Dual View LCD Finds First Customer - General Motors

General Motors will begin production of the new dual view SHARP LCD which will allow the driver to view GPS Navigation, while the passenger can enjoy DVD entertainment.

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46 Freeware utilities

Nothing really "new" here but at least they are in one spot.

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Photo from the Shuttle (Really Large)

Ever take a picture of yourself with the EARTH in the background?

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New Daylight Saving May Cause Tech Problems

The joys of technology.

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Yahoo acquires Konfabulator

Hoping to pave a new path to its popular Web site, Yahoo has acquired Konfabulator, a tiny software maker that provides a computer platform for monitoring the weather, stock prices and a wealth of other customized information without opening a Web browser.

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Indestructable keyboard!

The Super Kool Keyboard is a Virtually Indestructible Keyboard, a silicon-based flexible computer keyboard, features a unique combination of durability and soft, comfortable feel. The washable, roll-able keyboard has been called "the best thing to happen to typing since the backspace key."

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Hybrid Car - Real world experience

It has been about 2 months since we took delivery of our 2006 Lexus RX400h hybrid. Toyota has done a very good job at minimizing the transition of going from gas engine to just battery power. You will notice that the engine will turn off when you come to a stop but it is very subtle. Unlike my experience with the Honda Accord Hybrid. In the Honda Accord the whole car shakes when the engine engages. One thing that I wish the Lexus could do like Honda is to switch off half the cylinders when you're cruising on the highway. Overall we are averaging between 25-26MPG which may not some like much but the gas only version of the car (RX 330) gets around 18-19MPG. So there is a big difference. In comparison our 2005 Lexus ES 330 hasn't achieved more than 20MPG. Granted the ES has around 1,500 miles on it while the RX has 3,500 so time will tell if they get closer in average MPG as the engine "breaks in". Bluetooth works fairly well and I think the connectivity issue I've had are more related to Cingular than to the car itself.

The power steering has a different feel to it since it is powered by an electric motor. The torque of the motor tends to pull the wheel to the left. It does take more effort to turn the wheel to the right then to the left because of this. The dealer performed a 4-wheel alignment which minimized this effect. Since the RX400H is relative new most people aren't familiar with its specs compared to the RX330 which means most RX400hs' are aligned as RX330s at the dealership. I'm sure this will change (if it hasn't already) as the dealers get more of these in.

Overall the car has been great to drive (although it has taken some time to adjust to the "automatic wipers" since there is no longer an intermittent setting just AUTO/LOW/HIGH)and fairly nimble (for an SUV...my first one) It isn't like the Audi I turned in a few months ago. I'll see how it handles the first snowfall.

Apple announced move to Intel Processors starting in 2006

OK I'm as confused as the next guy here. Apple has always implied that it is a "software" company (now that iPods have spun off on their own I guess that can still be true). However, I just don't understand why the need to change from the PowerPC to Intel. Not that macs are gaming machines but the next gen gaming consoles are based on RISC/Cell processors so why wouldn't Apple continue to ride the wave they started? It seems to me there is more stuff going on behind the scenes. Perhaps Apple and IBm have been reluctant partners as of late. Maybe Apple felt that it would be held hostage by IBM in future processor designs and should make the break now while Apple hardware/software is making a slight comeback. I go back to the tag-line Apple had many years ago "Think Different". To me this isn't different enough. Personally what does this mean for the Apple computers that I have now? (Dual 2.5 G5 PowerMac and G4 PowerBook) I guess software updates will continue for a while. The first Intel based PowerMac isn't scheduled until 2007 (while an Intel Mac Mini is rumored to be ready by 2006 (late 2005?)) Apple has changed processors before and still survived but they didn't change to the same chip-set as their competitors. Time will tell. As a tangent Apple was criticized when it dropped support for the Floppy Drive and when they adopted USB/Firewire at times when peripherals using those interfaces where not common. Even Apple's adoption of PCI didn't hurt it. Like the rest of us...I'll wait and see but can't help to be worried for their future.

Broadcast Flag - Will not be enforceable this July

About a month ago it was announced that the Broadcast Flag will be dismissed. So this means no changes to new recording hardware or how we use existing hardware. The DC court ruled that the FCC does not have the jurisdiction to control how a signal is to be used once it has entered the communication device. Now that is a very broad explanation I gave but more or less correct. Will this stop premium content providers from seeking what they want?...No, they will either ask for the same thing again OR change the avenue in how they ask. I can see both sides here. Those providing content want to make sure that they receive all potential revenue from the content they are providing. Would you want to pay for your cable service just to have your neighbor leach off your signal. At the same time I see fair use as something that shouldn't be messed with or else no one will want to buy any premium content. (Why buy something that you can't modify (view in different locations/formats etc.))

