23 Dec, 2006
TiVo remote addresses with Harmony remote
I needed to setup my Harmony remote to be able to control both the TiVo Series3 and the DIRECTV HD DVR. I thought that there was a setting in in the Harmony interface, but I couldn't find it. Here is the way that I was able to get this to work:
- Configure the remotes and TiVo for seperate remote addresses.
- In the Harmony remote application, click on the Settings for one of the TiVos.
- Select the "Confirm infrared commands" option.
- Follow the instructructions.
- Do the same for the other.
Technorati tags: Harmony Remote, Logitech, Series3, TiVo
21 Dec, 2006
Another Series3 issue
Today, I noticed another problem with the Series3. About half of the recordings were "partial" with duration of 0:00. It turns out that only one of the two CableCards were activated. So all of the recordings from digital cable channels, on that tuner, were failing.
The TiVo should have been able to identify this problem after setup. The TiVo could have process where it tunes to every channel on both tuners. Then it could verify that the content on both tuners is the same.
Technorati tags: CableCard, Comcast, Series3, TiVo
19 Dec, 2006
Comcast video
This morning two Comcast technicians came over to look at the problem that we were having with the new cable video install. It turns out the problem was that when we had our cable modem installed, the installer put a filter on our line. This was causing the CableCards and the Motorola DVR to not be able to get the channel list.
Once the filter was removed, everything worked.
Technorati tags: Cable Modem, cable TV, CableCard, Comcast
17 Dec, 2006
Comcast Series3 experience
About a week ago, our TiVo Series3 was delivered, and yesterday the Comcast installer came to install the two CableCards, and a DVR. The installation time was supposed to be between 12 and 4. At 3, the installed called and wanted directions. I asked him if he had the CableCards, and he said that he didn't have any in the truck. He said that he could install the DVR and schedule another appointment for the CableCards, or he could come back after 5. I said that he should come after 5.
When he eventually came, he did bring both CableCards and the DVR. The installation was pretty quick. When he left, the DVR had video, but had no program guide. He said that it would begin to appear in 30 - 45 minutes. The Series3 was left "Acquiring Channel Information". The Series3 was supposed to acquire this info in 30 minutes as well.
(More)Technorati tags: CableCard, Comcast, Series3, TiVo
8 Dec, 2006
Lexus self parking video
This is a pretty funny video of some people at Automobile Magazine trying to use the new Lexus self parking feature
[via Autoblog]
Technorati tags: Lexus, self parking
2 Dec, 2006
Alpine iDA-X001
The Alpine iDA-X001 is one of the best looking single-DIN headunits that integrates iPod controls. Not only does the text of the currently playing track appear on the unit, but also the album art is displayed. It looks like the iPod menus could also be displayed on the small LCD, so selecting tracks would be pretty easy.
If this head unit has video and audio out, I would want to get one of them for our van. This would allow the head unit to control the iPod to select a video, and have the video and audio routed to an external monitor in the back.
[via Engadget]
Technorati tags: Alpine, iDA-X001, iPod
22 Nov, 2006
WidgetStation
This is a cool looking alarm clock. The WidgetStation is an alarm clock that has two lcd screens. It can display calendars and rss feeds. For audio, it will play internet radio stations but not AM and FM stations.
I think that this could be a great product if it had an iPod dock, where the iPod can be used as an audio or video source, where the video could be played through on the lcd screen.
[via Engadget]
Technorati tags: alarm clock, emTrace, iPod, WidgetStation
9 Nov, 2006
wiDock
Since we have all of our music on our Mac mini, and the mini is not in a really accessible location, it is a hassle to synchronize our content to our iPods. Right now, the Mac mini makes the volume that contains the music available through afp. Each of our laptops mount the Mac mini drive, an the iTunes library access the content directly from the mounted volume.
The wiDock looks like something that could make this a lot easier. In addition to being an iPod dock that has audio and video out, it also has built-in 802.11b/g and an ethernet port. If you use the included software, you can sync iTunes with an iPod over a network. This would allow us to keep the dock in our office, but still synchronize the iTunes library on the Mac mini in the living room.
Technorati tags: dock, iPod, iTunes, Mac mini, USB, wiDock
5 Nov, 2006
Ambient Clock
Now this is a device that I would love on my desk at work, if it ships. The Ambient Clock is a clock that, in addition to displaying the time, also your schedule. The clock would retrieve your schedule from Google Calendar, though Ambient's wireless network.
