Friday, October 29, 2004
XnView
As far as viewing my computer pictures goes, or doing anything with them, my favorite remains Thumbsplus. The downside of this wonderful program, for many, is that it costs $80 to activate it (keep it running after the 30 day free trial). While it's definitely "worth it" for a dedicated digital photographer, it may not be for the more casual one. Irfanview is the simple-but-quick-and-powerful alternative, but there are some things missing from this great little free program. Still, I recommend it to all photographers who don't want to spring for the costly cousin. It consistently wins reader awards.
Just lately, though, I came across another free graphics program worth a detailed look. Click on the title above to go to its site and download a free copy.
When you start up this program, it almost looks like Thumbsplus! It has the same interface: i.e. a Window's Explorer "file directory tree" on the left hand side and a big window on the right displaying thumbnails of all your pictures in a particular folder. It allows many options, just like either of the two other programs! E.G. simple image correction, up to and including red eye correction. Contrast, color balance, etc are no sweat. Somewhat more amazing, it accepts at least some Photoshop Plugins! (This won't mean much to many readers, but it's pretty amazing). I haven't tested it, but the one included works like a charm. There are a few---probably not all that useful---special effects. But cropping works like a charm. And you can print.
Now, here's the show stopper! You can annotate your pictures, just like in Thumbsplus! You can add up to a paragraph of description which will stay with the picture.
Now here's a program which a casual photographer could embrace! Try it out.
As far as viewing my computer pictures goes, or doing anything with them, my favorite remains Thumbsplus. The downside of this wonderful program, for many, is that it costs $80 to activate it (keep it running after the 30 day free trial). While it's definitely "worth it" for a dedicated digital photographer, it may not be for the more casual one. Irfanview is the simple-but-quick-and-powerful alternative, but there are some things missing from this great little free program. Still, I recommend it to all photographers who don't want to spring for the costly cousin. It consistently wins reader awards.
Just lately, though, I came across another free graphics program worth a detailed look. Click on the title above to go to its site and download a free copy.
When you start up this program, it almost looks like Thumbsplus! It has the same interface: i.e. a Window's Explorer "file directory tree" on the left hand side and a big window on the right displaying thumbnails of all your pictures in a particular folder. It allows many options, just like either of the two other programs! E.G. simple image correction, up to and including red eye correction. Contrast, color balance, etc are no sweat. Somewhat more amazing, it accepts at least some Photoshop Plugins! (This won't mean much to many readers, but it's pretty amazing). I haven't tested it, but the one included works like a charm. There are a few---probably not all that useful---special effects. But cropping works like a charm. And you can print.
Now, here's the show stopper! You can annotate your pictures, just like in Thumbsplus! You can add up to a paragraph of description which will stay with the picture.
Now here's a program which a casual photographer could embrace! Try it out.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Wi-Fi Gold Canyon Style:
I've been looking forward to broadband internet access for the 6 months since I've left this place. It's addictive--extremely so---and you have real withdrawal pains when you go back to a landline and worse, a cellphone, which CRAWLS like the proverbial slug.
But, upon arrival, I enjoyed about two decent days (not great, but not terrible) connectivity, and then really, really terrible connection speeds. Either no connection, or so slow that a dial up would be a pleasure by comparison.
Today, I decided to try to do something about it. I have two USB extension cords (a very unusual cord which allows you to extend the length of the USB standard connection). My wi-fi adaptor (a Linksys WUSB 11) comes with a 6' cord. The two extensions are necessary to get the adaptor up on the roof. I passed the cord up through a length of PVC (for sunlight and weather protection) to an inverted plastic pail fastened to my roof. The adaptor sits inside, (we hope weather/wet/wind/heat) protected. In its current place, it receives a signal around 6 or 7 times stronger than in my window 6 feet below. That difference in signal strength revolutionizes connectivity speed. Now, I'm zipping along like I did in those first halcyon days. Who knows whether this is a fluke or will continue. I'll keep readers abreast.
