AMC's Halt and Catch Fire pilot brilliantly depicts the Wild West of the 1980s PC revolution. With Breaking Bad and Mad Men, AMC has proved that it can make extraordinary TV shows out of unexpected topics. The network is taking another such risk with Halt and Catch Fire
by setting it in the so-called Silicon Prairie. "We thought there was
this great opportunity to tell the story you don't know about
computers," show creators Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers said during a
post-screening panel. "I give this show a 10 and that's so rare for me,"
said Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who hosted a screening of the new
show at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, this year.
***
The Verge preview
Wired review
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The Google burger
LONDON — It looked like a burger. It smelled like a burger. It tasted, well, almost like a burger.
The first lab-grown beef hamburger was cooked and eaten in London on Monday. “We proved it’s possible,” said scientist Mark Post, who created the cultured minced meat in his lab at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He said his hope is to come up with a new and environmentally friendly way to feed the world.
The scene in Riverside Studios in West London, where the event took place, looked like something you might see on a TV cooking show: There was a fake kitchen counter, a tiny sink, a single burner and, of course, a chef — Richard McGeown, who has worked with such culinary stars as Gordon Ramsay.
The five-ounce burger patty — which cost more than $330,000 to produce and was paid for by Google co-founder Sergey Brin — arrived under a silver dome and was promptly put onto a pan to sizzle with a dab of butter and a splash of sunflower oil. The smells that drifted off toward the audience (a few invited journalists and scientists) were subtle but unmistakably meaty.
Next came the tasting. Besides Post, only two people were allowed to have a bite of the test-tube burger: Josh Schonwald, the American author of “The Taste of Tomorrow,” and Hanni Rützler, an Austrian nutritional scientist. Both said the burger tasted “almost” like a conventional one. No one spat the meat out; no one cringed.
Rützler gave the chef an appreciative nod. “It’s close to meat, but it’s not as juicy,” she said. “I was expecting the texture to be more soft. The surface was surprisingly crunchy.” She added: “I would have said if it was disgusting.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Halt and Catch Fire
AMC has been building hype for its upcoming drama Halt and Catch Fire,
and today it's letting viewers watch the first episode for free.
Starting today and running through May 31st, viewers will be able to
watch the episode both on AMC's site and on the network's newly-launched Tumblr page.
While the episode will be available through various video on demand
services as well, Tumblr is calling the sneak peek the first time it has
ever premiered a television show.
Created by the writing team of Christopher Cantwell and Christopher Rogers, Halt and Catch Fire takes place in Texas in 1983, amidst the personal computing revolution. It focuses on a charismatic salesman (Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies) and a brilliant engineer (Scoot McNairy, Argo)
as they team up to reverse engineer the IBM PC and change the industry
forever. It might not sound like riveting material for a television show
at first glance, but we caught an early glimpse of the show at SXSW and
found its mix of personal drama and early tech wizardry incredibly
intriguing. You can take a look for yourself online right now, but the show will have its official premiere June 1st at 10PM.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Google self-driving car
Google's self-driving car is an ambitious project that hopes to end
human error behind the wheel with a very Googley solution: software.
The tech titan's robo-cars have logged more than 700,000 hours since it began working on the vehicles in 2009. Google expects to have them ready for public use between 2017 and 2020.
The goal, as Urmson describes it, is to imagine a world where cars are safe. Not only are more than 33,000 people killed annually (PDF) in the US in car crashes, but such accidents are the leading cause of death (PDF) for people under the age of 45.
[judging from some the maniac drivers I see out there, it already sounds safer than a lot of the cars currently on the road]
[via facebook]
[5/27/14] Google X builds a self-driving car from the ground up.
[7/31/14] Driverless cars will be on British roads in just six months time, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced today.
The Government will allow the first trials of computer-controlled cars to start in January, as part of a move to update the law to allow driverless cars on UK roads.
Ministers have previously admitted that the current Highway Code and rules of the road are inadequate for the new generation of vehicles which pilot themselves.
In June, Google unveiled its computerised ‘hands-free’ self-driving bubble car, which has no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedals.
Instead, it has buttons for start, pull over and emergency stop and a computer screen showing the planned route.
Google plans to have prototypes ready to test later this summer and says the goal is for the car to ‘shoulder the entire burden of driving’.
In the UK, ministers will look at current road regulations to ensure there is an appropriate way to testing driverless cars.
The goal, as Urmson describes it, is to imagine a world where cars are safe. Not only are more than 33,000 people killed annually (PDF) in the US in car crashes, but such accidents are the leading cause of death (PDF) for people under the age of 45.
[judging from some the maniac drivers I see out there, it already sounds safer than a lot of the cars currently on the road]
[via facebook]
[5/27/14] Google X builds a self-driving car from the ground up.
[7/31/14] Driverless cars will be on British roads in just six months time, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced today.
The Government will allow the first trials of computer-controlled cars to start in January, as part of a move to update the law to allow driverless cars on UK roads.
Ministers have previously admitted that the current Highway Code and rules of the road are inadequate for the new generation of vehicles which pilot themselves.
In June, Google unveiled its computerised ‘hands-free’ self-driving bubble car, which has no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedals.
Instead, it has buttons for start, pull over and emergency stop and a computer screen showing the planned route.
Google plans to have prototypes ready to test later this summer and says the goal is for the car to ‘shoulder the entire burden of driving’.