The really interesting thing is how it displays your schedule. It shows the blocks for scheduled appointment around the circumference of the clock. In addition it displays travel time to meetings as little dots running up to the appointment block. (The travel time is calculated using Google Maps.)
When no appointments are close the clock glows a calm blue color. This changes to a yellow shade, within 10 minutes to the event. When an event is in progress, the clock is in a shade of orange.
(More)Technorati tags: Ambient Clock, Google Calendar, Google Maps
29 Oct, 2006
Daylight Saving Time
Last night I went around the house setting the time on the clocks, that don't automatically adjust, back an hour. I remember that every clock had to be adjusted manually. Then in college, I bought an VCR that automatically adjusted itself. At that time, Mac OS didn't automatically adjust for Daylight Saving Time. So, I wrote the Set Daylight appe to adjust the time. This was pretty easy to do, since the rules for the dates that the time adjustment occurred, were static. This was added to Mac OS 8, so it wasn't necessary anymore.
But now most electronics include support to automatically adjust for Daylight Saving Time. For example, TiVos, Mac OS X, Windows and Linux PCs, and PDAs will automatically adjust. Now that the days that Daylight Saving Time is changing, all of these devices have to be update in order for the time to be correct.
(More)Technorati tags: Daylight Saving Time, iHome IH36, iHome iH5
19 Oct, 2006
Structured networking
Now that I am trying to use our NAS for backups and to keep our content. I tried both 802.11g wireless and powerline networking to connect the Mac mini and the NAS. Unforunately, I never got more than 5Mbs for sustained transfer rate. I decided that running ethernet around the house is the best way to get a high sustained transfer rate.
The builder of our house did some strange things with the structured wiring. They installed 3 RG6 cables to every room (so you can have both satellite and cable), but they only installed one Cat5e to every phone jack. I know that it is not ideal, but I decide to run ethernet on two of the pairs of the Cat5 cable, while the phone line uses one.
(More)Technorati tags: bridging module, Cat5, NAS, Quick Port, RG6, structured wiring
13 Oct, 2006
iHome iH5 Clock Radio
The clock radio in our bedroom started to die. Whenever the alarm would go of the displayed time would start to blink. Sometimes when this happened the time would jump forward or back several hours.
We bought the iHome iH5 to replace the clock. This is an AM/FM clock radio with an iPod dock. This allows you to set your alarm to play any the radio or your music from your iPod.
There are some interesting features:
(More)Technorati tags: alarm clock, clock radio, dock, iHome iH5, iPod
11 Oct, 2006
Video with Comcast Cable Modem
Out of curiosity, I wanted to see what would happen if I plugged our TV into our cable line. We don't get our television through cable, since we have DIRECTV, but we do use a Comcast cable modem. I was really interested to see if any HD channels were accessible this way.
When I connected the cable, and had the TV scan for channels, over 100 channels were found. Many of these were HD channels. Here are some of the interesting things that I noticed:
- The Over-The-Air SD and HD channels were present.
- Many of the basic channels were also available
- Many cable HD channels were available (ESPN HD)
- All FM radio stations were present in Audio only channels
Technorati tags: ATSC, cable, Comcast, ESPN HD, HDTV, NTSC
11 Oct, 2006
"Real" iPod auto integration
A while ago I mentioned some features that every iPod dock should have. The iPod integration that the 2007 Audi S8 will have is pretty amazing. The iPod gets placed into a tray, and the tray get inserted into the dash. And the iPod menus appear on the navigation screen.
Technorati tags: iPod, Audi S8
2 Oct, 2006
D-Link DSM-G600
The scare with my laptop mad me want to get better with our backup situation. So I decided to get a Network Attached Storage drive for this. Also a Newtork Attached would allow us to store media off of the small Mac mini hard drive.
I got the D-Link DSM-G600, as it stated that it was compatible with Mac OS X, and a a 400Gb drive. The instalation was a breeze. Just insert the drive, and boot it up. Then you determine what ip address it was assigned, and then use a web browser to go to that ip address. The resulting page had a button to format the drive. Once that had finished, everything else was pretty self explanatory.
(More)Technorati tags: D-Link, DSM-G600, FrontRow, Mac mini, Network Attached Storage