I've been looking forward to broadband internet access for the 6 months since I've left this place. It's addictive--extremely so---and you have real withdrawal pains when you go back to a landline and worse, a cellphone, which CRAWLS like the proverbial slug.
But, upon arrival, I enjoyed about two decent days (not great, but not terrible) connectivity, and then really, really terrible connection speeds. Either no connection, or so slow that a dial up would be a pleasure by comparison.
Today, I decided to try to do something about it. I have two USB extension cords (a very unusual cord which allows you to extend the length of the USB standard connection). My wi-fi adaptor (a Linksys WUSB 11) comes with a 6' cord. The two extensions are necessary to get the adaptor up on the roof. I passed the cord up through a length of PVC (for sunlight and weather protection) to an inverted plastic pail fastened to my roof. The adaptor sits inside, (we hope weather/wet/wind/heat) protected. In its current place, it receives a signal around 6 or 7 times stronger than in my window 6 feet below. That difference in signal strength revolutionizes connectivity speed. Now, I'm zipping along like I did in those first halcyon days. Who knows whether this is a fluke or will continue. I'll keep readers abreast.
TiVo
No news for those of you who have stayed up on things, but new for me, and I thought I'd write a bit about it. It's a computer, essentially, with a hard drive. You can tell it's a computer by the fact that when it's turned on, unlike a normal satellite tuner box, it takes a LONG time to come up and do its thing. It must be attached to a phone line, perhaps the worst thing about it, and can be connected to one or two LNB's---which means that you can watch one channel and record another, or record two simultaneously, or record one while watcing a previously recorded one. In effect, this means that your "recording schedule" no longer has much effect upon your "watching." What a pleasant change THAT is! DirectTV has coordinated the TiVo service with its satellite menu service so that the two fit together seamlessly.
Translation: when you want to record something, you go to it on the menu and push a button. When you want to watch, you go to the "Play List" and select what you're interested in, including that which has just started recording. If you start watching 5 or 10 minutes after the start of a show, it means that you can "skip forward" whenever there's a commercial---the first time we've been able to skip those 20 odious commercials-in-a-row!
It's heady stuff. TiVo learns your preferences, and starts recording things you'll like, but didn't even know were on any menu anywhere. I clicked on Play List and found about 20 programs I'd enjoy watching, and I hadn't told TiVo to record anything. Gone are the days when I couldn't find a SINGLE thing I was interested in watching. To make it all a huge amount better, you of course can skip all commercials.
If you don't like what TiVo has recorded for you, no problem. It will stay a few days and then be recorded over when something more recent comes along. Or, you can "vote" on it with a thumbs up or down button. That way, TiVo learns what you like and what you decidedly don't care for. Of course, you can view a few minutes and then erase it if it's not to your pleasure. This TiVo, the most basic model records 35 hours of programming. That's about 17 video tapes, I guess. The quality is excellent.
For things you want to regularly record, just hit "season pass" and it'll capture all of them. You can tell TiVo that a recorded weekly program can be kept 1) until you watch it, or 2) for one week and then will be erased before the next installment comes up, or 3) almost any other interval you choose. TiVo keeps track (by magic, maybe) or changes in the scheduling (e.g. a delay caused by a presidential address to the nation) and moves the scheduled recording accordingly.
No news for those of you who have stayed up on things, but new for me, and I thought I'd write a bit about it. It's a computer, essentially, with a hard drive. You can tell it's a computer by the fact that when it's turned on, unlike a normal satellite tuner box, it takes a LONG time to come up and do its thing. It must be attached to a phone line, perhaps the worst thing about it, and can be connected to one or two LNB's---which means that you can watch one channel and record another, or record two simultaneously, or record one while watcing a previously recorded one. In effect, this means that your "recording schedule" no longer has much effect upon your "watching." What a pleasant change THAT is! DirectTV has coordinated the TiVo service with its satellite menu service so that the two fit together seamlessly.