Anyway, things will be OK for now.

Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you?

Something I found at one of the BLOGS on the Star Wars BLOG site My results aren't exactly what I expected.

XBOX 360 or PS3?

So Microsoft and Sony have made their announcements. XBOX 360 will come out in Fall 2005 and PS3 will be available Spring 2006.

MS finally announced that XBOX 360 will be backward compatible with XBOX. [b]What do you think of the designs?[/b]

I saw the unveiling of the XBOX 360 on MTV and I was like "That's it?????!!" it looks like a Windows Media Center PC want-to-be. And why the all WHITE design? That's just opposite of the original XBOX. The styling doesn't match any A/V equipment I own. I want this stuff to blend in more.

I like the PS3 look. Seems like something Apple would make.

Check out some specs:

XBOX 360 Fact Sheet

PS3 Fact Sheet (near bottom of press release)

Darth Sideous has a Blog Site!

I've posted this in other forums might as well post it here. I stumbled accross this site (http://sidious38.blogspot.com/) and it is very well done. Some good laughs to be found there....even funnier if you're a Star Wars fan.

New arrivals - Tiger & RX400h

It's been a few days running Apple's Tiger and I haven't had any major issues. (I did have some trouble with my printer settings but that's resolved now) What do i like about it? Well spotlight is very handy as are smrt folders (the ability to create virtual folders that contain user defined items (e.g. all pictures file in the last 3 days etc.) The system automator takes AppleScript to the next level. QuickTime 7 video playback is better than before. The downside for me: i bought the QT 6 Pro version and Tiger just dumps itself on top of that basically causing me to purchase anotehr PRO license since the QT6 license is no longer valid. Rather annoying for having QT6 Pro for only 4 months prior. The other interface thins I'm still working on. I'll come back with more comments.

I picked up our new car yesterday. (2006 Lexus RX400h) The fact that we where able to get it so early floors me. We put a deposit down in January and where told that we where 172 on their list (out of then 9,000 pre-orders/deposits). The dealer didn't expect to get our car to us until November and possibly January 2006. Well after my first drive on Friday the dealer offered me the car. Still can't believe it is in our garage. The car is loaded with every option available now (some options will not be available until much later in the vehicles life cycle). Being a Hybrid SUV makes this car a bit more acceptable to use as far as fuel economy goes. EPA rated 31 city / 29 highway. It is still strange not to have the engine turn on until you: a) go above 20mph or b) need immediate power by pressing down on the accelerator). The engine turns off and random times to help save fuel. Those who own Prius' already know the cener dash consumption gauge. You can't help but stare to see yor fuel economy and wattage regeneration rate is. So far in it's second day....it is doing fine. I'll post picture later.

Apple announces Tiger

So Apple is releasing Tiger (OS X 10.4) on April 29th. I have already ordered my copy. Looking forward to it!

New York Auto Show, QM2, Duran Duran and Star Wars

I'll state the obvious...I've been away for a bit. So what do those items in this post title have in common...things that occupied my time. I missed the Auto show this year since I was on the Queen Mary 2 for a vacation. Check this site out for more info: New York Auto Show
Infiniti showed their new M35/45 autos which look very promising. Lexus displayed their Hybrid GS variant (on sale next year). Their hybrid RX 400h will be on sale starting April 18th. I'm on the waiting list for that one. Don't know the expected delivery date as of yet. I thought the NY Auto Show was rather uneventful. I don't feel like I missed out to much.

My trip on the QM2 was OK. It was the biggest cruise ship I've been on (partly because IT IS the biggest cruise ship out there!) but not the best. The yachts of Seabourn was the best cruise line I've been on. Comparing those is like night and day though. The Seabourn Legend carries 208 passengers and has about a 1:1 passenger to crew ratio. The QM2 carries 2,620 passengers and 1,300+ crew. Overall I think the QM2 is a nice ship. The planetarium on board was cool. The food was good. The beverage service was very, very slow. One night we weren't asked for a drink order until mid-way through the final dinner course. Anyway, it was a good trip. We didn't have to fly anywhere. It left right from New York and returned to New York.

