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The companion workshop to Andy's
The companion workshop to Andy's new book 'Transcending CSS - The Fine Art of Web Design', this session will lift the lid on web technologies including XHTML, CSS and DOM scripting and show you exactly where they fit in with modern web design. Andy will reveal the benefits of working with meaningful XHTML markup, he will help you look at structure, semantics and teach the appropriate use of attributes includingsemantics and teach the appropriate use of attributes including...
Archive for the ‘ipod help’ Category
iMuffs headphones from Wi-Gear improve sound, work wirelessly with most iPods In the world of iPod accessories—4,000-plus and counting—the ones worth the money are those that improve the listening experience. I have two for you today, one that will be great when the bugs are worked out and a pair of headphones that makes iPod portability even better. Let’s start with the almost-there product. “Almost” because it worked with some iPods I tested, but not all. I often won’t write about a product proving unreliable, but I really like what this does and, more importantly, I believe that the people building it will soon get it right. It’s called miShare, and the simple, rectangular gadget is smaller than a standard iPod but bigger than the redesigned Nano (affectionately dubbed the “fatty”). At both ends there is a 30-pin adapter to connect two iPods to transfer songs from one to another. And it works, mostly. Plug an iPod with the music to share into the source end. Let’s call this the “pitcher.” (Hey, baseball season is here!) At the other end, plug into the “catcher” iPod to receive the music. Unfortunately, my 80-gigabyte iPod did not work as a catcher. But as a pitcher, it sent songs to my fatty. With the fatty, I was able to share music—as a pitcher and catcher—with a colleague’s iPod. That’s why I love this little gadget. It’s designed to swap music between friends, so you can share iPod playlists and tips on new artists. This is very convenient and fast; songs move over in seconds. There are a few reasons why I had trouble with some iPods. First, it will not work with the Touch and the iPhone, yet. Second, the catcher iPod must be in “manual” update mode. When you plug your iPod into a computer to sync it, the default setting is for automatic updates, but it is easy to switch to manual. In manual, whenever you add music, movies or photos to your computer and want it on the iPod, you instruct the iPod to pick up that content. But changing this setting on my 80 gb iPod didn’t fix my problem. Third, the miShare developers—two guys working from a Brooklyn, N.Y., apartment—are working out some bugs. My big iPod, for instance, has too much data on it, causing transfer problems. But the fatty, which can hold up to 8 gb worth of content, did not have that issue. This issue and some others—you can share video and photos too, but not seamlessly—will be addressed in a software upgrade set for release in a few weeks, said co-founder Nathaniel Wice. He called my issue an “intermittent problem” related to the iTunes database. Another update will follow to address compatibility issues with the Touch and iPhone. Wice called the development of miShare, which runs on the open-source Linux platform, a “constant” work in progress. “Designing something that’s easy to use is a process.” When it works, it is easy to use. The device has one function button. Just make an “on-the-go” music playlist on the iPod and press the function button. The songs move over. But not all songs. To address the obvious legal issues of sharing music between iPods, songs protected by digital rights management software—primarily those bought at Apple’s iTunes store—won’t play on the catcher iPod. Some people might question the ability to share music so freely, but this is a legal device designed for one-to-one sharing. It’s not a piece of file-sharing software where thousands of people can get a copy of a song. Despite the early flaws, I recommend miShare. It will only improve, and the software on the device can be upgraded so you won’t have to buy another. It is sold for $100 at www.miShare.com, and discussions are under way with a major brick-and-mortar retailer, Wice said. A sound enhancementRegular readers know I often recommend iPod buyers improve the sound with new headphones. The iMuffs do that plus provide a great wireless connection via Bluetooth. They are made by Wi-Gear and can be bought on the firm’s site, Wi-Gear.com. The model I tested sold for $150 and paired easily and quickly with each iPod I tested, except one, the iPod Touch. Wi-Gear has introduced a new model, the $180 MB210, which works with the Touch. I also tested the iMuffs on a TV-playing phone, the Verizon Voyager, and was quite pleased that I could watch live games from the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament while listening with the iMuffs. Beautiful. So, yes, these work with music-playing phones, except the iPhone. That’s Apple’s fault because it didn’t include a profile in that music phone for stereo Bluetooth headphones. You might think the price for these headphones is high, but the iMuffs ship with a Bluetooth adapter for the iPod. That’s usually a $40 item sold separately. Via http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-tech-buzz-ipod-mishare-imar31,0,7036862.story
The latest version of our free multi-file video encoding is available at http://techlogg.com/rockpod. Despite some website horrors last week, development of RockPod 08 Lite is now in full swing as new features and new device support now feature in this latest release for Linux Build 18, which follows the Windows Build 17 released yesterday.
