John's Random Musings

iPod Touch, the $200 videophone

2011-11-01T14:57:00.000-04:00

For years I've touted how great Apple's iChat software is as a video chat application that is easy to use and uncluttered.

Because it was compatible with AOL Instant Messenger, Microsoft Windows running grandparents can finally see their Macintosh running grandkids.

Of course, it never really works out that way, some family members don't have a webcam or know how to use a computer and AIM messenger is an advertising filled disaster even though it is free. [Don't get me started on Yahoo Messenger.]

So last year, Apple introduced Facetime with the iPhone 4. Wow. An easy to use video chat solution, but only if the other user had an iPhone 4 too. [Remember the Christmas commercials last year?]

A lot has changed since then, Apple released Facetime for the desktop Macintosh and also introduced a front camera on the iPod touch which also supported Facetime.

So, you can now do iPod to iPod Facetime.

iPhone to iPhone Facetime.

iPod to iPhone Facetime. And iPhone/iPod to Macintosh Facetime.

It is really thrilling that a $200 videophone is finally here. No computer needed. Just a wifi connection.

The best part? If you don't want to use Facetime on an iPod, or if the other user can't run Facetime, you can also use Yahoo Messenger and Skype.

Amazing times.

iPhone 4S, movie making machine in your pocket...

2011-10-15T19:35:00.003-04:00

I got the new iPhone 4S and I'm blown away by the quality of the camera and video that it shoots.

Pair the phone with the Filmic Pro app... which allows shooting in different frame rates, 24P for example. [Though they are limited to 720P at the moment, until an update?] and Red Giant's Movie Looks app and you have a pretty killer set up for making films on the go.

Shoot, edit, process and share.

Amazing times we are living in.

iOS 5 and TomTom for iPhone Restore Purchases Issue

2011-10-15T18:54:00.001-04:00

If you just upgraded to a iPhone 4S and iOS 5, you will/may have issues restoring purchases until TomTom issues a fix. Trying to restore purchases above, even with correct username and password results in the error above: "Incorrect username or password. Please try again." Don't bother thinking you need to reset your password. I can deal without real time traffic until a fix is issued, but if you wanted to restore your $5.99 Homer Simpson voice immediately, you are gonna be upset.

Check out TomTom's discussion forums here: http://discussions.tomtom.com/

Original iPhone 2G Activation Issues

2011-10-15T18:38:00.001-04:00

I recently tried to wipe and reload the OS on the original iPhone 2G that we have been using as an iPod. Big mistake, for some reason, after restoring to 3.1.3, the device REFUSED to reactivate with AT&T. It still has the original, now inactive, SIM card. No matter how many times, I tried wiping and reloading the OS, deleting old backups, trying a different Mac, the iPhone 2G would never get past the connect to itunes screen.

How lame. Finally, I went ahead and just unlocked it via the instructions on the ilikemyiphone page.

http://www.ilikemyiphone.com/2010/02/10/jailbreak-activate-and-unlock-original-iphone-2g-3-1-3-firmware-using-redsn0w-windowsmac/

Good stuff. Just want to keep the original iPhone around as a souvenir, but at least iPhone 2G collector owners get to that screen.

If you have a 2G, I would seriously think before restoring the device. It might be hardware, though I doubt it.

Repaired my Humanscale Freedom Chair

2011-10-03T19:26:00.003-04:00

My prized Humanscale Freedom Chair recently developed an issue with the ratcheting mechanism which allows raising and lowering of the arm-rests.

I contacted Humanscale and they sent out replacement parts at no charge.

Got the parts today and finally put it back it together.

HINT: 3800510000 Ratchet Lock must have the teeth facing up.

All better now.

Thanks Humanscale!

2011-10-01T17:32:00.004-04:00

Red Giant Magic Bullet Quicklooks and Rebel EPIC expansion pack.

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/rebel-epic/

Ran the same 12 second clip thru 3 filters:

AG Film, The Look (Teal) and Soupine for comparison.

Final Cut Pro 6, Powermac G5 Dual 2ghz, ATI Radeon 9800 with 128megs ram.

