Digital TV Transition

It seems like most of the people I've talked to about the switch to digital-only television next February don't really have a firm understanding of what is going to happen, or how (or if) it is going to affect them. So here's the rundown:

• On February 17, 2009 all over-the-air analog television transmissions will be shut off. All broadcast television will then only be done in digital form.
  
• If you receive your television over an antenna ("rabbit ears" or rooftop for example) and the TV does not have an ATSC digital tuner, you will no longer receive programming.
  
• Televisions with compatible digital tuners are typically larger-sized HDTVs manufactured in the last 2-3 years. The tuners have been slowly integrated into smaller and smaller TVs during that time. If your television is more than 3 years old it probably doesn't have an appropriate tuner. If it is not high definition it almost certainly doesn't have a digital tuner. If you aren't sure about your television, look in the manual for "ATSC Tuner."
  
• If you can already watch high definition programming from an antenna you already have what you need for the changeover.
  
• If you receive your television programming via a satellite dish on your house, you are not affected by the switch. (Dish Network and DirecTV have always been digital.)
  
• If you receive your programming via analog cable, you may be affected by the change; it is up to the cable company as to whether they make the switch to all-digital or not. Most companies have pledged to not require digital tuners initially, but this is almost certain to change over time, and at some point cable companies will probably require digital cable boxes or tuners too. Contact your cable provider for information about how they are handling the change.
  
• The U.S. Government has a voucher program that allows each household in the country to receive up to two $40 credit vouchers for purchasing converter boxes to allow older TVs to receive digital programming. Currently the converter boxes are available at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, and other stores, starting at $50 each. Sign up for the voucher program at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.
  
• The reason that this is taking place is that digital programming uses less of the radio spectrum, and a significant portion of the radio spectrum is being reallocated from television broadcast to other services, such as cell phones and wireless data cards for laptops. The benefit for consumers is that digital transmissions are much clearer and many (most prime-time) programs will be in high definition. Each channel can now also carry multiple sub-channels, so each broadcaster can have multiple programs running simultaneously.
  

The government has a web site for information about the transition at www.dtv2009.gov. There is a lot of useful information there. Another good web site for information is www.dtvtransition.org.

Apple Software Update must die!

Two weeks ago Apple Software Update prompted me to install Safari (Apple's web browser) on my computers. That was pretty sleazy of them, because I didn't already have Safari on the computers. I didn't want it (I already have Opera, Firefox, and Internet Explorer on my computers, I really don't need another browser!) so I unchecked it and proceeded with the other updates in the list. Deceitful and annoying once, but not infuriating.

But it has been raised from annoying to infuriating today. ASU is now prompting me again to install Safari on all seven of my computers. I said I don't want it two weeks ago, why would I want it now?

This method of software distribution is identical to one of ones used by virus and spyware writers. Click one wrong button, and your computer is infected with software you don't want. But this is worse. Because it comes back later and tries again! Yes, I know there is a way to tell the updater to ignore a product (it's terribly designed, BTW), but you know it is going to come back again. It already has on at least two of my computers.

I didn't ask for Safari, I don't like Safari, I don't want Safari, I already told it once that I don't want Safari, so stop freaking trying to install it! Apple, you are really getting on my nerves with your arrogant attitude that everybody wants all of your products. There are a lot of people left in this world that don't, so stop trying to force them on us! If you absolutely must use your updater to try to push out a new product: (1) please don't do it in the first place, (2) It needs to not be turned on by default, (3) If someone elects to not install it their preference should be honored, and (4) just don't do it!

And while I'm on the subject, why do I have to download 70MB every two weeks for an iTunes update? Why can't the updater be smart enough to only download the parts of the program that have changed? Why does it have to be updated every two weeks (or more often)? I have like 7 computers so every two weeks I have to approve and download like a half a gigabyte just to keep the updater from nagging me.

I guess since I very rarely use iTunes I should just try to uninstall it and stop having to worry about choking my internet connection with unnecessary updates. (I say 'try' because it leaves traces of things behind even after uninstalling, but I know how to get rid of those.) And while I'm at it I guess I'll have to remove QuickTime too, because whenever you have QuickTime installed, Apple Software Update will prompt to install iTunes regularly too.

Between this and the generally poor job that Apple does of writing Windows software, I think I'm about ready to have a "no Apple software on my PCs" policy. Apple products on Macs are fine, but they've proven time and time again that they don't really understand the way to write stable Windows software, or the way that non-Mac folks think.

Just got an HD-DVD Player

Yes, the format has been abandoned. But the players are excellent upscaling players for DVDs, and the HD-DVDs are getting cheap. Plus I already had 10 movies on HD-DVD because I have the Xbox add-on HD-DVD drive. So anyway, I got the Toshiba HD-A30 for $129. And Brent bought one too.

I just picked up a handful more movies and season 1 of Heroes on HD-DVD, and they look amazing.

Buying a Laptop: Part Très

It's been seven months since I bought my last laptop, so I've really been itching to get a new one. Just kidding! I usually get new ones about every two years, not every six months!