Translation: when you want to record something, you go to it on the menu and push a button. When you want to watch, you go to the "Play List" and select what you're interested in, including that which has just started recording. If you start watching 5 or 10 minutes after the start of a show, it means that you can "skip forward" whenever there's a commercial---the first time we've been able to skip those 20 odious commercials-in-a-row!
It's heady stuff. TiVo learns your preferences, and starts recording things you'll like, but didn't even know were on any menu anywhere. I clicked on Play List and found about 20 programs I'd enjoy watching, and I hadn't told TiVo to record anything. Gone are the days when I couldn't find a SINGLE thing I was interested in watching. To make it all a huge amount better, you of course can skip all commercials.
If you don't like what TiVo has recorded for you, no problem. It will stay a few days and then be recorded over when something more recent comes along. Or, you can "vote" on it with a thumbs up or down button. That way, TiVo learns what you like and what you decidedly don't care for. Of course, you can view a few minutes and then erase it if it's not to your pleasure. This TiVo, the most basic model records 35 hours of programming. That's about 17 video tapes, I guess. The quality is excellent.
For things you want to regularly record, just hit "season pass" and it'll capture all of them. You can tell TiVo that a recorded weekly program can be kept 1) until you watch it, or 2) for one week and then will be erased before the next installment comes up, or 3) almost any other interval you choose. TiVo keeps track (by magic, maybe) or changes in the scheduling (e.g. a delay caused by a presidential address to the nation) and moves the scheduled recording accordingly.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Optical Mouse Update:
I promised a follow-up. The primary concern with any cordless optical mouse is battery life. That little bright red LED saps up the energy. So, I report with some happiness that it seems not to be a problem. I've walked away forgetting to turn the little sucker off, it's run for hours upon hours, and still seems to be going strong. Another potential concern is the "lag" built into some optical mice: to conserve energy, the go to sleep, with a low beam, and "wake up" again with any movement. This induces a "lag" so that the first part of your movement is not reflected in cursor movement on the screen. Depending upon the mouse, I've heard that this can be quite annoying. Again, this is not a problem.
WI-FI Update:
I'm back in a campground which regularly features "wi-fi" or wireless high speed internet. I brought with me several adaptors: the one built into the laptop, the Linksys USB adaptor (WUSB 11), and the new Orinoco PCMIA card with external antenna. I had hoped that the latter would provide the strongest signal strength. On the road, it certainly seemed to pull in signals which the in-built laptop receiver could not get. However, in this campground, the clear winner is the Linksys external USB wi-fi adaptor. No idea why. No fiddling with the Orinoco adds enough strength to do any good in this context.
However, it is also the case that a strong signal is not always good enough. Whether because there are too many folks logged on and competing for bandwidth, or some other unknown problem, the "wi-fi" here is intermittently quite fast, but mostly quite slow. A real change from last year, and a real disappointment.
I promised a follow-up. The primary concern with any cordless optical mouse is battery life. That little bright red LED saps up the energy. So, I report with some happiness that it seems not to be a problem. I've walked away forgetting to turn the little sucker off, it's run for hours upon hours, and still seems to be going strong. Another potential concern is the "lag" built into some optical mice: to conserve energy, the go to sleep, with a low beam, and "wake up" again with any movement. This induces a "lag" so that the first part of your movement is not reflected in cursor movement on the screen. Depending upon the mouse, I've heard that this can be quite annoying. Again, this is not a problem.
WI-FI Update:
I'm back in a campground which regularly features "wi-fi" or wireless high speed internet. I brought with me several adaptors: the one built into the laptop, the Linksys USB adaptor (WUSB 11), and the new Orinoco PCMIA card with external antenna. I had hoped that the latter would provide the strongest signal strength. On the road, it certainly seemed to pull in signals which the in-built laptop receiver could not get. However, in this campground, the clear winner is the Linksys external USB wi-fi adaptor. No idea why. No fiddling with the Orinoco adds enough strength to do any good in this context.