This new version also includes five filesize encoding options – 64MB, 128Mb, 256MB, 512MB and 768MB – plus a specific encoding option for Asus’ popular Eee PC. The new Eee PC option is a compromise between the slow 900MHz Celeron, decent battery life and the 800×480-pixel screen. The new Linux build works on any Linux distro with at least GTK+ 2.0 or better, which covers virtually all of the popular distros including Ubuntu 6.06 or later, Xubuntu 6.06 and UserOS ULTRA. Both the Windows and Linux versions are available at http://techlogg.com/rockpod.
Requirements: PQ DVD to iPod video converter software runs on PC (Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP). (No Mac OS version has been planed yet) A standard DVD-ROM drive is required to rip/transfer DVD to iPod movie. iTunes software is required to copy/sync iPod movies. Supported iPod: iPod Touch (8GB/16GB), iPod Video (30GB/60GB/80GB), iPod Classic (80GB/160GB), iPod Nano (4GB/8GB)
Software Downloads: 1。PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter Suite 2。 iTunes
Step 1: Run the PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter Suite. Part 1. Directly click “Open” button on right-hand side, and load the DVD or any video file you want to convert, and begin the play process.
Part 2. “Set Output File/Location” within this “Open” menu. Part 3: Setting the start point and stop point of the loaded DVD or video file with the range bar for conversion, or click “Set start and stop times for recording” in “Options” menu. Tips: In the interface, you can choose set the cropping and resolution of the output video, stretch or choose to auto-stretch the widescreen with aspect ratio control to your needs, and regulate the audio and video quality of output video as you like. You can also set the Video and Audio quality, and limit the estimated file size.
Step 2: Complete the output settings. Tips: Here comes the key step, because these options are of crucial importance for whether or not your encoded video will work on the iPod. So it’s to be discussed in great detail.
Choose Codec of video: Select MPEG-4(fast conversion, larger file size) or H.264(slow conversion, half the size) for the same quality as you like. Bitrate: The bitrate refers to the number of bits per second devoted to storing the final product; the higher the bitrate, the greater the audio resolution of the final product. Bitrate (kbps) needs to be below 768 for H.264, and below 2500 for MPEG-4. PQ DVD Software recommends using lower-than-maximum numbers here, just for safety. If you’re really picky about video quality, you’ll need to test some clips to determine what looks and works best here. Frame rate (fps): The frame rate is the number of frames or images that are projected or displayed per second. At least according to Apple’s technical specifications for the iPod, frame rate cannot exceed 30 fps regardless of whether you’re using MPEG-4 or H.264. In addition，you can also choose “Disable screensaver when recording” or “Shutdown the computer when the work is done”. Part 1: Click “More Options” to finish the “Output Setting”.
Part 2: You can also click the “Options” at the top to customize the “Output Settings” or “DVD Settings”, Here, you can also record your DVD/video file later.
Step3：Convert the input DVD or video. Part 1. Click “Record it” to start the conversion.
Part 2. Pause or stop the recording whenever you like by clicking “Pause/Stop”.
Part 3. In the “Open” field, you can also choose to “Batch Convert Video Files” for batch conversion.
