Website Updates

I have made some major updates to my website for this year. One of the major highlights of the website is the Project Page: "Smart" Kitchen Computer. I am keeping a "blog" of how I am creating this PV and what I want it to do. I will eventually post a tutorial on how and what I did.

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RIP Sony VAIO PC

My PC died just after Thanksgiving, but I wasn't sure if it was a goner, but I found out today that the Motherboard is shot and most likely the processor. So now I am going to have to build a PC, as the parts and "innards" are nearly 3&1/2 years old, but the Hard drive is still okay. So I can still use that at least...

I have a G5 Mac, so I am still able to do my video work without a problem, it's just taking time to get used to it. I am working with Final Cut Pro (FCP) & DVD Studio Pro. I am not as familiar with DVD SP, so I am learning as I go, I just authored my first DVD on it yesterday - my sister's wedding DVD.

The main thing I miss though are some of the programs I had on the PC like Autostitch, which is an amazing 2D image stitcher for creating panoramic views (I've been stitching my Alaska views together, click here to see one :D). Click here to see an example. This program is amazing and it portable too (meaning you can run it of a thumb-drive or iPod or whatever [at least I have]). It is also a good program if you have multiple exposures in the group of pictures, it will make the picture look "equal" instead of having multiple color changes. (you generally should have the same exposure on the pictures when you are taking a panorama that you plan on stitching together later, but some don't know how to do it or just don't do it). Unfortunately it does not work on the Mac, although there is another commercial product that uses the same technology called Autopano Pro (download demo here), but it costs money ($145) to remove the watermark from the picture. If you do download the program (Autostitch) (recommended, it's a fairly small file), it says it's a demo, but it's not...really. You can use it's full features, as long as you are not using it for commercial use. I guess this is turning into a review of programs now...

I was still testing Autopano Pro for its work flow and most importantly the way it stitches pictures together, the one thing I did like about the program (so far) is that it has batch panoramic stitching. I have Mac OS X 10.3.9 and currently unable to find 10.4.x, so I cannot test the software on the Mac at this time, but take a look at it & let me know what you think.

A List:
I also miss Jasc Paint Shop Pro (now Corel Paint Shop Pro) & it amazing ability to straighten
photos (it's one thing I can't figure out how to do in Adobe Photoshop
on the Mac).

Alcohol 120% - no Mac version

Nexuiz - a free open-source FPS that is multi-platform (I just don't have a high enough OSX)

DVD Case designing software (can't think of the name)

Adobe Pagemaker - publication designing software - yes, I know it works on the Mac, but I haven't been able to find the discs since I've moved :(

Big Oven - Awesome recipe database - no Mac version

The Text reading software for my scanner - no Mac version...I think

*sign* - this is depressing - I need to go edit a video now...on the Mac...

Dragon Naturally Speaking - voice transcription software (speech to text) - I think there is an upgrade to a Mac version (ViaVoice), but frankly I am not sure I want to pay anything more, I just upgraded the PC version :(

RCA inputs on PC (not a program)

TV Tuner on my PC & GigaPocket - TV turner & recording software.

Sonic Foundry Vegas Video Studio (Older Version...very old...it gets the job done well though) - Video Editing, now called Sony Vegas Pro...figures...

Some other photo, digital scrapbook & DVD authoring programs & utilities that came with my PC

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XM Radio Receiver vs XM Radio for PC

First a quick discussion about something I came up against.

I have the Pioneer AirWare portable XM receiver (looks like an overly large cell phone).



I thought about upgrading today when I saw the special on www.Woot.com for the newer version of the portable reciever by Pioneer the Inno1, much smaller, in color & better antenna...



BUT, it didn't come with a car kit (which is an additional $40 through www.MyRadioStore.com, which had I known that this morning, I might have bought it; I could only find the kit for $60.) The car kit is the ONLY way to enable the FM modulator, which is what I need since I have a CD player in my car & not a cassette deck. So I found something cheaper (not as convenient, but still cheaper) for less than $43, I found an external clip-on antenna for my AirWare and bought an armband for it as well. (It actually cost less than $30, but I 2nd day air-ed it :P) As I have mentioned before I am running in a half-marathon at the begging of next year, & I'd like to my XM radio along for the ride.

So back to the oginal topic of the PC version vs regular version - with my subscription (or anyones) you pay monthly to receive reception for you radio ($5-$13 or possibly cheaper with promo code). Also you have the ability to use the online player and play the music through their online player. So I am wonder why anyone would pay $65 for the PC kit, when you can buy a portable radio for less (or free) and still use the internet online player for the PC (it's what I do, since I don't get reception from where the only window in my apt. is.) I presume for people that have slow internet connection you might do this, but I'd save the money from the subscription & go with fater internet service & stream free internet radio through WMP or iTunes.

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