Air2Net Bluetooth CF/PC Card
How do we end up traveling from the 20th century into the virtual age? Historians, if there are any, will look back at wrist watches with embedded bluetooth and flash memory, and they'll look at dogs tagged with RFID implants.
Then they'll look at feckless youngsters who implant RFID tags to weird out their parents. Whose younger siblings implant usb stores and bluetooth modules (Perhaps the power supply remains external? A good way to gross out parents would be to inject alcohol into a subdermal fuel cell bladder). And so it goes.
I do like the idea of a watch with USB storage 2-4GB (or, soon, a microdrive with 40GB), a thumprint reader, bluetooth and an embedded RFID tag (I'm too squeamish to put the RFID tag in my forearm). I think with a bit of cleverness the watch could look pretty conventional, and even less bulky than is the current fashion (the real problem is batteries -- we need a fuel cell battery than can be resupplied by an external device).
Anyone remember the Java ring of the 1990s?
One could do a LOT of things with this combo. Data would be stored on the USB store as an encrypted disk image. The RFID tag would respond to inquiries and trigger a biometric authentication request. Upon authentication a nearby computer would exchange keys with the Bluetooth adapter, then mount the disk image via the bluetooth interface. The disk image would contain one's roving profile, private keys, etc. (like the Java ring)
Nothing new here or technically challenging, just interesting to watch the pieces come together.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Pluck RSS Reader: Retrieve news from favorite sites
Pluck RSS ReaderAnother RSS reader, this one an IE plug-in. RSS seem clients now come in four flavors:
1. web service/asp: use browser to work with
2. email plug-in, esp. Outlook
3. browser plug-in, esp. IE/FireFox
4. standalone
I think the standalone are unlikely to go too far. I'd like to use a web service that had companion plug-ins for Outlook and FireFox, so they'd share a single OPML file.
1. web service/asp: use browser to work with
2. email plug-in, esp. Outlook
3. browser plug-in, esp. IE/FireFox
4. standalone
I think the standalone are unlikely to go too far. I'd like to use a web service that had companion plug-ins for Outlook and FireFox, so they'd share a single OPML file.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Rocket RSS Reader
Rocket RSS Reader
I followed this link via a Blooger Google ad. It looks interesting, especially since I've been disappointed with bloglines latest changes.
I do like having Google's ads next to my blog posting and my gmail. They're interesting and useful.
I followed this link via a Blooger Google ad. It looks interesting, especially since I've been disappointed with bloglines latest changes.
I do like having Google's ads next to my blog posting and my gmail. They're interesting and useful.
Google and digital image storage
MacSlash | Google Acquires Digital Photo Management Company Picasa
Very interesting! Google has the power to crush the digital image store/sell industry. I wonder if they'll build Google extensions into Picasa then make it freely available. The Picasa web site has links to a tool that facilitates putting images into Google's Blogger blog. Photoblogging deluxe?
Update:I downloaded both Picasa and Hello, Picasa's Chat/peer-to-peer image sharing application with the "bot" interface to Blogger.
Phew! Complex and innovative. I can see why Blogger went for Picasa. Very impressive. I may even pay the $30 for the app, though I suspect it will soon be free (I'll wait a few days before I buy, I'm on a 14 day trial.).
Here's a sample photo. I may switch to this mode of distributing photos to friends and families. I'll create a private photo blog just for that purpose.
Here's an old photo for test purposes ... (Molly, then aged about 3 months, now 14.5 years and on her 7th life ...)
Today Google acquired Picasa, a company that makes digital photo management software. No specifics were given but Jonathan Rosenberg, vice president of Product Management said 'its technologies complement Google's ongoing mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.' Perhaps this means that Google will someday allow you to use some of your GB of storage to host and showcase your digital photo library.
Very interesting! Google has the power to crush the digital image store/sell industry. I wonder if they'll build Google extensions into Picasa then make it freely available. The Picasa web site has links to a tool that facilitates putting images into Google's Blogger blog. Photoblogging deluxe?
Update:I downloaded both Picasa and Hello, Picasa's Chat/peer-to-peer image sharing application with the "bot" interface to Blogger.
Phew! Complex and innovative. I can see why Blogger went for Picasa. Very impressive. I may even pay the $30 for the app, though I suspect it will soon be free (I'll wait a few days before I buy, I'm on a 14 day trial.).
Here's a sample photo. I may switch to this mode of distributing photos to friends and families. I'll create a private photo blog just for that purpose.
