Ripping a Wii Disc with a Mac

Like Chris says, "This will only work with backup copies of Wii Games, there is currently no support for the internal DVD drives that come standard in any Mac for reading original Wii discs."

How does Google Voice Work?

when people dials GVoice > Caller ID gets forwarded to Tracfone (?) > Tracfone can answer... if Tracfone doesn't pickup, GVoicemail picks up and records a message > GVoicemail then transcribes the message > GVoice then sends the transcription to Tracfone via SMS (longer messages are truncated into multiple SMS messages) & emails the message to kmatsueda@gmail.com

when people dial Tracfone > Caller ID is displayed > Tracfone can answer... if Tracfone doesn't pickup, Tracfone Voicemail picks up and records a message > Tracfone then displays a notice that a call was missed and that a voicemail was left... there is a charge to listen to the voicemail

when people SMS GVoice > SMS gets logged in GVoice & is forwarded to kmatsueda@gmail.com & is forwarded to Tracfone... replies from Tracfone are displayed as GVoice

when people SMS Tracfone > SMS notification appears on Tracfone... there is a charge to view the SMS message

AirStash: Wireless Flash Drive + Media Server

AirStash stores your movies, music, photos, and documents and wirelessly shares them with your phone, media player, netbook, tablet, computer, and more. Use AirStash like a USB flash drive to drag & drop the files you want to your SD card while charging the built-in lithium polymer battery, then unplug & play on all of your browser-enabled WiFi devices*.

If you know how to use a USB drive and a web browser, you know how to use AirStash. Once you own AirStash, every other USB flash drive will seem less evolved. (continues)

Encoding DVD's for the Digital Blue 664 Disney Mix Max Personal Tinkerbell Media Player (White)

Our neighbor recently bought a digital player for their 4-year old daughter and they wanted me to help them put a movie they have on her player for an upcoming trip.

1. Rip the DVD - I used RipIt since I've been having good luck with that application recently. I used to use MacTheRipper, but a number of recently released DVD's don't rip well with MTR.
2. Transcode the VOB's - I'm using Handbrake to make a near-DVD quality MP4 video file: H.264 encoder, original framerate, 2500 kbps, two-pass encoding w/ turbo first pass, AAC audio@48khz, 128 kbps, no subtitles (since they'll get burned on the final video), loose anamorphic output
3. Flip4Mac Studio Pro HD - this is a must using Mac OS 10.5.x, I tried ffmpegX, Handbrake, and VisualHub with no success: export using WMV 9 Standard, one pass (I wouldn't waste the time on two pass since the final image is too small to notice a difference) CBR, 384 kbits/sec, 220x124, 30 fps, from the advanced button: profile must be simple, audio must also be one pass CBR, 128 kbps, 48 khz, stereo, I ended up saving a custom profile in case I ever need to do this again
4. You can find instructions on the web to use Windows Media Encoder if you're using that OS, but it looked like a pain in the butt to get it to work. Good luck there.
5. Save to the Mix Max via USB - the final file weighted in at 319.2 MB

The player works well enough and the movie plays fine, but the image is really small at 220 px wide! Other than that, this was the quickest way to handle the movie.

What's on MY iPhone?

Lower Bar

• Phone
• Mail
• Calendar
• Safari
  

Page 1 - Utilities

• Messages
• Contacts
• Calculator
• Units
• iPod
• Notes
• 1Password
• Settings
• FAC
• App Store
• Clock
• Night Stand

Page 2 - Projects, File Managment, Databases, IM

• TSheets
• Toodledo
• Recorder
• Voice Memos
• Air Sharing
• Dropbox
• Bento
• iOwn
• Skype
• Echofon
• AIM
• Y! Messenger
• IM+ Lite
• Dictation
• VNC

Page 3 - Photography, TV, Music and Sound

• Camera
• Photos
• Picoli
• Darkslide
• 12seconds
• Sketches
• YouTube
• TiVo Mobile
• i.TV
• Now Playing
• PhoneFlicks
• iTunes
• Pandora
• Shazam
• WhiteNoise
• Effector

Page 4 - Mapping, Reading, Weather

• Maps
• Google Earth
• Locator
• Stocks
• StarmapPro
• MoonMapLite
• On the Grill
• SportsTap
• Instapaper
• NYTimes
• Stanza
• Kindle
• TWC
• State College Weather
• Weather
• eTextbooks

