Sunday, July 29, 2007

Show #40 - 07.29.2007



[Download Show #40 as MP3]

 News
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • Printers
    • Inkjet
      • $70-$250
      • Home Inkjet Catridges
        • $15-$30
        • 150/pages
    • Laser
      • Toner
        • $50/color CMYK (total: $200)
        • 1000/pages
Penny Pinchers
  • Do those InkJet Refills Really Save You Money
    • Consumer Reports that the page output/price is not as good as a new cartridge but the price is
    • If you do the refill yourself you can save up to 65% over a new cartridge
    • Walgreens & Office Depot are adding refill kiosk
    • So there is no clear answer to the question so you will need to figure out what works best for you.
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Sunday, July 22, 2007

Show #39 - 07.22.2007



[Download Show #39 as MP3]

News
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • Home Theater Hardware
    • Display
      • Resolutions
        • 480i/p
        • 720i/p
        • 1080i/p
      • Hardware
        • Projectors
          • Lumens
          • Native Resolution
          • 1400 lu men HD = $3600
          • 3500 lumen "Pro Series" = $2800
          • HDCP
          • TI DarkChip3
          • 4:3 / 16:9
          • Screens
            • Fixed
            • Motorized
            • Pull Down
            • Wall
        • HDTVs (LCD/Plasma)
          • LCD
            • $1500+ 50"
            • $700+ 32"
          • Plasma
            • 37" or Larger
            • Neon / Xenon
            • Emit Light
            • $1000+ 50"
    • Audio Receiver
    • Speakers
  • Digital Video Recorders
    • Pre-built
      • Cable Company Provided
      • Tivo
    • Build Your Own
      • Low amounts of HD compatibility
      • High up-front cost, zero-low post-built costs
Security & Privacy
  • High Definition Content Protection (HDCP)
    • What is HDCP
    • How does it affect us
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Sunday, July 15, 2007

Show #38 - 07.15.2007



[Download Show #38 as MP3]

News
  • 100 million+ iPods Sold
  • iPod Trivia Contest
  • Universal to remove songs from iTunes store
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • MaxiVista
  • iTunes - Faster CD Importing
    • In the iTunes menu, choose Preferences.
    • Click the Advanced tab.
    • On the Importing sub-tab, open the “On CD insert” pop-up menu.
    • Choose “Import CD and Eject.”
    • Close the dialog box.
  • Sentui (for Mac) - Transfer songs from your iPod to your computer (iTunes in reverse)
  • Disk Mode same thing as above on PC
  • YouTube videos to the iPod (MethodShop)
Penny Pinchers
Security & Privacy
  • Backup Your Computer
    • You can use an external hard drive, but today we're talking about the iPod so what about doing it with that!
    • This is not available on the Zune and a lot of other rival players. If you’re shopping for a non-iPod, ask specifically whether it offers this feature, because it’s awesome.
    • The Sanza will allow it, but its not hard drive based so there is not as much space for backing stuff up.
Editorial ("Power Up")

  • Internet radio. Just to be clear: you can listen to these Internet radio stations in the iTunes software on your computer. You can’t tune into them on the iPod itself.

  • Audiobooks. If you have more time than money, you can just borrow the books-on-CD from the library and rip them into iTunes for transferring to your iPod. Instead of renting them. I do this all the time.

  • TV shows for $2 each.

Tech Forum Talk Back
  • Listener Reviews of
    • Zune - Flop, no one is buying. So far, looks like the Zune is a big fat dud. Nobody’s buying it. Microsoft has big plans for new models, though.
    • iRiver Clix 2 - $200/4GB; radio and voice recorder.
    • Sandisk Sansa e200 - $200/8GB; Voice recorder, FM radio, replaceable battery. (SanDisk also makes the very cool Sansa Connect, which can download an unlimited number of new songs from Yahoo Music—$12 a month—via Wi-Fi wireless Internet.)
    • Samsung K5 - $230/4GB; Built in speakers, great alarm clock.
  • Jonathan Coulton Interview Questions
    • Jonathan is a singer/songwriter who quit his job as a computer programmer to pursue other projects. He currently releases his music on his website and on the iTunes Store.
    • Jonathan, we have talked about DRM and music delivery methods here on PTower of Information before, you release your music via your website for around $1/song or $10/album. Without giving exact numbers, how successful has this method been for you?
    • Along with selling your albums on your site and iTunes, you allow people to listen to the tracks free of charge from your website. You even tell people that the songs can be downloaded if they want to go through the trouble. This is a far cry from the normal industry response to download. Would you say that allowing people to listen to the songs and/or download them has helped or hindered your sales?
    • You mention Creative Commons license on your site several times in relation to your music. In fact your songs are licensed under the Creative Commons Noncommercial license. Can you describe what Creative Commons is and how it has helped you with your muisc?
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Sunday, July 8, 2007