Here's an old photo for test purposes ... (Molly, then aged about 3 months, now 14.5 years and on her 7th life ...)
Boing Boing: Sterling's Singularity speech audio
Boing Boing: Sterling's Singularity speech audio
I need to download this sucker then get it on my iPod.
Update: Bleah. I downloaded, converted to AAC, made it bookmarkable, and listened. Sterling caricatures Vinge and mocks much of Vinge's writing. I thought Sperling's arguments were simplistic and misdirecting. He never really deals with Vinge's fundamental theses, but he does well with simplistic rhetoric and humorous digressions.
Stupid and a waste of time.
Bruce Sterling's speech to the Long Now Foundation on the Singularity is a corker. He really is a *hell* of a speaker.
I need to download this sucker then get it on my iPod.
Update: Bleah. I downloaded, converted to AAC, made it bookmarkable, and listened. Sterling caricatures Vinge and mocks much of Vinge's writing. I thought Sperling's arguments were simplistic and misdirecting. He never really deals with Vinge's fundamental theses, but he does well with simplistic rhetoric and humorous digressions.
Stupid and a waste of time.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
MIT OpenCourseWare | HST.951J Medical Decision Support - Medical Informatics
MIT OpenCourseWare | Health Sciences and Technology | HST.951J Medical Decision Support, Spring 2003 | Home
I scanned the syllabus. Definitely an MIT perspective on medical informatics! I'll likely use some of this material when I teach at the U MN again this fall.
I scanned the syllabus. Definitely an MIT perspective on medical informatics! I'll likely use some of this material when I teach at the U MN again this fall.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Full text search in 10.4 and elsewhere
Daring Fireball: Spotlight on Spotlight
Interesting limitation of both Google and OS X Tiger's full text indexing ignores much past 100K. That's bigger than the raw text content of most documents, but it leaves books out of the picture. For my taste it's the right choice. I hope I can choose which folders NOT to index.
I imagine I'll stay with 10.3 on my iBook -- I just don't have a big enough drive on that machine. Tiger I'll get with my next machine.
... Both metadata collection and full-text indexing depend on cooperating per-file-format Importers, either written by Apple or by third parties. Like Google, no matter how much text an Importer provides, Spotlight only cares about the first 100K of raw text.
Importers are fired on every file the moment it is created, saved, changed, or moved, including when files are made available through a newly mounted drive. Performance is said to be excellent in every case except network-mounted home directories, which are bedeviling on several levels and on which they’re still working.
Interesting limitation of both Google and OS X Tiger's full text indexing ignores much past 100K. That's bigger than the raw text content of most documents, but it leaves books out of the picture. For my taste it's the right choice. I hope I can choose which folders NOT to index.
I imagine I'll stay with 10.3 on my iBook -- I just don't have a big enough drive on that machine. Tiger I'll get with my next machine.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Apple - Discussions - Replacement iPod is INDEED defective
Apple - Discussions - Replacement iPod is itself defective: "Ok, this is now is the third replacement. I've been through four 30GB G3 iPods now.
It arrived very quickly -- expedited service since it was my 3rd return.
I recharge it. Go to use it. The central button doesn't work. I can navigate the top menus, but I can't do anything else. I can reset it, no change.
If anyone wants to discuss this with me directly my email is jfaughnan@spamcop.net."
Wow. This is very impressive. I'm pretty convinced by now that Apple really can't service iPods. Their entire service routine must be a clever scam. They know sooner or later I'll get tired of calling AppleCare for a return.
They are rapidly turning into a seriously scummy company. I'm going to use Minnesota's consumer protection process.
Update:
I called AppleCare and was good and patient. When I was asked to reset I said I'd already done it, but offered to repeat. That was good.
The first time I'd reset by myself I forgot to switch the hold toggle on and off. The hold toggle turns power to the buttons on and off. That was a critical step. With it the reset cleared the problem.
It appears some combination of pressure on the central button (perhaps in shipping) and power drainage can cause the button to be locked out.
So this iPod is now working.
I'll put a hold on my letter to the state attorney general until I see how this replacement does!
updateNope, it's really broken. Lock switch is malfunctioning. Now for replacement number 4, and the letter to the state attorney general.
Update 2: The problem is more subtle than just a bad lock switch. At varioous times, particularly when withdrawing a fully recharged iPod from the cradle, the buttons are totally inoperable. Reinserting into the cradle may restore functionality. I think it's likely a somewhat flaky circuit that can be perturbed by small voltage fluctuations.