Page 5 - Entertainment

• Sudoku
• FlightControl
• Civ Rev
• Enigmo
• Hero of Sparta
• Monopoly Worldwide
• StoneLoops!
• Ocarina
• Flick Fishing
• Air Hockey
• Sol Free
• Tap Tap Revenge
• Moonlight lite
• Wild West
  

Using Toast and Viddler

I've got a number of TiVo recordings that I want to archive. Right now they are in the .tivo file format and I've used Toast to edit the recordings. I'm experimenting with exporting those files now and I'm using Toast to encode the videos for Apple TV. Toast will only allow for a max resolution of 480 which is fine with me. I selected "high" quality, but I don't know if that'll make a difference. I notice that the estimated file size is over 1 GB with a playback at over 2 Mbps (I think). I'm curious if the file will really be that big. Does the bitrate increase as the resolution decreases? I kind of doubt it. I need the files under 500 MB because they'll just take up too much storage space. So, that's what I'm testing and will just have to see how this ends up. I'll probably re-encode in Toast if the file is too large.

DYI 3-D Video

I saw an interesting episode of "Science of the Movies" on the making of 3-D movies. It got me to thinking about making my own movies. I was thinking of taking two flip cameras (I only have one FlipUltra HD) and mounting them so that their lenses are 2.5 inches apart to replicate the average occular distance. I was wondering if there was a way to create my own anaglyph movies. The part that is really holding me up is how to "publish the video." I'd probably need Final Cut Pro so that I could work with two video tracks (one red and one cyan). After that, I'm not sure. Would I be able to watch that on the iPhone, on my HDTV, on my computer? I'm just going to have to see :-)

FWD: Registration is open for technology training in December

Don’t forget to register for upcoming technology workshops. Seats are still available in the following classes that are scheduled through December 18:

TCP/IP and the OSI Model: Overview
Tuesday, December 1 from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106988

Web 2.0 Browsing, Searching, and Reference Tools: Overview (via Adobe Connect)
Tuesday, December 1 from 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. via Web
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107016

Web 2.0 Browsing, Searching, and Reference Tools: Overview
Tuesday, December 1 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107017

Topics for Teaching: Blogs for Classroom Use (via Adobe Connect)
Tuesday, December 1 from 2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. via Web
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106996

Topics for Teaching: Blogs for Classroom Use
Tuesday, December 1 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106997

Blogs at Penn State: Overview (via Adobe Connect)
Wednesday, December 2 from 8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. via Web
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106883

Blogs at Penn State: Overview
Wednesday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106884

Getting Started with Studiocode
Wednesday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in 205 Chambers
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107079

Word 2007: Desktop Publishing ($30)
Friday, December 4 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107034

Setting Up a Home Network: Overview
Friday, December 4 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106987

Topics for Teaching: Adobe Connect Pro for Classroom Use
Wednesday, December 9 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. in 116 Wagner
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106995

Getting Started with Digital Certificates: Securing Personal Data and Online Communications
Wednesday, December 9 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106923

Getting Started with Oracle Calendar
Thursday, December 10 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106927

Word 2007: Mail Merge ($30)
Friday, December 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107035

Getting Started with Outlook 2007: E-mail Essentials
Friday, December 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106932

VoIP: Advanced Features and Functions
Monday, December 14 from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107005

Getting Started with Videoconferencing
Tuesday, December 15 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in 7A Sparks
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106939

Getting Started with Adobe Connect Pro
Wednesday, December 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in 116 Wagner
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106918

Photoshop CS4: Retouching & Color Correction ($30)
Wednesday, December 16 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106976

VoIP: Telephone Features & Voicemail
Thursday, December 17 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in 23 Willard
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=107013

Blog Your Penn State Home Page (Lunchtime Session)
Friday, December 18 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in 23 Willard Conference Room
https://register4its.psu.edu/Public/ShowDetail.asp?scheduleid=106880



All scheduled sessions are held at the University Park campus unless otherwise indicated. Please visit the Web site for details and to register for training at http://its.psu.edu/training/ .

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GE Skype Phone went down

In general the Skype phone is awesome. We save a lot of money using our Skype phone. I'm not sure we needed to buy two additional handsets, but they're nice to have now that we do have them.

