Go Stanford!

Stanford released some of its music collections to iTunes Music Store. I just downloaded 100 new tracks!

I hope that UP College of Music will do the same thing in the near future.

Karma!

I saw this Karma Test at Tickle – thanks to my friend, Aissa.

Anyway, took the test and got a score of 845 karma points!

You’ve earned these points by doing good things, therefore allowing good things to circle back to you. There are 6 different ways people earn karma, and by looking at your responses to this test, we can tell that your selfless nature is earning you the most karma.

This means that you’re more willing than most people are to sacrifice yourself for those in need. Such kind efforts have helped you earn your karma up to this point. You’ll typically go out of your way to help people even when the task is difficult or forces you to go out of your way. This willingness to assist others strengthens your current relationships and suggests it will come back to you positively in the future. Through your concerted efforts to make others’ needs an important priority, you generate good karma for yourself and the universe.

Not bad, eh?

5G iPod starting to look unattractive

With only 5 shows easily available on iTunes (at a cost one mocha frap from Starbucks each! hehe), I think I will sit this one out until there is ample supply of video.

Converting home videos and DVDs take quite a long time and it is not worth the wait, I must say. I mean, I can watch the show before the conversion is done.

Also did a review of where and when I usually access my iPod and so far, I think I have very little chance to watch videos on the go.

I almost bought the PSP the other day but then again, I figured – limited storage space is inconvenient and add the long conversion process involved – too much of a hassle.

I also checked the Nokia 770. Supports far more media formats than the iPod and PSP BUT has very limited storage as well.

The past week, I got very excited by the fact that the iPod can play video and was pumped up to get one by hook or by crook. Now, it is a different story.

Who knows? Maybe when the iPod is locally available, my views will change… again!

FINALLY!

Finally!!! OpenOffice.org 2.0 is out of beta and it now a full version! If you are using Linux or Windows, get it asap! It is a great improvement from the last version!

Now if only the Mac guys will get it out asap!

Why I hate Apple…

This is one of the two reasons why I hate Apple – one is their non-free operating systems and this one, churning out new and awesome products every so often!

Apple just released a 4-processor upgrade to their PowerMac, a slightly less than USD500 pro photo software called Aperture and slight upgrade on the powerbooks.

Well, the 15″ powerbook just had the following upgrade:

1. brighter screen
2. higher resolution
3. twice the video RAM
4. Dual-layer DVD support
5. A new trackpad
6. One hour more battery life
7. Digital Audio in/out

With basically the same CPU speed and the same HD capacity on the stock configuration. This is the last PowerPC upgrade down the line and the next one will be the Intel-based Powerbooks. Is it worth the upgrade? No, I will not answer it yet. Hehe. Am I willing to take the plunge on the first version of the Intel-based Powerbook? You bet, I am! I guess I have to save up and get that new one… but then again, who knows?

Expounding on the iPod advantage

I was about to get myself a PSP when the same friend of mine who gave me all information about the PSP directed me to an article 320px Video Isn’t Too Small.

I never really gave that much credit to the ease of the iPod-iTunes integration until I read this and it reminded me of what the Apple experience is all about.

True that there will definitely be less shows available on iTunes Music Store compared to the Tivo, of course. However, it is far better than pirating these shows. I mean, I spend for a grande, at the very least, at Starbucks everyday – I can live with missing a couple just to pay for the TV downloads. At least I am sure that it is legit.

I tried to scale the video playback to the largest possible window I could get on my powerbook and I admit that it is a bit pleasant, if you watch it from a distance, of course!

Anyway, still waiting for the announcement tomorrow. I mean, who knows? Maybe I will have better use of my money after tomorrow’s announcements.

DivX to

I am still deciding on which one to purchase, the 5G 30GB Black iPod or the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

In my quest to find the appropriate gadget, I searched for a way to convert DivX files to H.264 (iPod) and MPEG-4 (PSP). Although it will definitely take some time to convert the files from one format to another, it will, however, provide me with more video until iTunes gets more networks to join the video revolution.

I found out that Toast 7.0.1 Titanium can convert almost any video format available out there (except for WMV and Theora) to H.264 and MPEG-4 for the PSP. Cool, huh? It takes around 20-30 minutes to convert a 45-minute DivX and perhaps another 2 minutes to transfer it to your device. Hmmm… points for both iPod and PSP.

PSP advantages:
1. Larger screen
2. Longer battery life and replaceable battery
3. WiFi
4. Games

iPod advantages
1. iTunes integration
2. Larger storage (30/60GB vs 1/2GB Memory Stick)
3. Cheaper
4. More portable

To add to this, I already have a music player, the black 4GB iPod Nano. I want a portable video player next.

Decisions, decisions… was tempted to go out and get myself a PSP already but I thought that maybe, just maybe, there is another reason for me to save my money until Thursday morning.

iTunes TV show

I just bought one episode of Disney’s The Suite Life just to check the quality of the video. I thought that I can run it full screen on my powerbook but I was surprised that it can’t go full screen.

Hmmm… finally found a reason NOT to get an iPod. Thing is, is it enough reason not to get one? Hehehe… call me fickle-minded but 20K is a lot of money, you know.

Hey! Found a worthy alternative… Sony’s PlayStation Portable. One downside – limited memory but hey, I have a Nano for music and podcasts and only need a movie or two on-the-go anyway. Add the fact that PSP has WiFi as well — hmmm… and did I say that it has a bigger screen and also has lots of games?

Must resist

The new iPods will reach Philippine shores later this week, at least according to some reliable sources like the Apple Centre.

Am in a bind right now – to buy or not to buy. I want to buy because I want to watch movies and tv shows on the go. However, am thinking of the limited shows available at the moment.

I don’t want to rip my DVDs just so I can watch it again. I’d rather watch it on a bigger screen, of course.

There are shows that I can watch such a vodcasts but they are very scarce. There are TV shows available on Net as well – nyaaahhahahaha… but are they worth the hassle of converting it to Quicktime just for the iPod?

Argh! Decisions, decisions… will let you know… after the Apple event on thursday morning.

Standing tall

Standing tall
Originally uploaded by mctux.

Still learning the ropes. This photo could have been sharper had it not for the camera-shake. Yeah, am prone to that and that is the reason why I am saving for that L lens with Image Stabilizer.