It arrived very quickly -- expedited service since it was my 3rd return.
I recharge it. Go to use it. The central button doesn't work. I can navigate the top menus, but I can't do anything else. I can reset it, no change.
If anyone wants to discuss this with me directly my email is jfaughnan@spamcop.net."
Wow. This is very impressive. I'm pretty convinced by now that Apple really can't service iPods. Their entire service routine must be a clever scam. They know sooner or later I'll get tired of calling AppleCare for a return.
They are rapidly turning into a seriously scummy company. I'm going to use Minnesota's consumer protection process.
Update:
I called AppleCare and was good and patient. When I was asked to reset I said I'd already done it, but offered to repeat. That was good.
The first time I'd reset by myself I forgot to switch the hold toggle on and off. The hold toggle turns power to the buttons on and off. That was a critical step. With it the reset cleared the problem.
It appears some combination of pressure on the central button (perhaps in shipping) and power drainage can cause the button to be locked out.
So this iPod is now working.
I'll put a hold on my letter to the state attorney general until I see how this replacement does!
updateNope, it's really broken. Lock switch is malfunctioning. Now for replacement number 4, and the letter to the state attorney general.
Update 2: The problem is more subtle than just a bad lock switch. At varioous times, particularly when withdrawing a fully recharged iPod from the cradle, the buttons are totally inoperable. Reinserting into the cradle may restore functionality. I think it's likely a somewhat flaky circuit that can be perturbed by small voltage fluctuations.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Fix for SMB share mount problem for OS X 10.3.4
Mac OS X Panther (10.3.4): "SMB Share Mount Solution
Peter Stys
I have a solution to the problem submitted below and posted on your web site [Jun. 10 ]: 'I upgraded Macs machines running 10.3.4 with the latest Security Update 2004-06-07, and ever since I cannot mount SMB shares from our Windows 2000 server, with an error -36'
A colleague of mine suggested using the Keychain Access utility to delete all entries related to the problematic Windows server and this solved the problem: the share now mounts fine. You may want to post this for other readers who may experience this issue."
Peter Stys
I have a solution to the problem submitted below and posted on your web site [Jun. 10 ]: 'I upgraded Macs machines running 10.3.4 with the latest Security Update 2004-06-07, and ever since I cannot mount SMB shares from our Windows 2000 server, with an error -36'
A colleague of mine suggested using the Keychain Access utility to delete all entries related to the problematic Windows server and this solved the problem: the share now mounts fine. You may want to post this for other readers who may experience this issue."
More notes on the negative scanning project
Google Groups: View Thread "Image management solution for a medium sized persona..."
Rec.photo.digital experts liked these tools for a negative scanning project:
Lupas Rename:
http://www.azheavymetal.com/~lupasrename/lupasrename.php
I've used it for just the purposes you describe, flawlessly.
ACDSee
IMatch at http://www.photools.com
Thumbs+ at http://www.cerious.com
I've also looked at Adobe Photoshop Album which is quite nice, but I fear it's compromised by Adobe's need to lock-in customers. Microsoft is supposed to have a very good image management product, but their lock-in needs are usually nefarious.
Since I'm burning the images to CD (burning twice, so I have redundant storage), I want something that will produce meaningful file names and write metadata to the JPEG EXIF headers. I need the EXIF date to reflect the date of image acquisition, with a staggered delay between each image (so rolls and images sort by date).
I want the file names to follow this sort of convention (probably need to use the renamer): YYYYMMDDDD_1_ROLLID_# where:
YYYYMMDDDD: is approximate date pictures were taken
1: is an roll number for >1 roll/date.
ROLLID: is an identifier for the roll of film if one is assigned by the scanner (may be null)
#: corresponds to negative number within a roll
The person doing the scanning will write a text note on each entry including roll description and comments. A copy of the entire log will be included in each CD.
Each CD will be labeled with a CD identifier of the form: YYYYMMDDDD_# where
YYYYMMDD: date burned
#: CD number burned that day
The text log will contain CD information as well as roll information, will be cumulative, and will be copied to each CD.
I have to do some playing around to get the workflow to be simple but efficient.
Rec.photo.digital experts liked these tools for a negative scanning project:
Lupas Rename:
http://www.azheavymetal.com/~lupasrename/lupasrename.php
I've used it for just the purposes you describe, flawlessly.
