in Google searches I’m dumping Google!
I have a whole bunch of the OLD ScreenSavers shows from Tech TV one of these days i will convert to digital on the computer will i get in to trouble if i put them up for distribution ???
Anyone can tell me why I can ping internal and external IP addresses, but cannot browse in IE 6 or Firefox?
I can ping my DNS server, my gateway and even Yahoo. But if I put the IP address in the browser, I get a server error.
Regarding the Power Mac G5 caller, try trashing your Finder and Dock preferences.
User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.finder.plist
User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.dock.plist
-Bmer — MacOSG.com
The “freezing dock issue” may be a somewhat widespread problem-the dock itself can freeze or the page can freeze while minimizing in the genie effect- you can restore things to normal by touching the power button (but not shutting down)or by randomly hitting keys…it may have cropped up with a software update from Apple…this has been discussed on some of the Apple message boards and on the Apple support site too… Anyone got a fix?
Whats the best way to put DVD’s on a mac HD to archive,,I use Handbrake but its really slow…up to 4 hours
Yes, using the scale effect cures the issue-but it is sad to not have the genie effect ;-) …I did the “delete the preferences” fix as recommended above, and also suggested by the “Genius Bar” at my Apple store— but that did not cure it…..it does not happen all the time, and only on one of my Macs, so I have not researched it any deeper….
For the PSP (Playstation Portable), videos need to be in MPEG4 Format, and be placed in a specific location within subfolders in a memory stick
This JPEG picture tells pretty much everything people need to know to put videos and stuff in their PSP:
To convert DVDs, you’ll have to put your DVD disk inside of your DVD-ROM drive and download DVD Decrypter. I forgot the specifics, but you have to change some settings to make the .VOB file it extracts one big file. Then, using PSP Video 9, you can convert VOB files.
For PSP Video 9, there are these video conversion “Profiles”, since I’ve converted hundreds of videos, many of the trial-and-error, use the profile “Movie (0–2h)” to economically convert the video file with the best quality with the least amount of space.
Good Luck! The PSP is a very good video player once you get used to doing these.
Oh, THANK YOU, Leo! I never could figure out PODCASTING! Now I got I Tunes sucking your 5/12 Show down!
MOVE to TIJUANA for great CABLE ISP! 512 Kbs for 32.80 a month! VERY FEW NEIGHBOURS on line…NO CONGESTION!
Leo, you and Bill Handle should do the KFI cooking show! You guys know more than those two women! LOL
The install UBUNTU wont work on my old PC (must have been a bad download) but the live would work, But it was realy sloooooooooow
The MD5 files that are listed with the ISOs are checksum files.
Luke Pascoes’s MD5 Summer (for Windoze) can verify the download.
Install the utility and double-click the *.md5 file.
In order to get so much on a 700MB CD, the Live CDs are COMPRESSED.
Before anything on the CD can be RUN, it has to be uncompressed.
Yes, the speed is severely compromised.
Working from optical media
is also significantly slower than from a magnetic hard drive.
I have been working with Linux since 1991. After trying several distributions I came to settle with SuSE and Fedora.
12:49 by anonymous.
UBUNTU ship-it swz: It costs NO MORE to ship SEVERAL as to ship ONE CD.
There’s 3 OS offered:
1/ PC running AMD/Intel; 2/OS for 64 bit systems. & 3/Apple/MAC g3, g4, and G5.
I have Home Built AMD Antolon XP 1500+, Soc. A. I am thinking of upgrading to 64.
SHOULD I ASK FOR BOTH OS? I hate to sound GREEDY to them…
Make sure that you pass on the unused disks to another nerd.
No harm; no foul.
I like Knoppix Live CD. I use it on my pc that has 98se and I am tired of the viruses and stuff so I use the live cd and have windows on there incase I need it. I have tried UBUNTU and I like it to.
I recomend either of those distros
DLP, stay away! The problem with DLP TV sets is the lamp for an Infocus model cost $500.00! Add another $200 if you need someone to install it! Also they only have a 90 day warranty!
Anyone have any ideas about logmein and os x
Leo, you convinced me to switch and I love my Mac mini, and you’ve done it again, I’m downloading an Ubuntu Live disc now, lol.. my next venture may be another suggestion of yours and i may go KnoppMyth… May call in for that one though, lol
Also on the Dock Freezing mine was oddly fixed my just using the Scale effect…
Quick time error −3 on install.
I found this ipod forum thread and may answer the question for the caller. http://www.ipodgarage.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=26066
See the two coments by “Tooltime” Last coment is his fix for the quicktime −3 error.
Here is his fix = OK I got iTunes and quicktime loaded. For me it was’nt easy. Heres what I did. At first I could’nt get iTunes to load on my pc,windowsXP. So I made up a new file when it asked if I wanted iTunes on C:ProgramFilesiTunes I deleted that and wrote C:ProgramFilesiTunes6.0 and it worked. Then I could’nt get quicktime to load, so I googled quicktime and tried to load directly off their web site and that did’nt work. So I loaded the quicktime alternative version 1.67 for mozilla. It was in the area I goggled quicktime and voila it works, I have iTunes 6.0 up and running, I imported a bunch more cd’s and it synced just fine
The fellow wanting wireless internet could always get a cheap windows laptop with a wi-fi card to put the Verizon card in and set it to share.
I was driving in my car earlier and I thought Leo mentioned one of the GPS devices for your car, what was his recommendation (or was I daydreaming again) or better yet does anyone here have one that they really like? Bryan in CA
Herb in Rancho Santa Fe -
Is there a PCIMCA card that interfaces thru a USB port since you don’t have a PCI slot?
http://wifinetnews.com/
In a AFFLUANT (sic?) Rich area SOME “HAM RADIO” Operator (I am KD5MPM/XE2) should have/ be willing to SET UP Wi Fi Service! the ARRL Has sponsered OUR own Ham Radio “HinterNet” experiments on the 2.5 GIG HAM BANDS!
In TEXAS distances 40+ MILES were reported OVER A YEAR AGO! There is a friend who is setting Free Wi Fi in So. Cal! Great Briton HAS Wi Fi, FREE,
I lost interest in KEEPING UP with the 802.11 news when I moved to TIJUANA with 512 Kbs Cable
14:23 by Leo.
Yea - the Garmin i5 - I’ll put in a picture and links later this evening
Leo, are you a fan of Howerd Stern or Mark & Brian?
Stern is waaaaaaay to rude for me.
19 December 2005
Ive dropped Google as home page as a matter of principle. They are becoming an intrusive annoyance if not yet a menace. I think it foolish to become a registrant in any of their personal services or submit to them personal info or subscribe to Googy WEB services which use personal info. Find personal Info erasure service at www.deletenow.com.
22 December 2005
Hey Leo, Just bought the Samsung 50″ HDTV (based on your comments about it).
Get this.. normally I don’t buy the extended warrantees, but I bought it at Sears. 5 year extended warrantee about 500 bucks.. But I did the math. One DLP light bulb burning out, and it pays for itself. Also, the Sears guy says that even if the kids scrap the screen, they’ll fix that too!! worth it to me!
02 January 2006
To Herb in Rancho Santa Fe, you could always get Starband satellite internet.
www.starband.com
25 January 2006
I’ve seen a lot of talking about converting VOB and MOD files. Use this or that program. Maybe this is too simplistic but all I do is rename the extension .vob or .mod to .mpg and WALA it is a mpeg movie and then you can use any video editing program to resize it or whatever. I hadn’t seen that technique offered before so if it has sorry for the repeat.