There really isn't a segway to the next topic so I'll just start. The last Star Wars movie will be released on May 19th (Revenge of the Sith). For some reason my early childhood hormones have kicked in and now I'm becoming obsessed with ROTS. The official ROTS merchandising kicked off April 2. Toy R Us had their Midnight madness sale and Walmart had 72 hours of Star Wars (in select stores). Now I wouldn't consider myself a serious collector of Star Wars merchandise (I can fill a floor-to-ceiling bookcase with stuff but I don't own a Yakface!) but I find myself on the hunt to collect the new action figures and Topps trading cards. At first I was just going to buy the ones that I thought where interesting to me. Then I found out more about the exclusives that stores where carrying (Target's Lava Vader, TRU Holographic Yoda, KB's 12' Chewbacca etc.) and found myself caught in the hype. Now days before the April 2nd launch I joined this great fan site www.snowtroopers.ca. Yes, a Canadian based fan site. I know, odd since I'm not a Canadian but I found their postings to be very helpful and the people seemed nice. Hey, they like Star Wars...they have to be good. This will be the last Star Wars movie made (according to Lucas he will redo a version of the original trilogy in 3-D starting in 2007 and perhaps continue with TV animation (like the Clone Wars cartoon)) so might as well go out with a bang. Now I haven't been to successful with getting all the exclusives since the weekend opening was also the time my wife and I saw Duran, Duran. Their songs brought back memories of High School. The sound was OK but I thought it was mixed wrong in a few songs...vocals where overpowered by guitar.

2006 BMW 530xi

BMW is finally offering all-wheel drive for their 5-series passenger car. They offered all wheel drive on the 3-series in 1991 but took a break until the 2001 model year. They never offered this on other sedan offerings. That always surprised me since Audi has been doing very well in this segment. Mercedes-Benz got into the arena in 1990 for their E-Class but they bowed out for several years. As of 2004 they (MB) offered 4matic for all their sedan offerings. So now it seems all preium/luxury marques have some AWD sedan offering. (Infiniti, Lexus, Cadillac etc.)

BMW could out-Audi in this offering. Leaving in the NorthEast I'm more reliant on all-wheel drive. My 2002 A6 2.7t was the first Audi (as well as my first all-wheel drive) I had. I don't know how I managed to drive around here without AWD. The car is basically unstoppable. This doesn't give me license to drive like an idiot but makes me feel much more comfortable that I won't get stuck somewhere. This self-confidence makes the commute home much easier.

Next Gen XBOX announced at GDC 2005

Be sure to check out the next generation XBox guide Hi-Res photos.

Motorola to announce new iTunes capable phone this week?

It was announced in MacWorld this year that Motorola would announce a phone that would work with iTunes. What's next Kohler will announce an iTunes enabled toilet? Anyway, I'm sure this will spark interest. Odds are more people carry cell phones with them on a daily basis than an MP3 player. (or PocketPC/Palm OS device-my wife has a Treo 600 and will never go back to a "plain" phone...but that sounds like a topic for a different post) So I guess people will see the benefit if they only have to carry one device but retain the same form factor that they are used to. Not sure how Apple's CLICK WHEEL functionality will be ported over to a cell phone.

Disposable DVDs - The end of rental returns?

Here something that I found today. The BLOG author makes reference to an article that is over a year and half old (as he states himself) but the issue is still relevant. Seems like the company flexplay is like a lazy man's NetFlix. I'm all for recycling but this seems like a deliberate way to put strain on the environment rather that eliviate it. To me they are answering a question no one is asking. There is a "What is Flexplay?" video stream on the Amazon.com site. After looking at it, I just can't understand how then can allude "Watch what you want, when you want". Every rental place allows you to "watch want you want" as far as the claim "when you want"...if the when is within 48 hours of you opening the package then OK...they're correct. They also state that a movie can be viewable up to one year if the packaging hasn't been opened. Who's going to want to prove that wrong. I know in the early days some players worked like some demo software works today. (e.g. Allowing you a certain number of starts before the program stops working). After poking around a bit more while writing this I found another article that shows this is still a current topic.

NOTE: It looks like I'm having an issue with trackbacks. I'll see what I can fix...my apologize to the orignating BLOG author. I may just do a direct link if I can't resolve this issue.

Audi Celebrates its 25th Year offering quattro

Be sure to check out the videos of the Audi driving up a ski jump ramp at 60 kmph. Granted studded tires where used but still impressive. (the original commerical was aired in 1986 and they repeated the event in Jan. 2005 to introduce the all new Audi A6)