In the UK, ministers will look at current road regulations to ensure there is an appropriate way to testing driverless cars.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Roku 2
OK, I'm dissatisfied with the Roku 3's quirks (though I'd probably get used to it after a while), so I went nuts and bought a Roku 2 from Best Buy. Went nuts, meaning I didn't buy it on sale. I could have gotten it cheaper online (no sales tax), but I got it at Best Buy so it would be easier to return it.
Anyway, the problems with the Roku 3 (detailed elsewhere) is that youtube captions display partially off the screen. And the Netflix app doesn't use the system captions and doesn't have a "more like" listing (which the Roku HD aoo has).
The advantages of the Roku 3 is that it's much faster than the HD. So youtube is more responsive. And Hulu Plus doesn't lock up when turning on captions.
We'll see if the Roku 2 solves the Roku 3 problems and while keeping the advantages of the HD.
OK, open box. The form factor looks similar to the Roku 3 (rounded corners) and feels lighter than the Roku 3. The remote control also feels lighter and has four instant access buttons: MGo, Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster. Blockbuster seems like an odd choice. I wonder if the buttons are customizable? (Apparently not.)
The Roku 2 is supposed to use the same power supply as the Roku 3, so I'll just plug it in that way. It come with composite cables, but I'll just use the ones connected to my TV.
Yep, it definitely is lighter. Has composite inputs in the back instead of the ethernet port on the Roku 3. And doesn't have a usb port.
The remote is much lighter than the Roku HD remote and yes (after weighing them) is somewhat lighter than the Roku 3 remote, but doesn't feel that much different (which is why I had to weight them to be sure).
Setup begins.
Please select your language: English
Get ready to stream! You'll complete guided setup in three simple steps:
connect to your network
get the latest software
activate your Roku
Continue
Just select your wireless network
Enter the network password [the Roku HD remote works, but not the Roku 3]
Connect
taking a while
Can't connect to Roku
Unable to connect to Roku. Please try again later (error Code 011). Contact Roku support at roku.com/support
Try again (is the only option given)
This time it worked.
Get the latest software
Now your Roku will get the latest software. Once the update is installed, it will restart automatically.
Continue
Updating softare
Your Roku will automatically restart once the update is installed
From an internet connected device, go to roku.com/link. Then enter the code: HGBE
[on computer] Add some channels to your account (on the computer). Unselect Target Ticket, Blockbuster on Demand, Quello Concerts, Amazon Cloud Player (even though they're all free).
Continue
You're Done! Happy Streaming
[back to the Roku screen] Channel update x of 26 (I thought I had only 20 channels installed?)
In the meantime, let's try this Target Ticket promotion (you get 10 free UltraViolet titles). I suspect though, I'll have a hard time finding 10. [Here's a list from last year. Well maybe Johnny English, Space Jam. I already have Big Trouble In Little China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Italian Job on DVD (and also currently streaming on Netflix)] I think I'll pass for now. I'll look later.
OK, got the moving Roku screensaver on (since I've been busy looking at the free movies from Target).
Press OK
Congratulations! You're done and everything loogs good. Let's start streaming
The screen shows I have 20 channels (don't know why it was updating 26). And not in an particular order that I can see.
Settings
Display type is 4:3, change to 16:9
Turn captions to On (from instant replay)
Yep, the Roku 3 remote works only with the Roku 3
Let's try Netflix.
Are you a Netflix Member? Yes
Enter your Netflix email address *******@*****.***
Next
Enter your Netflix password *******
Sign in
OK, looks like the old Netflix app with the option to view more like this when you press * and with the Roku subtitles. I think the Roku 3 video looks nicer on HDMI, but it's OK
1 for 1
Let's try Hulu Plus. Takes a little while to load
Log in
Please visit www.hulu.com/activate on your computer and enter this code or Log in with your email address and password
[let's try that the computer way]
Log in to hulu.com, enter activation code, activate
Hulu Plus has been activated on your Roku
You can start watching Hulu Plus now
Let's try Cesar 911 Attack Dogs, Resume Episode
turn on captions, turn off autoplay
(not very responsive to remote in doing the above)
let's see if it can play the entire show without locking
still uses their own caption setting (so I still like Apple TV's captions better)
played right through with the captions on without locking up. So thumbs up.
The Roku 3 is still better as it's more responsive, but the Roku 2 is definitely better than the Roku HD here.
Now for the moment of truth. YouTube.
Pretty sluggish compared to the Roku 3, but much faster the the Roku HD.
Search for natgeowild, pull up Wonder Horse (and episode of The Incredible Dr. Pol). Captions play fine.
Last test. Let me see if the headphone jack works.
Plug in my Panasonic earbuds. It works.
Sounds a little tinny though. Let's try the Roku 3 and compare. Yep, definitely a lot faster than the Roku 2. Sounds about the same I guess. Maybe a little higher on the Roku 2? (had to pair the Roku 2 remote to the Roku 3 in settings before it worked) I also see a small indicator at the top right when I change the volume.
OK, I guess this is a keeper.
I definitely prefer the speed of the Roku 3 on youtube and hulu, but the Roku 2 solves the youtube caption problem. Plus it runs the older Netflix app which uses the Roku system captions and has the "more like this" feature that are missing in the new app. (Now if they upgrade the Netflix app for the Roku 2, then I'm screwed there.)