ACDSee
IMatch at http://www.photools.com
Thumbs+ at http://www.cerious.com
I've also looked at Adobe Photoshop Album which is quite nice, but I fear it's compromised by Adobe's need to lock-in customers. Microsoft is supposed to have a very good image management product, but their lock-in needs are usually nefarious.
Since I'm burning the images to CD (burning twice, so I have redundant storage), I want something that will produce meaningful file names and write metadata to the JPEG EXIF headers. I need the EXIF date to reflect the date of image acquisition, with a staggered delay between each image (so rolls and images sort by date).
I want the file names to follow this sort of convention (probably need to use the renamer): YYYYMMDDDD_1_ROLLID_# where:
YYYYMMDDDD: is approximate date pictures were taken
1: is an roll number for >1 roll/date.
ROLLID: is an identifier for the roll of film if one is assigned by the scanner (may be null)
#: corresponds to negative number within a roll
The person doing the scanning will write a text note on each entry including roll description and comments. A copy of the entire log will be included in each CD.
Each CD will be labeled with a CD identifier of the form: YYYYMMDDDD_# where
YYYYMMDD: date burned
#: CD number burned that day
The text log will contain CD information as well as roll information, will be cumulative, and will be copied to each CD.
I have to do some playing around to get the workflow to be simple but efficient.
Scanning project: scanning negatives
Popular Photography Magazine
I'll have more of these. I'm planning to scan 1500 or so negatives. So I'll be posting a few notes like this.
1. Store your negatives flat.
A curved negative can result in an out-of-focus scan and a perpetual need to manually refocus your scanner.
2. Clean negatives as well as you would in a darkroom.
It’s much easier to blow air on them before you scan than to clone dust out later. If you’ve got a really dirty or old negative and your scanner driver has Digital ICE (Image Correction & Enhancement), you can run it for cleaning purposes. But beware: it drastically increases your scan time.
3. Quit all other programs.
Ths will free up as much memory as possible for your scanner.
4. Consider what you want from your scan.
Don’t automatically scan at the highest resolution. If you’re only going to view the image on-screen, don’t scan at full resolution; save time and hard-drive space by scanning at 72 dpi.
Save 300 dpi for prints.
5. Check your driver for film presets.
If you can, select your type of film, and get an edge on color accuracy.
6. Make corrections first.
If you can color manage your preview, correct color and brightness/contrast before you scan. And if you’re scanning a batch of images shot under the same conditions, save your correction settings and apply them to all your subsequent scans.
7. Multisample.
Ugly noise occurs randomly, and multisampling beats it by scanning many times and making a composite of the least noisy sections from each sample.
8. Scan it twice.
If you’re having trouble getting the highlights and shadows in one scan, scan for each separately. Then make a composite using layers in an image-editing program.
9. Turn off your scanner when you’re finished!
This will prolong its life and quality.
I'll have more of these. I'm planning to scan 1500 or so negatives. So I'll be posting a few notes like this.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
You can Telnet to a LaserWriter
Macintouch - Mac OS X Panther (10.3.4)
Who would have guessed? A way to configure a LW without the original utility software. Also, a nasty way to disable a LW.
Who would have guessed? A way to configure a LW without the original utility software. Also, a nasty way to disable a LW.
Friday, July 02, 2004
macosxhints - Install a new CUPS backend for USB printing
macosxhints - Install a new CUPS backend for USB printing
I may try this, still trying to get XP to print to my USB hosted HP 882C.
I may try this, still trying to get XP to print to my USB hosted HP 882C.
Sennheiser PX 100 is best
Dan's Data Review: Sennheiser PX 100, PX 200 and PXC 250 portable headphones: "The PX 100 is not just the clear winner among these three, but a great product in objective terms too. Quite cheap, good sounding, insensitive to ear shape, and it folds up in the same nifty way as the other two. Without a good earpad-to-ear seal, there's just no comparison between the bass response of the PX 200 and that of the PX 100. And even with a good seal, the PX 200 still isn't better."
The PX 100 gets a Highly Recommended from me."
The PX 100 gets a Highly Recommended from me."
AirPort Extreme Base Station: Power over ethernet disables USB printer sharing
Apple - AirPort Extreme
Some kind of voltage load issue?
Some AirPort Extreme Base Stations can receive power over the Ethernet WAN port when connected to 802.3af-compliant Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE). If the base station receives power over Ethernet, the USB port is disabled, and you can't use a USB printer.
Some kind of voltage load issue?
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