However, it is also the case that a strong signal is not always good enough. Whether because there are too many folks logged on and competing for bandwidth, or some other unknown problem, the "wi-fi" here is intermittently quite fast, but mostly quite slow. A real change from last year, and a real disappointment.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Optical Mouse for a Laptop
I've had too many, and keep hoping for a "better one," (if not a mousetrap, then at least a mouse). I liked my last one: a Logitech cordless mouse with a mechanical ball. The problem was that the "receiver" (Part hooked to the laptop), connected to it via a monstrously long cord, and a receiver fan-shaped, but roughly the same volume as a pack of cigarettes. To make the whole device somewhat more portable, I amputated the long cord and patched it together at 6 inches, but it was still unwieldy.
Then I saw the latest iteration of the optical mouse designed by those "mouse people," Logitech. They made the receiver roughly 2 inches long and half as long as my index finger, and it plugs directly into the USB port on my laptop. The mouse itself is smallish---not optimal for hours and hours of heavy use, but certainly optimized for portability. It, plus the receiver, fit into a tiny little padded pouch creatively designed to carry them both.
The optical mouse, of course, has a red LED beam on the bottom. That potentially sucks battery power (in this case supplied by two AA cells---should be pretty hefty supply of that), so the company thoughtfully provides an on-off switch on the baseplate. If you're using the mouse, it's on. But when you pack it away, or ever for non-use periods, you flick off the switch.
Easy. Now, how does it work? Well, plugging into an XP machine shows it immediately being picked up and no driver installation required. If you DO install the driver, you get the ability to program the scroll wheel. Probably hardly worth the effort. Without the driver, it works exact like you'd want it to. The crucial thing for all optical mice is whether it responds instantly. Some don't. They wait for the first tiny movement to turn the LED up to full brilliance, then turn it down again as soon as it senses inactivity. This delays cuts out the first part of your movement. This little guy seems to be absent this distracting feature. This may mean it uses more battery juice. We'll see. The thing I like (so far) is that when you turn it on via the switch, it's instantly available again. No wait for the laptop to recognize the new mouse, etc.
Now, will I be able to remember, consistently, to shut off the power to the LED when I stop using it? More in a followup review.
I've had too many, and keep hoping for a "better one," (if not a mousetrap, then at least a mouse). I liked my last one: a Logitech cordless mouse with a mechanical ball. The problem was that the "receiver" (Part hooked to the laptop), connected to it via a monstrously long cord, and a receiver fan-shaped, but roughly the same volume as a pack of cigarettes. To make the whole device somewhat more portable, I amputated the long cord and patched it together at 6 inches, but it was still unwieldy.
Then I saw the latest iteration of the optical mouse designed by those "mouse people," Logitech. They made the receiver roughly 2 inches long and half as long as my index finger, and it plugs directly into the USB port on my laptop. The mouse itself is smallish---not optimal for hours and hours of heavy use, but certainly optimized for portability. It, plus the receiver, fit into a tiny little padded pouch creatively designed to carry them both.
The optical mouse, of course, has a red LED beam on the bottom. That potentially sucks battery power (in this case supplied by two AA cells---should be pretty hefty supply of that), so the company thoughtfully provides an on-off switch on the baseplate. If you're using the mouse, it's on. But when you pack it away, or ever for non-use periods, you flick off the switch.
Easy. Now, how does it work? Well, plugging into an XP machine shows it immediately being picked up and no driver installation required. If you DO install the driver, you get the ability to program the scroll wheel. Probably hardly worth the effort. Without the driver, it works exact like you'd want it to. The crucial thing for all optical mice is whether it responds instantly. Some don't. They wait for the first tiny movement to turn the LED up to full brilliance, then turn it down again as soon as it senses inactivity. This delays cuts out the first part of your movement. This little guy seems to be absent this distracting feature. This may mean it uses more battery juice. We'll see. The thing I like (so far) is that when you turn it on via the switch, it's instantly available again. No wait for the laptop to recognize the new mouse, etc.
Now, will I be able to remember, consistently, to shut off the power to the LED when I stop using it? More in a followup review.