Well they phones work like 98-99% of the time. Sometimes, however the phones get de-registered and it has to do with the phone-router.

This last time was the worst set back we had. Eventually I figured out that the phone-router wasn't getting an IP address from the DHCP server on the wireless router. Basically I shut everything down that connects to the wireless router and then get the phone-router setup first. When the phone-router is working fine, it's easy to register all of the handsets. In fact, it's so easy that I forgot what the actual process was except for following the handset's directions. I didn't even need to do long resets on the phone-router.

I found some interesting information that led me to this solution from:
http://tinyurl.com/y8exmyz

17" MacBook Pro Backpacks

I've got a new MBP for work and I'm now looking for options.

• minimal commute - I don't expect to bring my laptop home very often, I mostly need it to move my computer from place to place in the Outreach Building
  
• limited travel - I might go on may be one or two business trips a year
• less than normal capacity - I'd be fine with only about 1000 cu in of additional storage, I don't need a lot of organization pockets--I never used them much anyhow
• black - I don't want anything flashy, I need something relatively professional-looking
• cost - my department is buying one for me, but I should keep it less than $125
• build - relatively high-quality and refined
• alternative - would be nice to have PV cells, but they're expensive; CCW would be interesting, but not practical
  

Possible styles:

1. Messenger bag - a solid possibility since I probably won't be carrying around my laptop very much
2. Backpack - good all-around choice, more comfortable with heavier loads
   
3. Sleeve - great if the 17" MBP fits in my panniers for biking, not my first choice since I don't have a bag now that's big enough for the MBP on a daily basis
   
4. Briefcase - classic, but lame

Possible choices:

1. Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Large - $120, 3.2 lb, 17 x 11.5 x 6, great carry-all
   
2. Bumbakpak Hamptons - $95, 1386 cu in, cool carrying options for a messenger bag, might be heavy
3. STM Large Convertible - $60, 17.1 x 12.6 x 3.5 inches, backpack to shoulder strap, great design although it uses velcro for the flaps, minimal storage space
4. Northface Hot Shot - $89, 2 lb 2 oz, 2000 cu in, doubles well for the trail
5. Brenthaven Pro - $179, 3.75 lb, 1975 cu in, excellent protection
6. MacCase Combo - $80, pretty basic, includes a nice sleeve
7. Targus Groove - $40, 2.75 lb, the price concerns me, looks pretty standard, better than some I've seen
8. Northface Surge - $115, 2 lb 10 oz, 2150 cu in, kinda large, but fully featured
9. AXIO Tekno - $180, 5 lb, 18.5”H x 13.5”W x 9”D, cool design, but expensive and very heavy
10. Incase - decent neoprene sleeve, but nothing else
11. Booq - nothing
12. Crumpler - nothing
    

Video Streaming Server

What I'm looking to do is transfer recordings from my TivoHD to a streaming server so that I can watch videos on my iPhone organized by directories.

I have been using Roxio's Streamer with great success except:

• I cannot organize the videos into directories
• it's sometimes buggy and doesn't let me stream certain videos (it's happened twice)
• I keep getting an incorrect dialog box asking me if I really want to open an application downloaded by MS Entourage

I have a version of the Apple Darwin Streaming Server and that's been running well except:

• I cannot convert .tivo video files on my mac into a streaming format
• I cannot create iPhone streaming formats yet, it doesn't look easy
• I can only convert programs if they are still on my TiVo

I'm really looking for the best of both worlds:

• the easy of Roxio's Streamer
• viewing on an iPhone
• folder organization
• and being able to work with .tivo files I've moved to my Mac

Google Search: "mac .tivo transcoding"

http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/StreamBaby.shtml
http://www.samuelmcconnell.com/projects/tivodecoder/
http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/showcase/details.php?wid=281
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/08/11/how-to-install-and-setup-jinzora-streaming-media-server-in-os-x/
http://developer.apple.com/opensource/server/streaming/index.html
http://en.jinzora.com/downloads/jinzora_releases/28

Ripping Wii games on a Mac

For educational purposes only!
Google: "mac ripping wii iso"
http://wiinewz.com/forums/faqs-guides-tutorials/69742-rip-wii-games-mac.html
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/482844

Doing reserach into iMovie 08 and 09

I've been looking into editing for newer format camcorders. I found a good blog about iMovie '08 that might help to clarify things for me.

