bioneural.net » ipod

New Zealand progressive on fair use laws

Bruce — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:12:48 +0000

As reported by Ars Technica, the New Zealand House of Representatives passed a bill on 8 April 2008 reforming copyright law for the "digital age". Most netizens even outside the US will have come across the American DMCA: any mention seems tainted by the taste of bile. The DMCA criminalises circumvention of digital rights management (DRM) technologies and access controls—many folk argue at the expense of "fair use". Do the NZ reforms provide workable compromise? Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand [© iStockPhoto] Ars cite a Canadian law professor as saying: The anti-circumvention provisions are arguably the best of any country, since they are compliant with WIPO, limited in scope, and seek to preserve fair dealing rights. Having looked at the new Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Bill I find myself almost as confused as I was before; it raises at least as many questions as it answers. Time and format shifting I've always wondered exactly how recording a TV programme to VHS tape, DVD+RW, or PVR hard drives sat with current copyright laws. It must be pretty unusual to walk into a living room and not find the home owner's favourite TV series or movie archived on recordable media for repeated viewing at their leisure. Fortunately the bill specifies that anyone watching TV that isn't "live" is no longer engaged in a criminal act (recording of an on-demand broadcast isn't allowed). It does mean, however, that domestic recording libraries are still illegal: you must watch your recordings within a "reasonable" time frame and then delete them. No ...

Mac-friendly alternatives to Apple's 1G iPhone

Bruce — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:04:28 +0000

From bioneural.net:

The iPhone has arrived in the US. Even if it were available in New Zealand I still wouldn't buy one. I'm happy to wait for the large beta-test program (i.e. 1 in 5 US adults) to refine the product first. That said, I've been looking for a way to converge my mobile devices (phone, PDA, iPod) for some time. Sadly the 1st generation iPhone does not look like the device to fill this need. Relative to other Mac-friendly alternatives it comes up uniquely short in a number of areas on my feature wish-list. But of course I haven't seen or held it in the "flesh", and it is only a 1G device—so I can't be overly critical. Or can I? Most of the pre-launch focus has been on iPhone's interface (not unimportant), but what about comparative features? It's clear that while the iPhone offers few unique features (iTMS DRM playback, bookmark syncing) it's also immediately apparent that, relative to comparable products, the iPhone has the most limitations. I've been a Palm user since 1999, owning a Palm V, an m505, and (currently) a Tungsten T3: I also use an ageing Sony Ericsson T610 and an iPod (1G deceased; currently an iPod Photo). It would be nice to carry around one device instead of three (ditto on the chargers); I had hoped that device might be the iPhone: So the iPhone has arrived. I posted on the perfect PDA + phone back in 2005—it still hasn't arrived. With Palm OS so obviously stagnating ...

Medicines information for your iPod

Bruce — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 05:29:24 +0000

From bioneural.net:

The variety of health-related multimedia available for your iPod (or other MP3 player) and online amusement continues to grow. First we had healthcare podcasts, then health news videocasts from the BBC, followed by 999 (111, 911) advice to store on your iPod. Soon your iPod will help you understand how to take your medicine. medicines.org.uk already makes a selection of patient information leaflets (PILs) available on the web in written form (just in case the dog ate yours). One potential advantage that the site already offers (aside from reading up on what your neighbour is taking) is that you can access large font versions of the leaflets. While this is a potential boon for people with some visual impairment, it doesn't help those who have problems reading or have a severe visual impairment. The next step may seem obvious. Who doesn't have an iPod or similar device these days? While I can't see this appealing to Granny, a select few may enjoy the opportunity to download PILs as MP3s so they can replay the harmful side effects they stand to experience from taking their medicines. I'm sure, however, that terms like "liver damage" and "sudden death" will loose their threatening edge when delivered by means of a reassuring sing-song voice. I know of patients who take maybe 15-20 different medications. If it takes several minutes to record each leaflet, you could fly from Birmingham to Frankfurt with nothing on your playlist but dosage instructions and the like. Great... I'll not be so quick ...

Boot an Intel Mac into Ubuntu Linux from iPod

Bruce — Wed, 17 May 2006 20:04:03 +0000

From bioneural.net:

So you want to explore Linux, or create a LAMP environment for web development without having to re-partition your internal drive or try some flakey Boot Camp hack to triple-boot your Mac? Can it be done? I decided to find out... Limited for time? Read Installing Ubuntu step 10 first. The ingredients 1 x good-for-nothing first generation 5 GB iPod with a dud battery; 1 x Ubuntu 5.10 for PC install CD-ROM; 1 x Intel Mac mini with Tiger 10.4.6 and Windows XP (via Boot Camp) installed; 1 x Firewire cable. Preparing the iPod Connect the iPod via Firewire. Enter Disk Mode: hold down the Menu and Play keys and, when the Apple icon has appeared, immediately hold down the Rewind and Forward buttons. Open Disk Utility, select the iPod and choose Partition. Choose 1 Partition as the Volume Scheme; name the volume; choose UNIX File System and then Partition. Installing Ubuntu Insert the Ubuntu install CD into the Mac. Restart the Mac, holding down the letter "C" to boot from the CD. At the boot prompt press Return for a default installation. Work through the standard Ubuntu installation screens. When you get to the "Partition Disks" screen, make sure your iPod is selected and press Return. At the warning hit the left arrow key then Return. Sit back and enjoy the creeping progress bar, then work through user configuration. A few more progress bars later the Mac will spit out the CD. Hit Return to "Continue" and hold down the Option (Alt) key as your Mac restarts. You should see a Firewire disk icon, oddly labelled "Windows". Select it ...

