Sunday 20 May 2007
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Tech News
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, is claiming that there are 235 patent infringements in Linux.
A Supreme Court decision challenges software patents.
A Forrester research study has shown that, for the first time, online clothing sales have surpassed those of computer sales.
Check out this article about caring for your “introvert”. It is a great article for anybody in a relationship with a geek.
Guests
Q Scott Wilkinson - Wireless HD
- Effectively wireless HDMI
- Saw Israeli company using 802.11n for WHDI
- Up to 3gbps within 100 feet
- At CES 2007, everybody was talking about wireless HD
- Philips introduced a kit using a set-top box/receiver
- Uses UWB for up to 25-feet range
- Samsung has wireless plasma TV with integrated receiver
Q Ron Rossberg - Cell phone reception/SmartShopper/Olevia HDTV
- There is no perfect cell phone or carrier
- Take advantage of 30-day trial
- Important that phone works on the way to home and at home
- Will mount on any magnetic surface
- Speak into it what you need
- Will find what you need and make a list
- Has a built in thermal printer to print a list
- Can even record quantities
- 32″ with 1 HDMI input
- Available on Amazon for $530
Q Rebekah Baker - The Encyclopedia of Life
- 10 years in the making
- Not a wiki
- Compiling 1.8 million species
- Want to officially launch in 2008
Book Recommendations
Hour 1
Q Pamela from Woodland Hills - Converting VHS to DVD
- Several DVD recorders available with VHS slots
- Panasonic supposedly makes the best ones
- Look at Panasonic DMR recordings
Q Nick from London, England - Vista RC1 to expire
- Has beta, but will expire
- After expiration date, only can use 1 hour at a time
- Can get data off and purchase a discounted version from Microsoft
- Also possible to do a clean install via a loophole
Q Alex - Mac laptop in Canada
- Budget is $1500
- White Macbook 2.16ghz is $1449 Canadian
- Macbook has less graphics power
- Dell has more power for about same price
Q Nick from Cincinnati - Looking for new cell phone
- Key point is cell phone reception
- Depends on cell phone antenna
- Often companies will allow you to try out the service and phone
- No knowledge of any website that compares the networks point by point
- Check out Amazon and Epinions before buying
- Chatters are saying to check out GSM Arena, Phonescoop, CellReception.com, and Howard Forums
Hour 2
Q Barbara from Riverside - Referencing/manipulating photos for a painter
- Looking for a device that would play back pictures
- Need a computer to do editing
- Epson P-2000 is a very nice device
- Cannot edit on it though
- 212dpi
- Could get a UMPC
Q Mary - New computer for her son
- Son getting interested in architecture
- Wants to get a Mac
- Ask what the teachers would prefer
- You have choice to install Windows on a Mac
Q Joshua - Replacing redundant drive in RAID
- You will lose the array
- Will need to reconfigure it probably
- Depends on how good your card is
- If you want to increase size of array, will have to reconfigure
- Always goes to lowest common denominator
- RAID 5 combines redundancy with striping
Hour 3
Q Trouble playing back video podcasts
- Image seems separated and chopped
- Try playing videos in standalone Quicktime Player
- Check out Quicktime Alternative if that does not work
- VLC will definitely play it
- May be a video card issue
Q Peter from Santa Rosa - Upgrade coupon for Vista
- Box should have come with the coupon
- HP cannot help you with that
- Either store or HP can help you
Q Nancy from San Francisco - New digital camera
- Go with your Canon option
Q Brett from Corona - Recording ustreams
- Ustream has a feature to record
- Can also use something like Camtasia to screen grab
Q Mike from Carmel, NY - External drive not working
- If a sector is broken, computer will keep trying to read it
- Maybe USB interface is broken
- Most probably interface
Q Chris from Harrisburg - Wants to hook Mac Mini to HDTV
- Mac Mini has DVI output
- Even has Front Row media center
- Can use Matrox’s DualHead2Go
- Or can get AppleTV