Seriously, though… I really, really loved my Dell XPS M1210. The size was perfect, it lasted forever on a battery, it was super fast… overall an excellent product and an excellent buy. But recently I've gotten involved in projects that involve touchscreen user interfaces (my Little Caesars, video switching, and car computer projects just to name a few) and it has gotten to a point where it would be nice to have a touchscreen laptop to demonstrate, test, and use these apps away from my development environment. At the same time Brad mentioned to me that he was looking for a new laptop, so I decided to take the opportunity to sell my newest beloved computer and get one with all of the features that I have really wanted all along. Fortunately I had gotten an amazing deal on the XPS, and I was able to pass that along to Brad and still get a decent amount of money for a used machine. If I had paid full price for the XPS I don't think I could have parted with it at a price that anyone would be willing to pay. And Brad loves his new computer.

Tablet PCs (especially convertibles) have always intrigued me but they have always been way too expensive to justify their purchase for my needs. But within the last several months a few less expensive models have become available. I almost always like Dell laptops so that was the first thing I looked at… the Latitude XT. Super nice, super expensive (and multi-touch for anyone that excited about that buzzword). To configure a machine modestly for the way I was going to use it came to about $3200 (plus tax and shipping). Way too much. So I started to investigate other options. HP makes a much less expensive tablet, the tx2000, and I was planning on that one until I discovered it lacks a FireWire interface, which I need for capturing video for the video switching application. It also has a (slow) AMD processor and doesn't have any expandability via PC Card or ExpressCard slot, so I couldn't even add FireWire either. Brent suggested I look at what Toshiba had to offer and originally I thought they were going to be too expensive (as they have always been in the past) or missing key features. Turns out their Portege M700 model comes in lots of different configurations and can be setup with the features I want, and the price isn't too bad. I ended up selecting the M700-S7044V. Everything I wanted, and affordable.

So it arrived yesterday. And it is a lot cooler than I thought it was going to be. Here are some of its features, some of which I wasn't aware of prior to purchase:

• Super fast Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (new lower power 45nm chip), 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD. My fastest computer to date actually. Came with Vista Business (which is what I use normally) so I didn't have to format the hard drive and re-install Windows like I have had to do on my last several Dells.
  
• Both Pen and Touch-screen interfaces. I can either use the pen, or touch the screen with my finger. Whenever the pen is in proximity of the screen the touch feature is disabled so you can safely rest your hand on the screen while you are writing. The pen is also pressure sensitive so if you work in programs like Photoshop, you can vary the width or opacity of a line by varying the pressure applied. Not that I am an artist, but it give drawing on the computer a much more natural feel and better visual results. The pen also has an eraser on the top, so if you make a mistake you can flip it over and "erase" it. Or you can just cross out the mistake and it will remove it.
  
• The handwriting recognition in Vista is pretty amazing. I write really fast and have really bad handwriting and it still somehow manages to figure out what I am writing. Anywhere you would use a keyboard in Windows, you can write on the screen with the pen and it will translate for you.
  
• It has a fingerprint scanner and it works with Windows domain logins, unlike Windows XP. So to log onto my computer I just swipe my finger across the sensor, or use...
  
• Pen-based signature login. If I have the pen in hand when starting up, I can sign the screen and that logs me into Windows.
  
• Alternately, it can be programmed to automatically log you in if your cell phone is nearby (detected via Bluetooth). If this feature was setup I would never have to enter a password as long as my cell phone is nearby. For some reason it doesn't support my phone though, so I can't use this right now.
  
• LED backlight on the screen. The whole screen is more evenly lit than most LCDs, and it uses less battery power to do it.
  
• Accelerometer built-in. Not incredibly useful yet. But it does have a couple cool features. Like if I were to drop or knock the laptop off of the table it would sense the fall and brace the hard disk for impact. But based on some of the demos I could write games based on the tilt of the machine (e.g. get the ball in the hole). The included software doesn't have a lot of capabilities based on tilt/acceleration, but you can do a few things, like launch a program or bring up the Start menu if you tilt the computer backward then forward, or left then right. Interesting technology.
  
• Built-in webcam and microphone. Sure beats taping a USB webcam onto the back of the screen for video conferencing.
  
• Comes with Microsoft OneNote software. This program is amazing for taking notes. It even includes a search feature that lets you search your handwritten notes and any pictures you take for any text. Yes, even though you are handwriting your notes, they are searchable. So if I can't remember where in my notes I wrote about a certain topic or word, I can just click the search box and start typing. It also includes a feature that lets you record audio (from the built-in microphone or an external microphone), and as long as the recording is fairly good quality that audio is searchable as well! So you take it to class, take handwritten notes, record the teacher, and later you can tell it to find any words or phrases in the handwritten notes or the audio recording. It also syncs up the audio with the notes you are taking at the time so you can either listen to the recording based on any section of the notes, or view the notes taken at any point in the audio. Amazing stuff!
  
• It works with my existing APC universal power adapter, which lets me power the machine from AC, in a car, or on an airplane. (I had to buy a separate Dell branded power adapter to do this with them.)
  