999 advice on your iPod

Bruce — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 03:14:51 +0000

From bioneural.net:

As reported by the BBC, the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust are providing MP3-based first aid advice on how to deal with common and potentially serious situations (such as fits, collapses and resuscitation). This joins first aid advice available as a podcast on the iTunes Music Store by St. John's Ambulance. The Trust's website provides further details: Did you know you can now download first aid advice in mp3 format to store on your iPod (or any mp3) player? They are copyright free and have been professionally recorded so they will always be crystal clear when ever you need them. They cover all the situations where giving the correct first aid may mean the difference between life and death. All the advice provided is up to date and complies with Resuscitation Council guidelines. Of course, we realise that everyone hopes that they are never confronted with these situations. But unfortunately, the facts are otherwise. What is more, the chances are the victim will be somebody close to you. At first the whole idea seems a bit bizarre. Imagine the scene: there's been a road traffic accident, and several people are injured. In the midst of the chaos stands the wo(man) in charge, identified by the tell-tale white earbuds that scream "I know first aid!". Gesticulating in one direction then the other, shouting instructions to passers-by with eyes and thumbs on the iPod controls to review that last instruction, our luckless hero is unable to hear the approaching ambulance and becomes the incidents only fatality... Worst aid ...

The last iPod video guide you'll ever need

Bruce — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:30:07 +0000

From bioneural.net:

The last iPod video guide you'll ever need

The elusive multi-device video format

Bruce — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:16:15 +0000

From bioneural.net:

The world has too many video formats. We mere mortals are dazzled by the cacophony of audio codecs, video codecs, and file containers. Too frequently the "same" format becomes incompatible as you move from one player to another, or go cross-platform. Some Windows Media files play fine on Windows, yet trip up Windows Media Player for Mac. An MPEG-4 file made on a Mac may not play on a Windows machine. Your QuickTime files on the desktop become wasted space on the SD card in your Palm or Pocket PC. Now we have the iPod that does video, with a predilection for H.264. So here is the challenge: What combination of video codec, audio codec, and container will produce a video (with sound) that can be played back on a Mac, a Windows PC, a Palm, a Pocket PC, and an iPod?... Was that an artery I just burst? I have some video segments on disks created with iDVD that I'd like to re-purpose. The video is in the form of .VOB files, containing MPEG-2 video and PCM audio. As elsewhere mentioned, my preferred tool for converting such .VOB files into other formats is MPEG Streamclip. As of version 1.5.1 MPEG Streamclip includes an iPod pre-set button to simplify the creation of content for use on a video iPod. These iPods don't handle just any video—they're particularly fussy, recognising just two flavours: H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC ...

iPod photo compatibility

Bruce — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:23:55 +0000

From bioneural.net:

I knew that the iPod photo plus iPod Camera Connector would work with my Nikon D70; it's on the compatibility list. I was hoping it would work with my wife's new Olympus C-70Z (C700Z in the US), and it did. I wasn't sure if it would work with my old Sony DSC-F717, and it did. I was pretty sure it would not work with my USB 2.0 card reader, and it.... did! My USB 2.0 card reader has no branding, and shipped as part of the Navman 4470 GPS for Palm OS 5 package. It reads SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, CompactFlash, and has a fourth slot for I don't know what media (it came with no instructions!). I just plugged it in and it offered to import from the inserted card: Tip: You really need to fully charge the iPod before using it to import photos. For example, mine was nearly depleted after importing 141 photos (NEF + JPEG from a D70, 77 MB)—a process that took 34 minutes. Annoyingly, you can't import some pictures then pick up where you left off: you'll have to import the lot again as a new roll.

iPod battery settlement for US only

Bruce — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 21:54:13 +0000

From bioneural.net:

They have finally reached a settlement in the long-running class action against Apple who, by settling, must feel some guilt for exaggerating the battery life of earlier iPods. Typically the compensation offered only applies to US citizens and resident entities, and loyal customers in the rest of the world are given the cold shoulder. Americans and inter-dimensional aliens before second-class humans please, ladies and gentlemen... The battery in my first generation iPod became next to useless—outside the warrantee period of course. I eventually replaced it with a third party battery that has given it new life. What does this discrimination say about Apple's valuation of its non-US customer base? A lot probably. But Apple desn't stand alone in not treating all customers with fairness and equality: I've recently commented on the disparity in the pricing of Adode's products in and outside of the US. What is most annoying is the lack of any official explanation as to why such differences exist. Perhaps as consumers we just have to accept that any commercial entity is by default more likely to screw you than "do the right thing". But Apple claims we should "Think Different". Obviously not paying attention to its own slogans then, is it?

iPod battery replacement hell

Bruce — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 05:17:00 +0000

From bioneural.net:

My first generation iPod just didn't hold a charge anymore. A timely article on Wired about Newer Technologies 22-hour battery for first and second generation iPods came my way... Available from iPodWorld for £40 plus post and packaging, the Newer Technology Li-polymer 2100 mAh 3.7V battery for 1st and 2nd generation iPods is a replacement for the Sony-made original. Like many original iPods, mine would play for a few hours—but only if you'd just charged it. If it had sat around for more than a day or two, the juice would have drained completely. No amount of resets or iPod updates seemed to solve this. Opening the case I soon learned why the DIY option is significantly cheaper than Apple's return-to-base battery replacement program. The iPod is one tough nut to crack! The metal back is held in place by 12 plastic clips: It was not easy to prise the front from the back; the supplied tools are made of a soft plastic the soon disintegrated: Eventually I resorted to a small-tipped metal screw driver in order to maintain the gap I had made, and traded a gentle approach for frustrated aggression. It became easier once I knew the how and the how much (force). Easier, because I had to do it several times... Unwelcome icons On connecting the new battery I saw a succession of icons on my iPod screen, only the first of which was familiar: The meaning of these icons can be found here. The hard drive made some disturbing noises. I tired multiple resets. ...