***
Hmm.. I lost the remote connection on my Roku 2 controller. Switched back to the Roku 2 and it says no roku enhanced remotes paired.
Tried power off and power on. Nope.
New batteries. Use Roku HD remote to go to remote pairing. And after a while it paired up.
Not leaving well enough alone, let's put back the old batteries and see if the problem re-occurs.
Works so far.
Checking the "About" in settings. It's the Roku player 2720x. Software version 5.4 - build 3337
[5/19/14] Apparently Plex is no longer free. Got this message when accessing Plex on the Roku 2.
Welcome to Plex!
With Plex you can easily stream you videos, music, photos and home movies to your Roku using your Plex Media Server.
To download and install your free Plex Media Server on your computer, visit http://plexapp.com/getplex.
Enjoy Plex free for 30 days, then unlock with a PlexPass subscription or a small one-time-purchase.
[5/20/14] Here's a problem with the Roku captions. When I played HBO Go, the subtitles were tiny. It uses the Roku system subtitles and the size was set at default. When I changed the size to medium, the captions became bigger, but then the lines often overlapped each other. About the best size on HBO Go is small. The captions are smaller than I like, making it a little difficult to read, but then at least they don't overlap. I see the problem was reported on April 26. At least it was acknowledged.
[5/20/14] What to do? Here's my latest thinking. Swap the Apple TV with the Roku 3 for mom as it gives the best captions for Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go (so I want it at home). It's lacking youtube captions and Amazon Instant Video, so keep the Roku 2 for that at home. Retire the Roku HD as the Roku 2 is similar except for VideoBuzz and maybe Plex. But now I want to try the Amazon Fire TV to see if it would be a better fit than the Apple TV for me.
[7/18/14] Noticed that Hulu Plus now looks different on the Roku 2. The format was changed and the subtitles look a lot fatter. They now use the Roku system captions, but as I said they look fatter. The up arrow to access the menu no longer works and the Hulu Plus default yellow captions apparently are no longer available.
[7/20/14] Made it through an entire episode of Dog Whisperer on my Roku HD with subtitles on without the thing locking up. So maybe they fixed the problem. But then it autoplayed the next episode. Don't see any option to turn autoplay off/on. That option used to appear (along with the caption on/off) when you hit the up arrow. You can access the caption with the *, but don't see autoplay there.
It's now the opposite of Apple TV, where you can't turn it on. I guess I should check to see how it looks on my Amazon Fire TV next..
Anyway, the problems with the Roku 3 (detailed elsewhere) is that youtube captions display partially off the screen. And the Netflix app doesn't use the system captions and doesn't have a "more like" listing (which the Roku HD aoo has).
The advantages of the Roku 3 is that it's much faster than the HD. So youtube is more responsive. And Hulu Plus doesn't lock up when turning on captions.
We'll see if the Roku 2 solves the Roku 3 problems and while keeping the advantages of the HD.
OK, open box. The form factor looks similar to the Roku 3 (rounded corners) and feels lighter than the Roku 3. The remote control also feels lighter and has four instant access buttons: MGo, Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster. Blockbuster seems like an odd choice. I wonder if the buttons are customizable? (Apparently not.)
The Roku 2 is supposed to use the same power supply as the Roku 3, so I'll just plug it in that way. It come with composite cables, but I'll just use the ones connected to my TV.
Yep, it definitely is lighter. Has composite inputs in the back instead of the ethernet port on the Roku 3. And doesn't have a usb port.
The remote is much lighter than the Roku HD remote and yes (after weighing them) is somewhat lighter than the Roku 3 remote, but doesn't feel that much different (which is why I had to weight them to be sure).
Setup begins.
Please select your language: English
Get ready to stream! You'll complete guided setup in three simple steps:
connect to your network
get the latest software
activate your Roku
Continue
Just select your wireless network
Enter the network password [the Roku HD remote works, but not the Roku 3]
Connect
taking a while
Can't connect to Roku
Unable to connect to Roku. Please try again later (error Code 011). Contact Roku support at roku.com/support
Try again (is the only option given)
This time it worked.
Get the latest software
Now your Roku will get the latest software. Once the update is installed, it will restart automatically.
Continue
Updating softare
Your Roku will automatically restart once the update is installed
From an internet connected device, go to roku.com/link. Then enter the code: HGBE
[on computer] Add some channels to your account (on the computer). Unselect Target Ticket, Blockbuster on Demand, Quello Concerts, Amazon Cloud Player (even though they're all free).
Continue
You're Done! Happy Streaming
[back to the Roku screen] Channel update x of 26 (I thought I had only 20 channels installed?)
In the meantime, let's try this Target Ticket promotion (you get 10 free UltraViolet titles). I suspect though, I'll have a hard time finding 10. [Here's a list from last year. Well maybe Johnny English, Space Jam. I already have Big Trouble In Little China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Italian Job on DVD (and also currently streaming on Netflix)] I think I'll pass for now. I'll look later.
OK, got the moving Roku screensaver on (since I've been busy looking at the free movies from Target).
Press OK
Congratulations! You're done and everything loogs good. Let's start streaming
The screen shows I have 20 channels (don't know why it was updating 26). And not in an particular order that I can see.
Settings
Display type is 4:3, change to 16:9
Turn captions to On (from instant replay)
Yep, the Roku 3 remote works only with the Roku 3
Let's try Netflix.