2011-09-25T18:52:00.002-04:00

Here is an example of Magic Bullet Quicklooks applied to a clip on the Powermac and Final Cut Pro 6.

Dual 2.0 G5 Powermac.. Still working!

2011-09-25T18:49:00.000-04:00

Ever since I got into the whole Canon Video DSLR thing, I've been spending bucks to allow my Powermac G5 Dual to continue to be useful.

For starters, if you want to edit 24p natively, you will need to get Final Cut Studio 2.

The is the last official version to run on Power PC Macs. FCS3 is Intel only.

I use MPEG Steamclip and convert the files to ProRes and just drop it into Final Cut and edit away.

As for doo-dads to process your footage, you can grade with the 3 way color corrector in Final Cut, but other programs will require at least a video card with 128mb of VRAM.

Magic Bullet Quicklooks will work on a Powermac G5 with 128mb of VRAM, but that's about the only product they have that still works on the G5.

LUT Buddy, the free program for Technicolor Cinestyle will not run on the G5.

Yes, I'm eventually going to upgrade my Mac to intel to test out FCP X. But watch out, if you get an older used Mac, the video card may not be CL capable and FCP X will not run.

Fun, fun.

Testing Out Shopping Cart - eStore solutions

2011-05-14T10:51:00.003-04:00

Trying out Google's Storegadget app.
Very cool concept for setting up your own store on the Internet.
https://storegadgetwizard.appspot.com/storegadgetwizard/index.html

Do e-commerce.

Shameless

2011-05-05T16:45:00.002-04:00

Shameless. on Twitpic

Oh I mashed this up a couple years ago..

99 cent Foam Sunshade Hood for the Canon 5D

2011-05-05T14:41:00.002-04:00

Foam Sunshade Hood for the 5D, a photo by Chung Chu on Flickr.

Nathan Visits Northlandz: World's Largest Model Railroad

2011-04-03T06:50:00.000-04:00

Our visit to Northlandz in Flemington NJ.

Chung's Crazy World

2011-04-01T18:15:00.001-04:00

Chung's Crazy World, a photo by John and Julie C on Flickr.

Strip #1 Apps you can really use!

Binaural Recording of Subway Station 71st Continental

2011-03-03T19:58:00.000-05:00

Test binaural recording using Zoom H1 recording and binaural microphones.

"Tiny Furniture" shot on Canon 7D

2011-01-23T09:29:00.001-05:00

From the film trailer... the movie looks great.

But I think most people could care less about what kind of camera it was, as the movie looks incredibly funny and witty.

http://www.tinyfurniture.com/

eSATA solution for Powermac G5 with PCI-X

2011-01-01T17:03:00.000-05:00

I have Dual 2ghz PowerMac G5 with PCI-X slots and was able to find this eSATA PCI card for it for only $30 on Amazon.

LaCie 130823 eSATA PCI Card Design by Sismo by LaCie

This plus a eSATA dock will allow me to buy a lot of bare SATA Hard drives for storage of files from my Canon DSLR.

Good stuff!

The Office - Darryl encourages and motivates Andy - "Be your best self"

2010-12-18T10:22:00.001-05:00

One of the funniest moments in this season of The Office

Forgot to Update this... I did receive it on December 13

2010-12-16T21:31:00.001-05:00

Okay... so it took almost a week to go 10 blocks in Manhattan, but I anticipated that from ordering from Adorama.

If you need it immediately...go to the store or make damn sure it isn't being shipped via Streamlite.

Okay nothing happening today..

2010-12-10T21:24:00.003-05:00

Delivery estimate is still 12-10 to 12-15..

Streamlite--you suck!

Streamlite Update

2010-12-09T23:08:00.002-05:00

Okay...it's December 9 and Streamlite has dropped off the package from Moonache, NJ to USPS.