Part4: Pause or stop any recording whenever you like by clicking “Pause/Stop”. Step4：When the conversion finishes, add the converted video file by clicking “Add File to Library” in iTunes’ File menu, and select this output video file to iPod’s playlist. Tips: When it finishes, add the converted file to your iTunes library by simply dragging it onto the iTunes icon in your Dock. Be aware that a video file that is accepted by iTunes is not always compatible with the iPod; this won’t become apparent until you synchronize the iPod. Then, you can enjoy the video on your iPod now. Simple and easy-to-use, isn’t it?
AUTHORITIES are investigating the safety of certain iPod models after one of the audio players reportedly overheated and discharged sparks while being charged. The malfunctioning iPod Nano was detailed by the Japanese Industry Ministry in a list of dangerous incidents involving consumer products. “The battery part of the product overheated while being charged and sparked,” the ministry said. Apple has previously warned that iPods may generate excess heat while being charged in certain carry cases. Over the past five years there has been a spate of reports about exploding notebook batteries and other dangerous malfunctions involving consumer electronics. These incidents are often due to a faulty rechargeable lithium ion battery – the same type that is used in the iPod Nano. In 2006 Dell and Apple recalled their notebook batteries amidst widespread public concern about exploding batteries. Technology blog Engadget last year published photos of a reader’s charred iPod Nano that allegedly began to spark while it was charging. However, some reports of battery faults have been fabricated. Last November South Korean man Kwon Yong-Sup claimed his co-worker died when a mobile phone battery exploded in his chest pocket. It was later revealed Mr Kwon had fabricated the story to cover up a workplace accident. Normal batteries will only explode if misused – for example, if they are paired with the wrong charger, punctured or exposed to extreme heat. via: http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23361721-5014239,00.html
A researcher at Osaka University in Japan has developed a device that allows users to control their iPod music player via eye winks.
Called the KomeKami Switch, or Temple Switch, the gadget uses infrared sensors and a microcomputer to detect differences in the movement of your skin when you wink. The KomeKami Switch can be clipped to eyeglasses or headphones and will respond to various combinations of winks by remotely controlling play, pause, replay, and skip functions of the iPod, says its developer, Kazuhiro Taniguchi, a researcher at the university’s Graduate School of Engineering.
A few wink commands for the KomeKami Switch: close both eyes for a second to start the iPod and blink again to stop the machine; to replay a tune, wink strongly with the left eye for one second, or wink with the right eye to skip to the next song. via http://www.applesource.com.au/ipod/first-look-wink-activated-ipod-controller/530/
We have multiple iPods in my house (like Dave) and have registered those iPods to multiple computers over time. So when I got my iPod Shuffle last year, I thought I’d make life easy by setting up a folder in iTunes on our one desktop computer acting as a home media server. I can add and remove songs from that one folder, sync my Shuffle, and voila! I have a brand new workout mix. Unfortunately yesterday I couldn’t find my Shuffle before my run on the treadmill, so I grabbed my old iPod Mini. The Mini still works great, but it had none of my new favorite workout tunes. I knew I could sync the Mini to the folder I’d dedicated to the Shuffle to grab my newer stuff, but that would mean erasing all of the existing music on the Mini. Worse, the computer that was originally registered to the Mini - holding all of my purchased iTunes music and uploaded CDs - is long gone. Essentially my Mini has been carrying music with no back-up. In the end, I decided most of my purchased iTunes music had likely been added to our household music library on the dedicated media server computer. There was a decent chance that some of my uploaded CDs weren’t in the library, but if necessary, I still had those CDs packed away somewhere and could find and re-upload them. (Not that that will ever happen…) Bottom line: I gave up worrying about losing the music on my Mini and synced it to the music I had set aside for my Shuffle. The situation was irritating at best and infuriating at worst, and I’m betting many, many people have gone through something similar. In fact I’ve heard stories about people losing an entire music collection by unwittingly connecting and syncing an iPod to a new computer. The fault lies in the rigidity