Are you a Netflix Member? Yes
Enter your Netflix email address *******@*****.***
Next
Enter your Netflix password *******
Sign in
OK, looks like the old Netflix app with the option to view more like this when you press * and with the Roku subtitles. I think the Roku 3 video looks nicer on HDMI, but it's OK
1 for 1
Let's try Hulu Plus. Takes a little while to load
Log in
Please visit www.hulu.com/activate on your computer and enter this code or Log in with your email address and password
[let's try that the computer way]
Log in to hulu.com, enter activation code, activate
Hulu Plus has been activated on your Roku
You can start watching Hulu Plus now
Let's try Cesar 911 Attack Dogs, Resume Episode
turn on captions, turn off autoplay
(not very responsive to remote in doing the above)
let's see if it can play the entire show without locking
still uses their own caption setting (so I still like Apple TV's captions better)
played right through with the captions on without locking up. So thumbs up.
The Roku 3 is still better as it's more responsive, but the Roku 2 is definitely better than the Roku HD here.
Now for the moment of truth. YouTube.
Pretty sluggish compared to the Roku 3, but much faster the the Roku HD.
Search for natgeowild, pull up Wonder Horse (and episode of The Incredible Dr. Pol). Captions play fine.
Last test. Let me see if the headphone jack works.
Plug in my Panasonic earbuds. It works.
Sounds a little tinny though. Let's try the Roku 3 and compare. Yep, definitely a lot faster than the Roku 2. Sounds about the same I guess. Maybe a little higher on the Roku 2? (had to pair the Roku 2 remote to the Roku 3 in settings before it worked) I also see a small indicator at the top right when I change the volume.
OK, I guess this is a keeper.
I definitely prefer the speed of the Roku 3 on youtube and hulu, but the Roku 2 solves the youtube caption problem. Plus it runs the older Netflix app which uses the Roku system captions and has the "more like this" feature that are missing in the new app. (Now if they upgrade the Netflix app for the Roku 2, then I'm screwed there.)
***
Hmm.. I lost the remote connection on my Roku 2 controller. Switched back to the Roku 2 and it says no roku enhanced remotes paired.
Tried power off and power on. Nope.
New batteries. Use Roku HD remote to go to remote pairing. And after a while it paired up.
Not leaving well enough alone, let's put back the old batteries and see if the problem re-occurs.
Works so far.
Checking the "About" in settings. It's the Roku player 2720x. Software version 5.4 - build 3337
[5/19/14] Apparently Plex is no longer free. Got this message when accessing Plex on the Roku 2.
Welcome to Plex!
With Plex you can easily stream you videos, music, photos and home movies to your Roku using your Plex Media Server.
To download and install your free Plex Media Server on your computer, visit http://plexapp.com/getplex.
Enjoy Plex free for 30 days, then unlock with a PlexPass subscription or a small one-time-purchase.
[5/20/14] Here's a problem with the Roku captions. When I played HBO Go, the subtitles were tiny. It uses the Roku system subtitles and the size was set at default. When I changed the size to medium, the captions became bigger, but then the lines often overlapped each other. About the best size on HBO Go is small. The captions are smaller than I like, making it a little difficult to read, but then at least they don't overlap. I see the problem was reported on April 26. At least it was acknowledged.
[5/20/14] What to do? Here's my latest thinking. Swap the Apple TV with the Roku 3 for mom as it gives the best captions for Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go (so I want it at home). It's lacking youtube captions and Amazon Instant Video, so keep the Roku 2 for that at home. Retire the Roku HD as the Roku 2 is similar except for VideoBuzz and maybe Plex. But now I want to try the Amazon Fire TV to see if it would be a better fit than the Apple TV for me.
[7/18/14] Noticed that Hulu Plus now looks different on the Roku 2. The format was changed and the subtitles look a lot fatter. They now use the Roku system captions, but as I said they look fatter. The up arrow to access the menu no longer works and the Hulu Plus default yellow captions apparently are no longer available.
[7/20/14] Made it through an entire episode of Dog Whisperer on my Roku HD with subtitles on without the thing locking up. So maybe they fixed the problem. But then it autoplayed the next episode. Don't see any option to turn autoplay off/on. That option used to appear (along with the caption on/off) when you hit the up arrow. You can access the caption with the *, but don't see autoplay there.
It's now the opposite of Apple TV, where you can't turn it on. I guess I should check to see how it looks on my Amazon Fire TV next..
Monday, May 12, 2014
Marco Rubio on climate change
WASHINGTON
— Senator Marco Rubio on Sunday said that he was ready to be president,
becoming the second potential Republican candidate recently to drop big
hints about 2016 as he vies for early attention in a crowded field of
maybes.
In
a wide-ranging interview on “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” on
ABC, Mr. Rubio, of Florida, also disagreed with accepted scientific
wisdom that humans were having an effect on what he called the “always
evolving” climate. “I do not believe that human activity is causing
these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are
portraying it,” he said. “And I do not believe that the laws that they
propose we pass will do anything about it, except it will destroy our
economy.”
His
comments challenged a major scientific report released Tuesday that
found the effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in
every corner of the United States, from dry regions where water is
becoming more scarce to historically wet regions that are seeing
increases in torrential rains.
The report, the National Climate Assessment,
stated that the sweeping changes have been caused by an average warming
of less than 2 degrees Fahrenheit over most land areas of the United
States in the past century. If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and
methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the scientists said, the
warming could conceivably exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century.
“Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” they declared.
Asked how big a threat he regarded climate change, Mr. Rubio replied: “Our climate is always changing. And what they have chosen to do is take a handful of decades of research and say that this is now evidence of a longer-term trend that’s directly and almost solely attributable to man-made activities.”
***
Al Gore blames the Koch brothers
***
97 to 3
***
The one Republican (there's always one in the crowd)
WASHINGTON -- You probably have no idea who Jim Rubens is. Nor should you, really. Even the most politically savvy observer would struggle to name every obscure candidate running in a primary for a U.S. Senate seat. And that, certainly, is what Rubens is as he embarks on his long-shot campaign -- obscure.
But Rubens, who is running against former Sen. Scott Brown in the GOP primary in New Hampshire, does hold a remarkable distinction that could –- perhaps, should -– make him a more familiar name. Of the 107 Republicans currently running for Senate as of this week, he is the only one whose website declares that global warming exists and is caused by human activity.
Rubens is used to being non-conventional. He says he was ousted from his role as platform committee chairman for the national Independence Party in a Ross Perot-organized coup in 1992. He started his own political party the next year –- an offshoot of the Independence Party of New York –- and ran for New Hampshire governor in 1998.
But he's hardly a wacko. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in chemistry and made his living investing in high-tech startups, which fed his belief in the importance of scientific research.
Asked how big a threat he regarded climate change, Mr. Rubio replied: “Our climate is always changing. And what they have chosen to do is take a handful of decades of research and say that this is now evidence of a longer-term trend that’s directly and almost solely attributable to man-made activities.”
***
Al Gore blames the Koch brothers
***
97 to 3
***
The one Republican (there's always one in the crowd)
WASHINGTON -- You probably have no idea who Jim Rubens is. Nor should you, really. Even the most politically savvy observer would struggle to name every obscure candidate running in a primary for a U.S. Senate seat. And that, certainly, is what Rubens is as he embarks on his long-shot campaign -- obscure.
But Rubens, who is running against former Sen. Scott Brown in the GOP primary in New Hampshire, does hold a remarkable distinction that could –- perhaps, should -– make him a more familiar name. Of the 107 Republicans currently running for Senate as of this week, he is the only one whose website declares that global warming exists and is caused by human activity.
Rubens is used to being non-conventional. He says he was ousted from his role as platform committee chairman for the national Independence Party in a Ross Perot-organized coup in 1992. He started his own political party the next year –- an offshoot of the Independence Party of New York –- and ran for New Hampshire governor in 1998.
But he's hardly a wacko. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in chemistry and made his living investing in high-tech startups, which fed his belief in the importance of scientific research.
Monday, May 05, 2014
Bing Rewards
Bing Rewards is Microsoft's attempt to take some market share away from Google.
The way it works is they give you credits for making Bing searches. You get 1 credit for every two searches, up to a maximum of 15 credits per day.
Then when you get enough credits, you can redeem the credits for prizes. Like a month of Hulu Plus or a gift card for Amazon.com, Starbucks, Burger King, etc. Or you can donate your points to one of several charities.
Today I notice you can get up to 10 additional credits a day for mobile search. I tried to search from my ipad, but didn't get any mobile search points. Then I saw a bing app in the App Store and tried that, but that doesn't give me mobile search points either. Evidently it only works on phones. (Alas, no iphone or android phone for me.)
[6/29/14] Bing has changed the number of searches to get a credit (for me anyway). It used to be 1 credit for every 2 searches. Now it's 1 credit for every 3 searches. But now they've upped the number of credits you can earn in at day to 30 credits (for my account anyway). Plus on Monday this month, you can get double credits. So it's 60 credits today.
But that's 180 searches! I've been just browsing the top stories and news on bing to get my credits. But now I have to click through the list several times.
What to do? Cheat! I'm trying this bing rewards bot to do the searches for me. Just enter the number of searches for it to do and the time delay between searches. The credits don't update when doing the searches, but when I go back to bing after it's done, I see the credits are there. We'll see how long before bing shuts it down (or neuters its effectiveness).
The way it works is they give you credits for making Bing searches. You get 1 credit for every two searches, up to a maximum of 15 credits per day.
Then when you get enough credits, you can redeem the credits for prizes. Like a month of Hulu Plus or a gift card for Amazon.com, Starbucks, Burger King, etc. Or you can donate your points to one of several charities.
Today I notice you can get up to 10 additional credits a day for mobile search. I tried to search from my ipad, but didn't get any mobile search points. Then I saw a bing app in the App Store and tried that, but that doesn't give me mobile search points either. Evidently it only works on phones. (Alas, no iphone or android phone for me.)
[6/29/14] Bing has changed the number of searches to get a credit (for me anyway). It used to be 1 credit for every 2 searches. Now it's 1 credit for every 3 searches. But now they've upped the number of credits you can earn in at day to 30 credits (for my account anyway). Plus on Monday this month, you can get double credits. So it's 60 credits today.
But that's 180 searches! I've been just browsing the top stories and news on bing to get my credits. But now I have to click through the list several times.
What to do? Cheat! I'm trying this bing rewards bot to do the searches for me. Just enter the number of searches for it to do and the time delay between searches. The credits don't update when doing the searches, but when I go back to bing after it's done, I see the credits are there. We'll see how long before bing shuts it down (or neuters its effectiveness).
young blood
(HealthDay News) -- Lending credence to the old saying that there's
nothing like young blood, a new study found that the brains of old mice
were recharged when they were injected with blood from young mice.