• 802.11n wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.1, and gigabit wired Ethernet.
  

So I've only had it for about 23 hours now but I can already tell I'm really gonna like this machine. And as much as I loved and miss my Dell XPS, this new machine will take its place very nicely.

Is it just me...

... or have the products sold on television gotten even more ridiculous lately?

Among those I have seen recently...

• The PedEgg - a handheld device for removing dead skin from feet. Not that the idea of removing thick skin from feet is necessarily bad, it's just a combination of ludicrous name with an implementation that just doesn't seem like it could possibly work.
• That sticky pad you put on your feet at night to remove toxins while you sleep. If this idea had any merit, a piece of duct tape on your feet would do pretty much the same thing -- nothing.
• An Amish-made electric stove. Of course they're the first group I'd call on for any electrical appliances.
• ListenUp - An amplified listener pitched as a device that can hear distant conversations. I don't think so.
• DualDrill - A drill with two chucks... too bad it's too weak to do anything and breaks if breathed on wrong.

Just to name a couple that come to mind immediately.

Recent Favorites

Music

Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick – She had a big hit with Breathe (2 AM) a couple years ago (yes, this CD is that old), but in a day and age where most CDs coming from the big labels are released with only one or two good songs, this one bucks the trend. My favorites here are "Satellite" (you may have heard this one) and "In the Rough." The lyrics are just so poetic they're inspired. General rule on this CD: the odd numbered tracks are great, with the even numbered ones being good. Anna is actually the songwriter on this CD, something else that is becoming more and more rare all of the time. She's got some real talent.

Coco by Colbie Caillat – Yes, I know that Bubbly has been played way too much, but fortunately this isn't the only noteworthy song on the disc. Oxygen, One Fine Wire, Feelings Show, and Older (hard to find outside of iTunes) are all fabulous.

Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield – She's back with her second (third?) CD. And you've probably heard Love Like This with Sean Kingston. Fortunately this isn't the best song on the disc. That honor goes to the first track, Put Your Arms Around Me, but there are plenty more that are not without charm. The first half of the disc is excellent (with one brief stop in Okayland with the title track), with things slowing down a little toward the end. However, Freckles is just great. Quoting the chorus: "…a face without freckles is like a sky without the stars, why waste a second not loving who you are, those little imperfections make you beautiful, loveable, valuable, show your personality inside your heart, reflecting who you are…" I like it.

The DVD performances of Celtic Woman – A group of 4-5 women vocalists performing Celtic music. There are CDs available, and they are okay, but the DVDs are the best way to experience the talent of these women. They're kind of hard to find for rental unless you subscribe to Netflix for Blockbuster Online, but they're worth the search if you have any interest in Celtic music at all.

Ready to Wake Up by Shannon Hurley – Who? Yeah, she's an independent artist I found on Amie Street. Normally I scoff at independent artists, not because they aren't talented, but because for the most part the recordings are so horrible that I can't stand listening to them, but there are a few standouts worth looking for. While Shannon's music may not be sophisticated from a perspective of its chords and progressions, this is actually one if its appeals. Lyrically and musically it is clean, simple, and refreshing. This CD is as good as anything you can pick up at your local music store.

Strip by Selena Cross – Another independent artist from Amie Street. Where Hurley keeps things simple, Selena goes more electronic with a heavier beat. It's upbeat, fun, and she's got this crispness to her voice that I just love. You shouldn't expect to be lead to any sort of intellectual epiphany while listening, but you can be guaranteed to have a good time here.

Picking up some older stuff

Absolute Garbage by (none other than) Garbage – I didn't think much of Garbage back when they were more popular, but my recent engagements with Rock Band and Guitar Hero have helped to reintroduce me to some stuff that had dipped below the horizon for me. You know all of the ones I like here… Only Happy When it Rains, Stupid Girl, I Think I'm Paranoid, Special.

And just for fun… Rock Swings by Paul Anka – I'm not quite sure how to interpret this CD, but it is certainly good for getting a look of confusion out of your friends. Mr. Anka redoes some popular songs from the last twenty years in his classical style. Somehow "Smells Like Teen Spirit" being performed in a style reminiscent of the Rat Pack is just weird, but kind of enjoyable at the same time. A couple of the tracks work rather well in their new home, such as "True" (a remake of the Spandau Ballet hit from the 80s) and "Tears in Heaven," while others just make you scratch your head. But still a CD worth trying out.

Most of what I mentioned above is available in Amazon's MP3 store, which is where I have been buying nearly all of my downloadable music for several months now. Since the files are in standard MP3 format, they'll play on any device and in any software, and they're cheaper than the versions in iTunes.

Non-Music Favorites

I've recently become a huge fan of the juices made by the Simply Orange company. Their orange juice is quite good, but I think their other products standout more than the OJ. They've got apple, lemonade, limeade, orange, and grapefruit. In my opinion the apple is far and away the best, but each stands out heads and shoulders above juices from other companies. Highly recommended.

A note to DVD distribution companies...

Stop putting those stupid clips on the sides of DVD cases. They're annoying, and serve no purpose!

Just venting...