tech, news, productivity, views and stuff
Strewth Bruce, looks like Skippy the Kangaroo is going to need to get a Twitter account.
Australia is to use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to give people early warning of bushfires.
Residents of towns in Victoria state have said they had little or no warning of the devastating blazes that killed 173 people in February.
Read more on BBC News.
BBC reports on Venice’s new wifi network.
The Italian city of Venice has launched what is believed to be the most extensive, wireless internet system anywhere in Europe.
Ten thousand kilometres of cables have been laid, establishing wi-fi hotspots just about everywhere in the city.
Read more.
Photo source.
The BBC reports on concerns about the fact that “M” the boss of MI6 has a Facebook account.
Personal details about the life of the next head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, have been removed from social networking site Facebook amid security concerns.
The Foreign Secretary has weighed in and defended the John Sawers.
The UK foreign secretary has defended the next head of MI6 after details of his private life were removed from social networking site Facebook.
David Miliband denied security had been compromised after the wife of Sir John Sawers posted family photographs and details of their children and home.
Mr Miliband told the BBC: “You know he wears a Speedo swimsuit. That’s not a state secret.”
Is it an issue?
What do you think?
Finally had a chance to try out my new Elgato Video Capture.
I connected a PSP to it using the PSP AV Cable and captured the use of the PSP GO!Explore.
It was very simple and easy to use. Once I had captured the movie I could either save as a Quicktime movie, send to YouTube or edit it in iMovie.
BBC reports on changes Facebook wants to make.
The social networking site Facebook has come under fire for planned changes to its privacy settings.
It wants to “simplify” the process so users only have to set them once, instead of for each individual feature.
Facebook says the change will help people share more information with one another.
However, critics argue the new set up could lead to members being persuaded to share too many personal details – their date of birth for example.
Saw the new 13” MacBook Pro complete with SD card slot in the Apple Store.
I was well impressed and am starting to really like this laptop, certainly bigger than a netbook, but more powerful as well (and a lot more expensive too).
Seriously thinking about getting one as a computer for travelling with. The lack of removable battery seems less of an issue these days, what with power sockets on trains and more conference organisers adding power sockets too.
It has Firewire which means moving files (large video files that is) will be easier.
Not too heavy, well heavier than a netbook, but lighter than a 15” MacBook Pro.
Big issue is the price, what with 4GB of RAM and a large HDD, we’re looking at over £1,100…
Thinking about it!
Having just purchased the turbo.264 HD from Elgato I have now purchased their new Video Capture device.
Transfer video to your Mac from a VCR, DVR, camcorder, or any other analog video device as an iTunes-ready H.264 or MPEG-4 file. Elgato Video Capture’s easy-to-use software assists you through every step, from connecting an analog video source to recording the video on your Mac and choosing how you will watch and share it.
There is no easier way to transfer home video to your Mac to play in QuickTime, to sync with an iPod, iPhone or Apple TV, to edit in iMovie, or to upload to YouTube.
I have been looking for something like this from Elgato for some time. I have a couple of Pinnacle devices for capturing video, however either they capture without a preview which is fine for most things, but not all. Or it is Windows only and this means adding extra conversion time to use the captured footage with iMovie or similar.
I use to be able to do it with my original EyeTV device, however that did not capture at a sufficient quality, but this was a fair few years ago now.
So now I have one, still in the bag at the moment.
Despite some issues with JoikuSpot with some mobile devices, it is still one of my most useful applications on my Nokia N95 and I use it a lot.
I have considered getting an iPhone 3GS and this (alongside the iPhone 3G) now (eventually) comes with tethering, the ability to use your phone as a modem with your laptop. I have done this for years with various phones including the Nokia N95.
The only downside is the cost!
I have tethering included as part of my T-Mobile deal which costs roughly the same per month as the O2 iPhone deal, however O2 want an extra £15 per month for a 3GB limit for tethering.
Expensive!
BBC reports on Intel and Nokia working together.
The world’s largest chip maker has teamed up with the world’s largest mobile phone maker to create what they say will be a “new exciting industry”.
Intel and Nokia said their “technology collaboration” would deliver new mobile computing products – beyond existing smartphones, netbooks and notebooks.
But both companies added it was still too early to talk about product plans.
I realise that I don’t write about my digital cameras much on this blog, I have talked about other cameras, but not mine.
I originally had a film Canon SLR and about six or seven years ago I got a Canon EOS 300D Digital SLR which back in 2007 I upgraded to the Canon EOS 400D.
One of the original reasons for going for the Canon DSLR was that I hoped to use my Canon accessories with my new camera. The lenses seemed to work fine, but I could never get my Centon Flash unit to work with my Canon EOS 400D. I just put it down to new camera, old flash!
Today I was going through a box and I found the Centon Flash and I thought, why not have another go, so I did and yet again it didn’t work.
So… I know lets use Google!
Found this blog entry which though talking about a different Centon Flash unit made this useful comment.
I had to tape over the four communication pin contacts on my 400D with electrician’s tape – it won’t fire the flash otherwise when it is mounted on the hotshoe.
So using a bit of tape I taped over four of the contacts and tried the flash…
It worked!
Simple.
When you know how.