Interesting links and notes on updates to my main website.



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Steve Jobs and the Mac

... and you thought I was mad

remember in March 2002 when I said

Steve Jobs pleads: "Stop using the Mac"

For years Apple has been promoting a kind of Zen Computing.

These are the acceptable Mac use guidelines:

1. gaze in awe at beautiful Aqua interface and computer case design
2. watch DVDs
3. listen to CDs while watching iTunes visualisations
4. view a photo slideshow using iPhoto
5. watch QuickTime movie trailers

Why do users continue to insist on *interacting* with the computer?

and then in February 2004 when I said

My theory on MacOS X is that Steve Jobs has an 80" plasma monitor which he only looks at, never actually uses. I base this on the fact that in OS X 10.3 they have added this quick link whatever thing to the left side of Finder windows, making them EVEN BIGGER.

I can only assume 1024x768 icons for everything are next.

hmm, let's have a look at the new iMac G5...

You’ve got the best seat in the house. The full-screen Front Row media experience — with its intuitive menus, large text and brilliant graphics — lets you browse the music, photos and videos on your iMac as easily as you browse music on your iPod. And the new Apple Remote lets you do your browsing from anywhere in the room. So gather your friends and dazzle them with a slideshow of your vacation pics, a home movie or a DVD. iMac G5 was born to entertain.

I rest my case. posted by Richard at 10:42 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

RealPlayer + Divx on G3 Mac = better

I have an 800 MHz G3 iBook.
I had downloaded some video to watch, but when I went to play it on the new QuickTime 7.0.2 Player it was not so compatible with Divx.

So I tried RealPlayer 10 instead and discovered the RealPlayer (which I presume is using the same Divx codec) plays the video much smoother than the QuickTime player ever did.

This issue probably won't surface on faster Macs, but if you have an older one, I recommend trying it out. posted by Richard at 10:33 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

video iPod

The video iPod. Who could have predicted that?
Oh wait, I did in March of this year.

This is the most interesting part to me, which I haven't seen widely mentioned:

purchase ad-free episodes of your favorite ABC or Disney television shows and watch them on the go.

Here's what it says on the iTunes Videos page

Easy As It Looks

The virtual shelves of the iTunes Music Store now feature a video section. Music videos, Pixar shorts and select ABC and Disney television shows live right alongside songs, podcasts and audiobooks. Browse featured listings or search the archive to find just what you want, then click to buy. Once you do, you get stutter-free, ad-free video delivered directly to your desktop. From there, the sky’s the limit, because you own purchased video forever. Watch as many times as you choose, share between five computers, burn to data CDs or sync to the new iPod. Instant gratification never looked better. ...

TV Star

In addition to music videos, the iTunes Music Store also features select Disney and ABC television shows, ready to download. For $1.99, you can own the latest episode just one day after it airs. With full seasons of “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives” and “That’s So Raven,” plus episodes of new shows like “Night Stalker” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” at your fingertips, you’ll never miss your favorites. Plus, you can sync shows to the new iPod and watch them on the go.

(No TV downloads available from the Canadian store yet. The videos are all 320x240.) posted by Richard at 07:28 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

bg 2.10

oh. my. god. err, gods.

Labels: battlestar galactica

posted by Richard at 10:53 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

londinium

I was in London (England).
Was lucky to have good weather.

The subways are quite the experience: packed with people, no airconditioning.

But at least they have a subway.

It's quite the big urban city place.

Some nice parks tho.
A good mix.

Ottawa needs more parks downtown, IMHO, altho I guess we're to consider the canal to be a long linear park. posted by Richard at 10:49 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)