If this approach works in people, it could be used to give a boost to aging brains or lead to new ways to treat Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, according to researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine.
If this approach works in people, it could be used to give a boost to aging brains or lead to new ways to treat Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, according to researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine.
sidereel and FXNow
Created an account as it was mentioned/recommended on CordKillers episode 5.
What it allows you to (among other things) is keep track of series you're watching. So you add the series that you're watching and can check off the episodes that you've watched. That way you know which episodes to watch/not watch next. Now this is not so important if you're watching on Netflix, but it's handy if you're watching on DVD and can't remember exactly what episode you watched last.
They also have a neat guide to cord cutting and mentioned FXNow. Going to the website, I see it's another place you can watch movies playing on FXX. I wonder if that's supported on the iPad app? Well, I don't see it on the FoxNow app. But there's a FXNow app in the app store. Let's install it... Requires IOS 7.0.
OK, gotta upgrade soon..
I see some of the channels are available on my Oceanic Entertainment On Demand channel, but not all.
What it allows you to (among other things) is keep track of series you're watching. So you add the series that you're watching and can check off the episodes that you've watched. That way you know which episodes to watch/not watch next. Now this is not so important if you're watching on Netflix, but it's handy if you're watching on DVD and can't remember exactly what episode you watched last.
They also have a neat guide to cord cutting and mentioned FXNow. Going to the website, I see it's another place you can watch movies playing on FXX. I wonder if that's supported on the iPad app? Well, I don't see it on the FoxNow app. But there's a FXNow app in the app store. Let's install it... Requires IOS 7.0.
OK, gotta upgrade soon..
I see some of the channels are available on my Oceanic Entertainment On Demand channel, but not all.
Saturday, May 03, 2014
Roku 3
Got my Roku 3!
Why did I get it since I already had a Roku HD? For one thing, even though youtube was recently added to my Roku HD, it was very sluggish especially trying to handle my long playlists. So it should be more responsive on the Roku 3.
Secondly, Hulu Plus plays poorly on the Roku HD, often hanging up (or at least stalling enough to make me think it hung up). It seems to me that the problem occurs when turning on the closed caption and you can tell something is wrong when the closed caption is stuck and the video is playing and you can't navigate to the home screen. Hopefully it will play better on the Roku 3.
One thing nice about the Apple TV is that it plays Hulu Plus well and the captions used are the system captions rather than the internal Hulu Plus captions on the Roku HD. Another plus for the Apple TV is that the video is better than on the Roku. (That would be a big plus for many.)
Why not get another Apple TV? For one thing, their youtube app doesn't support captions. Secondly, they don't have Amazon Instant Video. Plus I kind of like the Roku feature of being able to plug headphones into the remote.
So the Roku 3 it is.
I went down to Costco earlier in the week, but the Roku 3 was out. I wanted to buy it at Costco because they included an HDMI cable and a month of Hulu Plus and it was like $5 off the retail price. I checked Best Buy. They had it, but no HDMI cable, no free Hulu Plus, and it was at the retail price. I was thinking about Amazon which also matched Costco's price (and without sales tax), but they didn't advertise the HDMI cable or Hulu Plus. Plus I could more easily return it to Costco if something went wrong. So I held off.
A couple of days later, it was back at Costco. But it was a little different. It was in a cardboard bubble wrap, instead of a box. And no Hulu Plus, but a $10 offer from MGo.
OK, time to open the box. Bubble wraps are tricky to open and less clean to open than a box. I prefer a box because you don't have to rip it apart and can reuse it. I wound up prying open the cardboard.
The first thing I checked is the power supply. Though it looks similar to the Roku HD power supply, it's different. It's a 12V, 1 amp power supply vs. 5V for the Roku HD. Looking it up, the new power supply works on the Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku 1, and new Roku LT, but not on the older models.
Plug it in. The Roku 3 is heavier than the Roku HD and requires an HDMI input (the Roku HD also supported composite). But it has an ethernet port and a USB port which is not on the HD.
The new remote also feels heavier than the old remote and has a tether (so it doesn't fly into the wall when you're swinging it playing games). The OK button is in a different place. On the old remote it was in the middle of the cursor pad. On the new one it's below the cursor pad and in between the instant replay and * buttons. The old remote doesn't have a replay button, so I guess that's a plus.
OK, the display comes up asking you to select your language. Select English.
Then it tells you the next three steps on the next screen: connect to your network, get the latest software, activate your roku. Continue.
Select Wireless (Wi-Fi) or Wired (Ethernet). I'll select Wireless.
Seven networks were found my network at the top with the best signal - one bar below the max. Hey, looks like my old remote works too! That's a bonus.
Enter in my network password. Unlike the Roku HD, there's no option to hide your password as you're typing it in. Connect.
Get the latest software. Continue. Your Roku will automatically restart once the update is installed.
The Roku logo wiggles when it restarts. Cute.
Activate your Roku. For an internet connected devices, go to roku.com/link. The enter the code YYK4. I suppose I could do this on my ipad, but let's try my laptop (which is on WiFi). My laptop must be updating something as it taking a long time for firefox to come up and the hard drive light is flickering. Wait...
Forget it, let's do it on the iPad. Do you have a Roku account? Yes. Sign in to Roku account.
