Nintendo is one of those companies, like Apple, that excels in design. Over the weekend a simple calendar from the nice folks at Nintendo dropped through my letterbox. The images may be cheesy, but the concept is very clever – the calendar is basically a frame, holding a stack of cards. Each card represents a month, and can be shuffled backward and forwards as the year progresses. I like it.
Category Archives: Gadgets
ScreenFlowing
Somewhat embarrassingly, my favorite piece of software on the Mac is ScreenFlow. I started using it a couple of years ago, when the program was sold by Vara Software (who were the purchased by Telestream in 2008). ScreenFlow is a screen capture and editing tool. I use it several days a week.
I updated to version 2 last week – one of those pleasant updates in which the program works well, looks largely the same, but does things better. Version 2 appears to be more stable, has improved editing functions, and has the option to export direct to YouTube. I’m happy.
One thing that I hope is improved with the update is the ability to use the BT-1 bluetooth web cam to record. I record every presentation that I make – and every class that I teach – with ScreenFlow. I had been using the Vado HD for filming (and then importing the footage in during editing), and hoped to use the BT-1 to speed up the process. For reasons yet unknown, the video from the BT-1 freezes in ScreenFlow after a couple of minutes. Part of me thinks this might be a Snow Leopard issue – things seemed to work before I made that update.
Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.10
Last week I upgraded the operating system on my netbook, and used the opportunity to install Windows 7.
The upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10 went without a hitch – a desktop alert informed me that there was a more recent version of the OS available, and then I let the computer do its thing. The only downside was a long (4 hours) wait for everything to download from the Internet, and then overwrite the existing system.
Slightly more hoops were jumped through to install Windows 7, but nothing terribly onerous. 7 pales next to OS X, but it is an improvement upon XP and Vista. It is brightly mediocre with one notable exception – the Media Center. MCE is now a pleasantly integrated part of the operating system, making the computer a powerful DVR. I don’t understand why Apple has nothing better to compete with. Frontrow and theApple TV are solely neglected, the iMac screams for an integrated television tuner. I wonder why Apple does little here.
Upgrading to Ubuntu 9.04
Last week I took the plunge and upgraded the operating system on my HP2133 to Ubuntu 9.04. I did not notice much in the way of a difference afterwards. This is a good thing.
Installing Ubuntu 8.10 had been fairly painless, but getting video and wireless card drivers to work effectively took some time and research. However, the recent upgrade was merely the case of clicking a few buttons and waiting for files to download and install. This was far easier than any Windows upgrade I have experienced.
Perhaps this is the year that Linux finally gains acceptance from average computer users. Ubuntu is free, easy to install and straightforward to use. Why pay for a Windows license?
I still prefer working in the OS X environment, and there is no way I am ditching my Mac, but every day I am getting to like Ubuntu more and more.
Messing about with Mobile Blogging
Even though iBlogger and BlogPress are fine programs I probably will not use then most of the time. Since I am using the iPod Touch I can only upload when I have WiFi access (and getting photos onto the iPod is unreasonably painfully). Which brings me back to the Blackberry. A device that allows me to upload and update the blog from pretty much any place with a decent signal.
I looked at BBMetaBlog and Mopress but could not get either to work adequately. Email looks to be the easiest option at the moment. All of which means that this site will soon be littered with blurry cellphone shots from the road.
And here I almost threw my laptop in a rage
ScreenFlow
I use Screenflow to record lectures, presentations, and screencasts. Normally it is a program I love and recommend. But not today…
I upgraded Screenflow (which may be the problem) and everything that I recorded and that used screen and video actions was wasted. Somehow the editing process inadvertently merges the video assets and renders the final export unusable.
Several hours were lost today. I hate having to repeat unnecessary work.
Slowly starting to cool down and hoping that this is an aberration.
Down to two meters
Wavesense Jazz
I am down to testing two meters: the Wavesense Jazz and the OneTouch Mini. I should know in the next week which is the more accurate.
BlogPress vs. iBlogger
I am testing two mobile blogging apps for the iPod Touch. Neither is ideal, but they get most of the job done. At the moment BlogPress seems to work best. Strange, since it is the cheaper product. iBlogger offers the ability to add location information and has more flexibile image options. Chances are that I will end up using both apps.
Blogging with an iPod Touch
This week I started to experiment with the iPod Touch. It is a great little device. The keyboard is proving to be a tad problematic to use, but I am slowly getting there. The nice thing is the ability to blog from the device. Expect more frequent updates from here on….
Yeh, Diabetes
Hemocue 201
In January I was diagnosed with diabetes. This was a bit of a shock to me (and those around me) as I don’t fit the normal profile (having no family history of diabetes, skinny, vegetarian, etc.) so now I have invested much of my free time since in reading up on the subject as well as adjusting my diet and exercise. The good news is that my blood glucose levels have come rocketing down to near acceptable levels. I feel more human now and less of a zombie. Looking back I realize that I must have had diabetes for quite some time. At present I am employing the trifecta of medication, diet and exercise to keep blood sugar within a safe range. There are, however, frustrations – principally comprehending the competing and contradictory views on what to do, along with the somewhat depressing knowledge that most portable glucose meters are not particularly accurate. I have been comparing models as of late. I will post my findings shortly. The models I have tested are: