Posts Tagged ‘DaddyTech’
Dora and Diego Digital Photo Frame Only Ten Bucks
$9.99, actually. Which is a damn good deal for a 7-inch digital frame. There’s a rebate involved but it’s only for ten dollars.
List Price: $49.99
Instant Savings: – $30.00
Price: $19.99
Less Rebate: – $10.00
Final price: $9.99
From Circuit City, link below.
Nickelodeon 7″ DORA & DIEGO Theme Digital Photo Fr at CircuitCity.com.
New Netgear Powerline adapters [DaddyTech]
For some reason no one that I know uses Powerline devices for home networking. And they should, because it’s incredibly easy.
You know all those cool new Blu-Ray players that can stream Netflix? New TVs that have built-in YouTube? They won’t work unless you connect the stupid thing to the Internet. Some home entertainment devices have built-in Wi-Fi, but frankly, Wi-Fi isn’t always fast enough to produce a smooth video stream.
Powerline, also known as HomePlug (the official name seems to be the HomePlug Powerline Alliance), lets you use electrical outlets to stream data. Plug one Powerline/HomePlug adapter into your router, then put another one anyplace you need it. I find that I get the best results using wired Ethernet; there are wireless Powerline adapters, but I think that defeats the purpose — wired Ethernet is stable, but running cable all over your house is very expensive. Even if you have the electrical knowledge to equip your home with Ethernet jacks, that takes a tremendous amount of time. (Does the phrase “I’ll install a drop ceiling and run wires that way!” sound appealing? Try running that one by your wife.) Plugging in a wall-wart-type of device is about as easy as it gets.
The speed isn’t what you get with real Ethernet jacks, but it’s better than wireless, and certainly more than enough for most users needs. You also don’t have to worry about dropped signals, Netgear’s new offerings include the Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001), which has a smaller form-factor than previous adapters, according to published reports. That’s important, because you can’t plug a Powerline adapter into a surge protector and expect it to work. It wants an outlet of its own, and since most electrical outlets are jammed close together, not blocking one or even two is important. (Note: I’ve read that you can make Powerline work if it is plugged into a surge protector; I’ve never tried it.)
The new stuff isn’t available yet. If you can’t wait, pick up the NETGEAR XAVB101 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit from Amazon.com. Or look for older model adapters from smaller companies, either on Amazon or even eBay. If you prefer to buy new gear, the Actiontec MegaPlug 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Twin-Pack is under 80 bucks on Amazon and has very good customer reviews. Remember that no matter what you buy, you’ll need at least adapters — one for the router, one for the device you want to connect to the Interwebs. In my experience, mixing brands doesn’t matter — I’ve used at least three different brands of Powerline/HomePlug adapters over the years and they all worked fine together.
Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters [Engadget]
Family Safe Gmail Ads
Gmail will never upset you.
To ensure a quality user experience for all Gmail users, we avoid showing ads reflecting sensitive or inappropriate content by only showing ads that have been classified as “Family-Safe.” Gmail’s filters also block ads from running next to messages about catastrophic events or tragedies, erring on the side of not displaying an ad if the content is questionable. (emphasis added)
I think I’d be OK with the occasional inappropriate text ad appearing near a message about Grampa’s heart attack than I would be with being reminded that my email account scans my messages. Also, what does Google consider “catastrophic events or tragedies”? Maybe they could give a shit about my family, but if I mention a drop in their stock price, all ads are pulled. (Note: We have no way of knowing whether or not Google gives a shit about our family, your family, or anyone’s family.)
Plus, what is “family safe”? Maybe I’m a member of the Manson Family and want to see ads for embalming fluid, ammunition, and clocks that bark.
But you can feel comfortable knowing that when you need to let someone know that something bad has happened, you can use Gmail and not see ads for Vi@gr@. Phew.
via About Gmail
Intel Might Put Your Laptop On TV [DaddyTech]
With their new Wireless Display technology, Intel might put your laptop on TV. Finally.
There is a ton of great video content online, most of it free. I’m not talking about torrents or file-sharing. A lot of the best stuff is fully authorized. Hulu for example. Have you ever spent time browsing their catalog? It’s not only recent episodes of shows you don’t watch anyway. There are old movies, complete series, all sorts of good stuff.
The problem has always been how the heck do you get that cool stuff to display on your television. The no-longer-new flatscreen TVs that almost everybody has certainly made this task easier; many models have a plain old monitor port that you can use to plug in a PC. Still, that means more wires, as well as finding room for a computer near the television.
There have been ways to transfer video wirelessly from a computer to a television set, but they required the use of clunky dongles and/or dedicated media server devices. As a bonus, most people thought the output sucked.
BUT! Intel may have solved this problem. CNET’s gadget blog Crave asks the question Is Intel’s Wireless Display a game changer? (It’s also called WiDi, which is a dopey but descriptive name.) Here’s a video where they try it out.
It may not be perfect yet, but it’s better than what we had before. Mostly I’m happy that Intel is working on this at all. It seems like the kind of thing that the major networks/content producers would not be all that happy about. Think about it. Sure, they’ll put their shows online. But if you want to watch that show on a TV screen, they want you to look at commercials. For example, Hulu blocked Boxee users from viewing their content in February of 2009.
So is WiDi a sign that major networks are loosening up a bit in terms of how we view our content? In the words of the great Kent Brockman, only time will tell.
Hands-on: Is Intel’s Wireless Display a game changer? | Crave – CNET
Also:
Intel announces WiDi HD wireless display technology (Engadget)
Geek Porn Circa 1987
This clip is from the Computer Chronicles. It features columnist and Cranky Geek John C. Dvorak taking apart an old IBM PS/2. It wasn’t old then, of course.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW9qLsED3Xw]
As a commenter says, “Dvorak looks so young. I love how? he geeks out on the computer.” He really seems like he can’t keep his hands off the thing. Everyone else keeps talking, and he just keeps poking, prodding and futzing away. Say what you will about Dvorak, but he’s the real thing.
Show and Tell – The Male Brain
Oprah, or rather one of her many minions, tells us about the male brain. Unfortauntely the research was based on Steadman, and is therefore flawed. I kid. Sort of. (CNN/Oprah)
New phrase: “dead-finger tech.” As in “you’d have to pry that thing from my cold, dead hands.” Or finger. “dead-hand tech” doesn’t have the same ring to it. Christopher Dawson couldn’t live without Google Apps. Me, I need food. But I’m a weirdo. (ZDNet)
Image: SXC
Reading is Fundamental – Megan Fox Has A Clubbed Thumb
Megan Fox, Harry Nilsson and the Palm Pre. Three more things that will likely never, ever be mentioned in the same sentence again. Read more »