Show #37 - 07.08.2007



[Download Show #37 as MP3]

News
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • StubHub
  • Google Desktop for Linux
    • No Google Widgets
    • No Sidebar
    • Does index pretty fast, it only took 1 night to index all of my stuff.
    • Searching works well too, I am able to find stuff without fail.
Penny Pinchers
  • Traveling with Notebooks
    • Protect Your Investement
      • Keyboard Protector - iSkin ProTouch keeps liquid and crud out of your laptop keyboard. This particular one is for Mac laptops, but you can find similar ones for your brand by going to Google and typing in, for example, Toshiba laptop keyboard skin.
    • Fax By E-Mail
      • eFax - FREE or $16.95 + $10 activation
      • Faxaway - $1/mo + no setup
    • Cellular Internet
      • Verizon / BroadBand Access
      • Sprint / Vision
    • Online File Storage
      • You might need a place to store files so others can get to them or so that you can get to them when you do not have your laptop.
      • Box.Net
      • Yahoo Briefcase
Security & Privacy
      • Protect Yourself
        • If you see a padlock in the corner of your Web browser, then you have an encrypted connection, and you don’t have to worry about packet sniffers.
        • But email and anything you send or receive on other (non-encrypted) Web sites are another story. Probably the best way to protect yourself is to use VPN (virtual-private networking) software. Unfortunately, this generally costs a little bit of money, and the setup is not for novices.
        • Listeners of the show have mentioned:
    • Internet Cafes' or Business Centers
    • TrueCrypt - On the fly encryption of the data on the hard drive
      • You can encrypt a whole drive or just a single file
      • You can create an encrypted virtual disk to store data onto
      • It is a good idea to encrypt your personal files or company files with customer information so that if the laptop does get lost or stolen, the personal data is unretrevable.
Gamer's Corner
  • Classic Dragon's Lair Coming to DS
    • If you did not play Dragon's Lair in the arcades in the late 80's, you had to have been living under a rock
    • The game was years ahead of its time graphically and required a special Laserdisc player to handle the game in the arcades
    • Game looks exactly like the old Laserdisc arcade version
    • I absolutely loved this game and I can not wait to see it on the DS

Editorial ("Power Up")
  • Summer Vacation / Travel Time
    • Essential Kit
      • Laptop Batteries
      • Phone Cable
      • Ethernet Cable
      • Travel Mouse
    • Tips
      • Close Lid
      • Tabbed Browsing (for slow connections) [Firefox]
      • Turn off graphics
        • In Internet Explorer, choose Tools -> Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll down to the Multimedia heading; turn off “Show pictures.” Click OK.
        • In Safari, choose Safari -> Preferences. Click Appearance. Turn off “Display images when the page opens.”
        • In Firefox, open Preferences. Click the Content tab. Turn off “Load images.”
      • Power on Planes
        • Bathroom
        • Seats
    • Gear
    • Hotels
      • Check the hotel before you go, many expensive hotels charge extra (upwards of $9/day) for Internet access
      • Many less expensive hotels, especially those targeting business travelers, have free Internet as part of the deal
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Sunday, July 1, 2007

Show #36 - 07.01.2007



[Download Show #36 as MP3]