Then it goes to Add some channels to your account. There's a lot selected that I don't want, so unselect them. I'll unselect them all except for Angry Birds Space. Make sure I'm not getting charged anything (Total $0.00). Continue.
You're Done! Happy Streaming.
While your player is updating, take advantage of these great offers:
10 free downloads Redeem Redbox ticket
Spotify. Try Spotify Premium for free.
GAIAMTV Free 10-day Trial exclusively for Roku Users!
WTH, 10 free downloads sounds good. Redeem
it goes to www.targetticket.com/uv-promotion
10 free UltraViolet titles
It's totally free to join - no hidden fees or monthly costs
1. log-in or sign up for a new Target Ticket account
2. set up your billing information
3. link a new or existing UltraViolet account
once you're done... choose 10 free titles
OK maybe later. Back to the Roku.
Updating channels. Channel update x of 71. So I guess it's importing the channels I already have. I wonder if VideoBuzz and the other unofficial channels like Nowhere TV will get added?
Meanwhile, my laptop is still locked up. CTRL-ALT-DEL to go to task manager, then it goes back to the screen. Seems OK now? Restart and see what happens.
Back to the Roku. Congratulations! You're done and everything looks good. Let's start streaming.
I see Nowhere TV, but no VideoBuzz. And the apps are all out of order. OK, no problem I'll just reorder them.
Checking Settings, I see Diplay type is set to 720p, which is correct since that's what my plasma TV supports. Captions are set to instant replay. Turn them on. Remote is paired to the Roku. Time zone is set to Hawaii. About: Roku player 4200X. Network signal strength: excellent. Themes: Roku (default). Screensaver: Bouncing Roku Logo (default). Change to facebook. You must link device to Roku. OK, let's link later. I see a Twit.TV option. Let's set it to that for now. Audio Mode: stereo (the other option is surround sound). Sound effect volume: medium.
Let's try youtube. Yep, much faster than on the Roku HD. Let's test the captions. Search for natgeowild. Choose Delta and Dong Dong. The captions work, but the top line is partially off the top of the screen (and the bottom is partially below the bottom of the screen). That's disappointing. Try switch to 1080p. Nope. That's a strike.
Let's try Netflix. Have to sign in. Interesting. The keys are in qwerty order. Where do you want to go? Netflix or Kids. Netflix. The interface is different. Everybody Love Raymond. The subtitles look OK, but season 1, episode 4 is stretched out of proportion. I think Netflix screwed up. Let's go to episode 7. Yep, now in 4:3. The subtitles are in white with no background. Let's try to change the system settings. Nope, looks like Netflix app is using their own captions. Strike 2. Although the captions aren't bad especially compared to the old captions on the Roku HD Netflix app. But I like the system captions on the Roku HD for Netflix betters. So strike two.
The big test is Hulu Plus. Log in. Please visit www.hulu.com/activate on your computer and enter this code: 9JD5YHD Remain on this screen while logging in with this activation code. Hulu Plus has been activated on your Roku. You can start watching Hulu Plus now. Let's try Cesar 911. Screen goes blank for several seconds as it loads the commercial for EndGame. It looks like it's using the system captions. Which is acceptable. But there's still the odd problem of a block of background showing when there's no text. Change text color to default. Nope still yellow. Let's change color to white. Nope still yellow. So it's using their own captions. Check swing.
Crackle. Seinfeld. OK, looks like the system captions as it's white.
OK, let's go to Amazon instant video. Sign in. Get Started on Your Roku (the other option is Get Started on the Amazon website). OK, I'm in. Looks like they're using their own captions which are kind of small. Let's try make the system captions bigger. Hey, too big. I guess they are using the system captions. Change from extra large to large. Still kind of big. Try medium. OK, that's about right. I guess I had it on default earlier.
Nowhere TV. Nowhere TV 2.7. This version introduces a new style grid screen. If you encounter any problems using this screen, please let us know. If you prefer the old style grids screen, you can switch back to it from the options menu by pressing the * button on your remote. chris@thenowhereman.com
So let's sum up.
Netflix looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku HD, then Roku 3.
Hulu Plus looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku 3, then Roku HD.
Crackle about the same on all.
Amazon Instant Video. Roku 3 and Roku HD about the same. Apple TV not supported.
Youtube. Roku HD video is actually the best picture as the captions are not off the screen. Roku 3 app is better than the Apple TV app which doesn't support captions. Maybe it'll get updated later.
Breaking down by device,
Apple TV: does a good job on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but doesn't support auto-play on Hulu Plus. The youtube app doesn't support captions and doesn't find some foreign (Korean) videos [like my Return of Superman playlist]. Doesn't support Amazon Instant Video.
Roku 3: does OK on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but the captions are from the app and not customizable. Supports captions on youtube, but they're top (or bottom) of multi-line captions are partially off the screen. Amazon Instant Video is supported with system captions. Plus I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, which is unique to the Roku 3 and Roku 2 (so far).
Roku HD. I actually like this better than the Roku 3 for Netflix since it uses the system captions. Hulu Plus seems to lock up particularly when using captions. Youtube app is very sluggish, but captions display OK unlike the Roku 3 (oddly). Amazon Instant Video is OK.
So none of them are perfect, but I guess I'd go with the Roku 3 since it support Amazon Instant Video and youtube is more responsive than the Roku HD. The big drawback is that the youtube captions are partially off the screen which is somewhat hard to believe. Let me try it on a 1080p LED screen and see if it's better.