Ordering Adorama from Amazon

2010-12-08T20:25:00.001-05:00

Let's see how long it takes now from Adorama and Streamlite and USPS

Ordered placed: December 6, 2010 @ 9:44 PM
"Shipped from Adorama": December 7, 2010 @ 11:06 PM
"Received from shipper---at Streamlite": December 8 @ 3:41 PM

So Streamlite will probably lolly gag and drop off the items off at the Postal Service tomorrow... and then I should receive it in a couple days when USPS delivers.

FYI, Adorama is only 15 blocks from where I work in Manhattan. Got to love it.

Great Warren Buffett Quotes

2010-12-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

http://seekingalpha.com/article/239630-warren-buffett-in-his-own-words-23-timeless-quotes-on-investing?source=hp_wc&wc_num=5

Nikkor 55mm f1.2 on Canon 5D MkII

2010-11-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

Mounts perfectly with the older style Fotodiox adapter. Does not work with the new style V2 adapters however.

Here's my posting with pictures of the problem with the new version of the adapter and Pre-Ai Nikon lenses.

Dvinfo.net Post

Requiem

2010-11-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

Well the US Postal Service finally delivered the product yesterday without me trying to locate the item at the office itself. What the website should not have done, was given me false information about having to call for arranging redelivery, or going to the office itself to pick it up, because it was already on the truck for "redelivery" yesterday. Oh well. Next time, I'm picking it up at the store.

Adorama using Streamlite Delivery Service

2010-11-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

What's that all about???!!

I live in NYC and have in the past ordered from Adorama. Adorama is able ship via United Parcel Service via ground I am able to get my order basically over night. UPS "guarantees" 1 day delivery within the 5 boroughs when shipping ground from the 5 boroughs.

So to my surprise and consternation, they decide to use a "shipper" that drops off their packages with the US Postal Service.

http://www.streamliteinc.com/

So there goes one wasted day. It gets to Streamlite and then they deliver to the Postal Service for processing. Basically, another wasted day, as nothing will be done that day.

The Postal Service sits on it and tries to deliver on the weekend at 6:59AM

Detailed Results:


	Notice Left, November 20, 2010, 6:58 am, NEW YORK, NY 10016
	Arrival at Post Office, November 20, 2010, 12:05 am, NEW YORK, NY 10199
	Electronic Shipping Info Received, November 18, 2010 Which is complete crap..because they didn't attempt to deliver at all because the building is closed and no notice was actually left. It would have been nice to get my stuff today[Monday]...but it looks like it is in limbo for either pick up, or redelivery. Almost a week to deliver something 15 blocks in Manhattan. I should have picked it up in the store.

iOS 4.2 is out...

2010-11-22T19:10:00.002-05:00

...but 401mb? Really?

That is a lot to download.

Cool Website with Links to Cool Products

2010-11-21T16:42:00.003-05:00

The Awesomer.

So awesome. The dollar bill origami links intrigues me.

http://theawesomer.com/

5D Mk 2 Video, "The Last Three Minutes"

2010-11-21T13:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to very inspirational piece of film making.

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3409

Photocine News

2010-11-21T13:22:00.000-05:00

Photocine News

Really like this website... got some great information and links about the DSLR video revolution.

Nikon Lenses + Canon 5D mk II

2010-11-21T13:18:00.001-05:00

Nikon Lenses + Canon 5D mk II
Originally uploaded by John and Julie C

Great combination! Loving the legendary 5D Mk2 and Nikon primes. All you need is a $12.95 Nikon to EOS adapter ring.

Since autofocus doesn't work on video mode.. its not a disdvantage to use older Nikon primes.

Sagamore - Extended

2010-11-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

We shot this this past summer at Sagamore National Historic Site on my Canon Rebel T2i.

PowerMac G5

2010-11-21T12:59:00.001-05:00

PowerMac G5
Originally uploaded by John and Julie C

My workhorse! Dual 2.0 ghz Powermac G5 with 4.5 gigs of ram.
I run Final Cut Studio 2 on this bad boy. Love it.
[Final Cut Studio2 is the last version that runs on Power PC chips]

Relaunch of Blog!

2010-11-21T11:28:00.001-05:00

Relaunch of random links to stuff.