News
  • Google will be officially competing with Microsoft (PowerPoint Product)
    • Google states their products won't be in competition
    • Writely
    • Google Spreadsheets
    • Tonic Systems (Java PowerPoint)
  • Proposed Amendment Would Ban All DVD Copying
    • The DVD Copy Control Association is working to push an amendment through the legislative branch that would ban ALL DVD copying, even copying that falls under the fair use rules of copyright law.
    • Basically fair use dictates that you can make a single backup copy of a DVD (or CD) for yourself and also that educators can rip stuff from DVDs to use in class (for educational purposes). This amendment would make these forms of copying illegal.
    • Since they have unsuccessfully tried it before, it is probably likely that they will fail again, but it is a good idea to write your representatives on this issue.
  • Brain Device Moves Objects By Thought
  • iPhone released this past Friday
    • iPhone is Apple's entry into the Cellular Phone market
    • It's iPod with Video, a Phone, and an Internet device all in one
    • Specs
      • 4GB or 8GB of Flash memory for music/vidoes
      • Cell Service Provided by AT&T
      • Cell Data Connection is EDGE (not latest 3G technology)
      • 2 Megapixel Camera
      • 802.11 Wireless so if there is an access point around, you do not need to use your Cell Data plan
      • Newly Patented Touchscreen Interface called "Multi-Touch"
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • 10 Free Minimalist Word Processors [via Web Worker Daily]
    • Word processors are one of the most commonly used applications on a computer
    • Everyone has heard of Microsoft Word, but that comes with Office and Office can get expensive ($121 for Home/Student Edition from Amazon)
    • There is also Open Office, which requires the Java runtime and that does not work well on a slower/older PC
    • Google Docs
    • Ajax Write
      • Online Word Processor
      • Done in Ajax
      • Made to look like Word as much as possible
    • AbiWord
      • Cross Platform, Open Source, Desktop Application
      • Has problems importing/exporting Word documents with some more complicated features in use
    • There are 7 other word processors at the link on our show notes, be sure to check them out
  • Ubuntu Compiz-Fusion Guide
    • We've talked about the really cool desktop effects you can get in Linux known as Beryl
    • Beryl was a break off of an earlier project known Compiz and has now merged back to form Compiz-Fusion
    • This handy little guide walks you through installing the effects, as well as gives you some quick fixes for common problems.
  • Goldmine of Online Photography Resources
    • Photo Sharing
    • Photo Editors
    • Photo Hosting
    • Photography Blogs
    • Mashups
    • Mobile Photos
    • Photo Mixing / Slideshows
    • Photo Printing / Book Creation
    • Photo Search
    • Stock Photos
Penny Pinchers
  • 11 Tricks to Keep Your House Cool Without Air Conditioning
    • Air Conditioning gets expensive in the Summer times
    • Finding ways to keep cool without it can be a frightful task
    • A few examples include:
      • Buying/Installing a quality ceiling fan. Even the most power hungry fan only cost around $10/day if you run it for 12 hours
      • Install white blinds, drapes, or window shades to reflect light away from the house and close sun facing blinds/drapes/shades during the day
      • Plant trees and shrubs strategically around the house and over A/C units. Be sure to not prevent air flow. As few as 3 properly placed trees can save hundreds on cooling.
      • Ensure quality insulation. An increase from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%
      • One that is not mentioned in the article but in the comments, is spraying your roof with water. I happen to know that this one works quite well from personal experience.
Security & Privacy
  • How Identity Theft Works
    • What is Identity Theft?
    • Potentially Harmful Items
      • Social Security Number
        • This is the kicker, if someone gets this, they can pretty much become you
      • Bank Account
        • Not nearly as drastic as the social, but equally harmful
    • Steps to Help Prevent ID Theft
      • Check Your Credit Report Regularly, Look for out of the ordinary credit checks and accounts you do not know about
      • If you receive a pay check stub, keep it in a safe place. Do not leave it sitting around
      • Only give your your social security, drivers license number, or account information to reputable establishments
Gamer's Corner
  • United States Violent Crime Rates down 40% Since Release of Doom
    • Possibly coincidence but...
      • Violent Crime went down 4% when Quake and Duke Nukem the years were released
      • Another 2% down the year Grand Theft Auto was released
    • Hinders the entire argument that violent video games leads to violent behavior
    • Do we think that people under the age of 17 should play games rated "M" for Mature? No, we do not think that
    • We do encourage that parents police what games their children play and research what the different ratings mean
    • Video Game Ratings Website
  • Alien Arena 2007
    • This game is based on a combination of the Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament Engines but has an alien twist
    • Works on Windows and Linux
    • We have some a link to Screenshots
    • Best of all, this game is FREE, the best price of all
    • The game looks pretty good overall, you can kind of tell that it's "home made" but for free it's better than you'd expect
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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Show #35 - 06.24.2007



[Download Show #35 as MP3]

News
  • Blockbuster Announces Blu-Ray at 1400+ of their 1700ish stores
  • Judge Rules that Server RAM is a 'document'w
    • Basically anything that lives in RAM can be classified as a document and can therefore be supoenaed
      in court
    • This controversial decision could mean that companies have to store large amounts of data just to ensure they can protect against liabilities.
    • It is scary to think that people who do not understand technology are making decisions like this one.
  • Google Powerpoint Viewer Goes Live
    • Google's been slowly releasing it slowly to Gmail users, but its out there now
    • When someone sends you a PPT (Power Point Presentation) you can "View it as a slideshow" using none other than FLASH!

Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • Understanding RAID
    • RAIDs can be complicated to understand
    • You have so many configurations and each one is best for only a handful of situations
    • The folks over at bit-tech wrote a nice article that helps to explain the various possible raid configurations as well as their potential uses
    • They cover all the various RAID types from RAID0 to RAID6
    • Great if you are in the IT field or are always confused by the various possible RAID types
  • 33 Ways to Watch Free TV Online
    • YouTube
    • Joost
    • Babelgum
  • New Flash version for Linux
    • New Flash Player
    • Full Screen Flash works
    • Reworked as a GTK app (Linux native GUI toolset)
Penny Pinchers

