Robot Videos
There’s seems to be a rash of videos about robots hitting the web. Here are a couple that are interesting to say the least.
The Killer Bee (sounding) Robot:
Robot Hobo?
-Al
Archive for April, 2008
Flip vs. Panasonic SDR-S10
I received my Flip Ultra yesterday and have fallen in love with it. I was reluctant to get a Flip because I purchased a Panasonic SDR-S10 only 4 months ago. Within minutes of using the Flip I was hooked. In
my opinion the Flip is right up there with Tivo as a can’t live without. Ok, that’s a slight exaggeration but once you use it, it’s simplicity and image quality are real attention grabbers. Let me start with the simplicity.
Steps to create a video with the Panasonic SDR-S10
- Take a video
- Connect USB cable to camera and computer (I had to fetch one from the home office)
- Turn on the camera and select Connect to PC (Macbook Pro actually). It displayed “Please Connect AC Power” and returned to the Connect To screen.
- Fetch the power cord and connect it.
- Connect to PC (Hello, It’s a Mac)
- Launch iMovie or Final Cut Express
- Import clips
- Edit video
- Export to web
Steps to create a video with the Pure Digital Flip Ultra
- Take a video
- Flip out built-in USB connection and plug it into the computer
- Launch Final Cut Express (Flip creates files that iMovie 08 cannot read, but iMovie 06 can; one time 3ivx MPEG-4 decoder installation required; VisualHub can also be used to convert it for iMovie 08)
- Import clips
- Edit video
- Export to web
Fewer steps with the Flip, not many, but not having to worry about the USB cable and power cords is a tremendous benefit. Plus, the Flip uses two AA batteries which are readily available and you don’t have to worry about recharging (Lithium-Ion) batteries before each use.
Now lets look at the video quality.
This is a quick test, taken only minutes after taking the Flip out of it’s box and popped a pair of AA batteries in. I was so impressed with its quality, especially compared to the Panasonic SDR-S10 which I purchased a mere four month earlier. I grabbed the SDR-S10 and held both cameras side-by-side to create this video. The severe camera movement part of the way through the video is where I switched which side the cameras were on.
Full Size Video:
As you can see, to get the SDR-S10 to show any detail on the subject, and not a silhouette, I had to shift her to the left reducing the amount of light from the window.
While HD video cameras are get more attention and will eventually become more affordable, the Flip is easy to use, quick and inexpensive to buy. I purchased mine from Amazon for $150. Learn more about the Flip by reading David Poque’s review.
Twitter Explained
I’d heard about Twitter about a year ago, signed up and didn’t use it. Almost a year later, Judy was checking out Twittervision during the Super Tuesday Primaries and was intrigued by this ‘Twitter’ thing. So I had her sign up and we’ve been regular users since. She uses it mostly for family communications. I use it for family communications and to follow the tech scene, so some of my tech posts confuse family members. This video by Common Craft does a great job of explaining what Twitter is all about.
-Al
Once again
Interacted with another Barton employee and once again felt the tinge of tears and emotion well up inside. Just when I thought I had moved past that stage. I realize now that I may never be over it. Barton was a great place to work and the people there are great. They were a part of my life for many years and I will always feel that tug of emotion when I think about them or interact with them, because I care. I know they feel the same, that’s just the way it was there. Like family.
A Tale of Two (AT&T) Stores
Last month we made a few trips to the AT&T stores to upgrade a cellphone and acquire a wireless mobile broadband device. We visited two different locations, one an official (corporate owned) AT&T store, and the other a former Cingular store acquired by AT&T. Looking back I realized it was obvious which one was the corporate store.
While at both locations, I spoke with the sales reps about the iPhone, which I plan to get once the 3G version comes out. At the ex-Cingular store, the conversation was just that, a conversation. Two guys talking about cool phones. At the corporate store, the sales rep answered all inquiries (he had a few) with “Apple has not announced or provided any information on a next generation phone” like a good soldier. I guess they have to be on guard for fear of being quoted.
-Al
A Day in the Life of Andy Ihnatko
The following were tweets by Andy Ihnatko
(ignore the time stamps)
That does it. Decided that the reason why this problem continues is because nobody speaks up. Have Pricelined an AM flight to San Francisco.
Overslept…****!!!! Flight is at 5:50, with luck I can drive straight to the airport and still make it…Tweeting shall be sporadic…
Touchdown in SF. Lots to do, not much time to do it before my flight home tonight! about 8 hours ago from web
My Beatle impersonator finally shows up at the airport lounge…and it’s *Ringo* g-dammit. What bloody use is a RINGO impersonator? about 7 hours ago from web
At Hertz. They’re out of Sables but have upgraded me to an Escalade. Cool beans! about 7 hours ago from web
These Escalades perform terribly in SF. Hippies keep throwing themselves in front of the car and waving banners. This is getting an-NOY-ing. about 6 hours ago from web
Oh, there’s a green button on the Escalade’s dash that deploys a Counter-Hippie Snowplow. Cool. I’m not even slowing down for them anymore. about 6 hours ago from web