of DRM, but I’ve always been surprised that there hasn’t been a backlash against Apple iPods specifically because of their market dominance. Many people have now had iPods for years, which means they’ve likely upgraded computer, iPod or both at least once. I’d have thought by now that there would have been some kind of uproar against iPods as people realized how difficult it can be to maintain a music library with one. On a positive note, the situation is of course rapidly changing as more and more digital music goes DRM-free. Just this week I bought a bunch more tunes from Amazon MP3 and have moved them around to multiple devices already. (Still waiting on my Slacker player) However, what about the people who built up iTunes music collections and now carry around hundreds or thousands of DRM-protected tunes around? Impressively, it doesn’t seem Apple has alienated many of those folks. For one reason or another, despite being a frontrunner in digital music, the iPod has remained pretty successfully above the DRM fray. Some people might argue differently, but in the population at large, the iPod is still the music player of choice. via http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2008-03/ipod-irritation-an-extended-rant/
Creatures of habit that we are, we sometimes get into a gadget rut, forgetting that our iPods are probably capable of a lot more than what we do with them. So far, I’ve used mine for listening to music and podcasts, watching movies (which isn’t my idea of film appreciation), and receiving RSS feeds. But I didn’t know what I was missing until I stumbled across “100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better” from the Online Education Database (OEDb). Many of the suggestions are free, while some have a low-cost fee. There’s not a loser in the bunch, and they come from some far-flung places on the Web. Some are tutorials:
Some are applications that make learning easier:
Some are for lifelong learners:
And some are meant to augment other studies:
Get through those 100 and you’ll find another 50 at kottke.org via http://www.gatlineducation.com/education-trends/?p=396
A Japanese researcher has developed a new method to control the iPod. It uses your eyelids. Sensors clipped to a pair of glasses or headphone detect movement in the user’s eyelids. Different movements trigger different iPod functions. Close one eye and blink the other to skip songs. Close both eyes to pause the song. Etc etc. Apparently the system can differentiate between accidental and purposeful blinks. It’s pretty safe to say this won’t make it out of the testing labs. Yeah, we’ve reached the end of history. via http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/03/04/control-your-ipod-with-your-eyelids/
I’ve been looking for a good way to get a subtitled movie – with a SubRip (srt) file – into iTunes, my Apple TV and my iPod. I hadn’t found much joy before this morning. Then I stumbled upon Submerge. I need to do some tweaking in the detailed preferences yet, but it seems to do the trick quite well. Submerge supports most video formats, including mov, avi, and mp4. In addition to SubRip, it also supports the SubViewer 1 & 2 (sub) and MicroDVD subtitle formats. By allowing the aspect ratio to be forced in the conversion, Suberge can make better use of screen real estate on various devices. And if you want to speed things up, there’s also support for the Elgato Turbo.264. Overall, it seems to be a great solution. Of course, if there’s a better program for doing this for under $10, I’m looking forward to hearing about it in the comments. Submerge is $9 and has a free trial available for download. via http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/03/submerge-subtitles-for-your-apple-tv-ipod-iphone/
Mac users who are into Photography may be pleased to find out that Apple is giving out a free trial of the latest version of its post-production photography software, Aperture 2. Surprisingly enough, the free trial is fully functional with all features available for the user, although it will be (sadly) limited to only 30 days.Interested Mac users need to fill out a form and agree to Apple’s terms and conditions, and Apple will email a serial number to activate the Aperture 2 trial. Also, while the trial version lets the users gain full access, it cannot be updated. Still, its not a bad deal for a good, lengthy 30-day trial period. Take note, however, that if you currently have Aperture (the previous version) installed in your Mac, you need to rename the folder or move it to another location before you install Aperture 2 to avoid any installation problems. Got it so far? If so, then you may want to head over to the Via link and download the application!
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