Netflix

It's unexpectedly awesome in the first two days of trying it out. After spending over $10 for movie rentals at Blockbuster, I realized that we might be able to do better using Netflix.

I chose the cheapest unlimited account for around $9 a month. The real plus is that we can view movies almost instantly using our TiVo. I decided not to add the Blu-Ray feature even though we can watch Blu-Ray discs on my new Playstation 3.

We rented Hancock on Blu-Ray and even though it looked great, it wasn't a huge difference than watching a DVD up-scaled for HD. At least not for another buck a month. Talk about a cheapskate!

Signing up for the service only took a couple of minutes and it was only another minute or so to link our TiVo to the service.

I went on the computer and created a couple of queues for DVD's and for instant viewing. We're still waiting on our first movie, but we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as our first on-demand flick. The quality was very good. I'll be curious to see how good action flicks look.

I've installed one Netflix app on my iPhone and activated the feature in another and between the two I can search, add movies to our queue, reorder the queue and other functions... all from the iPhone. Kickass.

I can already tell this is going to have a huge effect on our movie watching habits.

UDF to burn troublesome DVD's

Microvision SHOW WX Pico Projector

I don't have a pressing need for one of these, but damn! What a cool concept. I don't even have a laptop for work right now, but how cool would it be to hook up my iPod or iPhone to this thing to give on-the-spot presentations or training sessions?

Installing a Custom Firmware on my PSP

For educational purposes only!
I'm still not sure what the procedure would be for me.

First off, I have an older PSP and I just installed the newest firmware 5.02 from Sony.

• http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/SystemUpdates/PSP

I want to play backup games on my PSP and from what I've read, I need to install custom firmware CFW to do so.

• http://www.psp-hacks.com/forums/f133/the-new-hack-your-psp-thread-t227349/
  
• http://pspcustomfirmware.com/
• http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061215080237AAW1qWE

In order to do this I believe I need a Magic Memory Stick and a Pandora Battery.

• http://www.psp-hacks.com/forums/f133/unbrick-downgrade-install-cf-on-your-psp-with-t186757/

What is a Pandora Battery?

• http://www.noobz.eu/joomla/news/pandoras-battery.html

Making a Pandora Battery

• http://www.pspmod.com/forums/psp-hardware-guides/28839-easy-use-pandoras-battery-guide-3.html
  
• http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/572482

It took a while to get the battery case pried open. Some guide make it seem like a pretty easy process, but you really need to work around the entire battery with a box cutter. Take your time and be careful! I nearly cut my hand doing this. I don't have a soldering iron, so I tried the safety pin method. I worked the pin until it broke off. I don't know if that was a good idea or not, but no turning around now. Another thing, I was really surprised how small those chips really are. Some folks have some really nice macro lenses to make the chip look big, but the pin you're working on is quite small. I didn't have the slim motherboard in my 1800 mAh original battery, so my only option was to lift/break the pin.

Using a Pandora Battery

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqMF622NpY4

To install backups, I think I need an ISO directory in the root of the memory stick. It is this directory that I copy the ISO or CFO? file. From there I should be able to access and play games from memory stick and not UMDs.

Portable Wiki?

I'm still trying to figure this one out. The product is called TiddlyWiki and they are trying to differentiate their product from other wiki's in that they are portable as a single page document. I guess I'll just have to download the software and give it a try to figure out what it can do.

UPDATE: I just downloaded the template page and I immediately got the gist of it. It's great. You can make all your edits within your browser and if you ever need to publish it online, it's just a single file html doc that easily integrates into your server setup.

I don't know what I'll use it for, but I can immediately see it's usefulness. I'm curious about how to secure the file and will have to look into this more closely.

Interesting manufacturing website

Ponoko offers an interesting service. They will create almost anything you can dream up that can be cut out of relatively flat sheets of material using their laser cutter. You design the templates, they cut the material and send it to you. I've seen lots of stuff from jewelry to furniture on their site. Their pricing is a bit mysterious, but what you can easily see are other people's products and designs for sale. Most seem over priced to me by about 40-50%, but they're interesting. Some folks have definitely put a lot of thought into their designs.

Twitter hashtags

Great way of tracking events:

• http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Hashtags
• http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/10/22/twitter-hashtags-for-emergency-coordination-and-disaster-relief/