Gamer's Corner
  • 100 Free (Legal) Full Game Downloads
    • Cube & Cube2 - FPS with dynamic map creation is
    • Allegiance - Allegiance is a free, online, multi-player space simulation game. You pilot spacecraft, flying in a team with other players, defending and attacking sectors in space. Allegiance challenges your tactical ingenuity, your ability to function in a team and your prowess at blowing stuff up. Experienced players take command and lead their teams to victory or defeat.
    • Armada Online - Drive around spaceship, technology evolve, all online.
    • America’s Army - America's Army is one of the five most popular PC action games played online. It provides players with the most authentic military experience available, from exploring the development of Soldiers in individual and collective training to their deployment in simulated missions in the War on Terror.
  • Sid Meyer loves the PS3
    • "...The PLAYSTATION®3 is light years ahead of this technology. As with any new platform, it's going to be a challenge and take designers some time to come to grips with the hardware. But believe me, you'll be amazed by the possibilities."
    • He's working on at least one "suprise" for the next-gen console
  • PS3 Rumble Controller in Development
    • Battery life with wireless has been the major issue
    • How will sony release the controllers without frustrating current owners?
  • Blacksite: Area 51 Screenshots
    • Midway Entertainment
    • Coming out for PS3, Xbox 360, & PC

Editorial ("Power Up")
  • Top 10 Photographic Mistakes
    • Images are too cluttered
      • Less is more
      • What made you look at the picture in the first place
      • Get the background out
      • Example: Picture of an entire city vs. picture of a reflection of a building in another building
    • There is no bad weather photography
      • Some places look just right with clouds, thunderstorms or the like
      • Blue sky is often boring sky
      • Example: Use an overcast sky can make nice silver reflective natural light
    • No Patience
      • Sometimes weather is tough, circumstances aren't right
      • Example: Clouds covering a peak, rainbow you know is coming
    • The Digital Attitude
      • Digital Photography is a blessing: You can take as many photos as you want without paying a dime and you can get instant feedback in the field.
      • Many people will say the number one thing they like about digital is the ability to delete pictures they don't like. Since when is deleting a picture a good feature?
      • The quality of a picture can only be judged on a large screen, and unless something is really wrong (e.g. someone walked into your frame while you pressed the shutter), you should NEVER delete a picture in the field.
    • The Photoshop Attitude
      • A "photographer" took a photo of a group and noticed that the flash hadn't fired. He put the camera in his pocket with the comment "I'll photoshop it later".
      • Even if you could solve all your problems with Adobe Photoshop (your would at least get increased noise levels), and need to spend a lot of time on the photo.
        Taking a second shot with the flash enabled would only take a few seconds. So if you think a photo didn't come out right and if you have the chance, always take another one (but don't delete the first - but remember, we talked about not deleting, someone might have their eyes closed in the new one or there might be some other reason the previous shot turns out better).
      • Photoshop is an invaluable tool for photographers as I've mentioned on the show before; however, it is not a remedy for everything and you cannot turn bad photos into good ones with Photoshop alone. As with anything in technology, Garbage in - Garbage out. The same applies to Photoshop.
    • Unwanted things in a scene
      • Move to the left or to the right if there is something in the background that detracts
    • Always shooting from eyelevel standing
      • Go higher, go lower, see the world from a different place.
      • Example: On the beach you could make a small bush dominate the scene by being low, you could climb to a high vantage point to take a picture of a mountain.
    • Placing People in the Picture
      • Most people don't take a single photograph without posing in front of a perfectly good scene. Don't get me wrong, its nice to see someone was somewhere, but how many of those can you really look at and stay interested. The pictures feel extremely static and people always pose the same way.
      • You might as well pose in front of a blue screen.
      • I don't mind a few vacation snapshots and some of them can be quite funny, but I think it is a much better idea to capture the moment.
      • People laughing and joking or having fun going after some activity is much more interesting than having them pose together in front of the camera.
    • Not including other people
      • There are perfectly valid reasons to include people in photographs.
      • Guiding the Viewer into the Scene. Placing a person outside of the main area of interest and having the person look into the photo. The viewer can identify with the person.
      • Giving a sense of scale. Only with the person in the scene can a viewer truly grasp the size or perhaps to give depth to a scene.
      • The Person is part of the scene itself, an actor or the person is the scene (sports) or documenting the life of people, the person being tightly related to the scene
    • Wrong Perspective
      • Use the zoom on your camera.
      • If you have something in the foreground and something in the background, when you step closer, it will exaggerate the depth between the foreground and background.
    • Art is not something we can grab and hold in our hands. There are no rules and there is no right or wrong. Rules are meant to be broken and often some of the most amazing pictures I have seen did not abide by any rules.
  • DVR vs Live TV vs Ratings
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Friday, June 22, 2007

Save Internet Radio

Listen next Tuesday to your favorite Internet Radio Station, perhaps even the popular KCAA radio that features The Power of Information and you may hear a taste of what's to come if a bill is passed on July 15th that could cost Internet radio stations as much as 1200% of their revenue back dated to January of 2006.

SaveNetRadio.org
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