If you want just Netflix and Hulu Plus, I'd go with the Apple TV. If you want iTunes videos, you pretty much have no choice. But if you want Amazon Instant Video (free from HitBliss) or Amazon Prime, Apple TV is not an option. If Roku 3 cleans up the youtube caption problem, then that's the way to go.
Maybe I should try the Amazon Fire TV.. Or wait for the new Google set-top box (Android TV) that's supposed to be coming out. Or maybe even the Chromecast.
*** 5/5/14
YouTube on Roku update. Tried plugging in my Roku HD via HDMI, then setting the display to 720p. Same problem. Part of the caption is cut off at the bottom (or top) of the screen. But if you set the display to 16x9, then the captions don't cut off. Unfortunately there's no 16x9 option on the Roku 3.
OK, maybe it's my TV. Plugged it into my mom's Samsung 32". Same thing. Then the bigger Samsung in the lounge. Same thing.
I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, so maybe a Roku 2 might be OK. It supports composite, so likely has the 16x9 option. I think I might return the Roku 3. Plus now I see the Roku 3 is $10 off at the website. So if I return it to Costco and buy at the website, I'll gain a few bucks.
***
Looking at CordKillers on the Roku 3. Turned on automatic captions. These captions display OK. Comparing the Roku TV video to the youtube video on my computer, I can see the edges are slightly trimmed on the TV. I see there's three lines of comments on the TV whereas on the computer there's three and a half. And I see the C of the CordKillers logo on the bottom left is partly cut off on the TV. So that's the problem.
[5/17/14] Here's another thing I prefer the Roku HD to the Roku 3. On Netflix, when you press the * on the Roku HD controller you get the option to "View more like this". This option doesn't exist on the Roku 3, as far as I can see. On the Apple TV, they give a list of "More Like This" at the bottom of the description screen (8 items). On the computer, you get a scrollable horizontal listing of "more like.." at the bottom of the screen (the number of items varies, I counted 23, 22, 24 items). On the ipad, you get a "More Like" list at the bottom of the screen (non-scrollable list of 5 items).
Decided to hook up both the Roku HD and Roku 3 simultaneously. (The HD is via composite.) Comparing the youtube captions. And here's the problem. The cut-off captions occur when the HD is set to 720p video. When I change it to 16x9, the Roku actually displays the captions lower (with the captions at the top of the screen) then when it's set at 720p. So it's actually a Roku problem.
And now that I have the Roku HD on composite, I can't switch back to 720p. So apparently the way you set it to 720p with composite cables is to plug it in via HDMI, set it to 720p, then connect via composite.
I think I'm going to return the Roku 3 and get a Roku 2.
[5/17/14] According to this, it appears you can set the caption appearance from the Netflix settings on the computer and changes will appear on your Roku 3.
[5/18/14] It works! But I still like the Roku HD captions a little better. They're a little more customizable and you can do it on the Roku instead of having to go back and forth to the computer. An annoyance is that the same settings are used for the computer and the Roku 3. They don't necessarily translate the same to the TV.
[posted to forum, we'll see if I get any response]
And still another quirk on the Roku 3 (or Netflix in general?) is that the captions default to off. You have to set them on whenever starting a new show.
Hmm.. Maybe this will work (though it was for the Fire TV). "She told me to turn off the subtitles in Netflix on the PC and let the movie play for 10 minutes, at which time the "off" setting for subtitles would be saved as the default preference. It worked. No more subtitles on the PC, no more subtitles on the Kindles." So I assume the reverse will work?
[5/18/14] posted the youtube captions problems to forum. We'll see what response I get.
Why did I get it since I already had a Roku HD? For one thing, even though youtube was recently added to my Roku HD, it was very sluggish especially trying to handle my long playlists. So it should be more responsive on the Roku 3.
Secondly, Hulu Plus plays poorly on the Roku HD, often hanging up (or at least stalling enough to make me think it hung up). It seems to me that the problem occurs when turning on the closed caption and you can tell something is wrong when the closed caption is stuck and the video is playing and you can't navigate to the home screen. Hopefully it will play better on the Roku 3.
One thing nice about the Apple TV is that it plays Hulu Plus well and the captions used are the system captions rather than the internal Hulu Plus captions on the Roku HD. Another plus for the Apple TV is that the video is better than on the Roku. (That would be a big plus for many.)
Why not get another Apple TV? For one thing, their youtube app doesn't support captions. Secondly, they don't have Amazon Instant Video. Plus I kind of like the Roku feature of being able to plug headphones into the remote.
So the Roku 3 it is.
I went down to Costco earlier in the week, but the Roku 3 was out. I wanted to buy it at Costco because they included an HDMI cable and a month of Hulu Plus and it was like $5 off the retail price. I checked Best Buy. They had it, but no HDMI cable, no free Hulu Plus, and it was at the retail price. I was thinking about Amazon which also matched Costco's price (and without sales tax), but they didn't advertise the HDMI cable or Hulu Plus. Plus I could more easily return it to Costco if something went wrong. So I held off.
A couple of days later, it was back at Costco. But it was a little different. It was in a cardboard bubble wrap, instead of a box. And no Hulu Plus, but a $10 offer from MGo.
OK, time to open the box. Bubble wraps are tricky to open and less clean to open than a box. I prefer a box because you don't have to rip it apart and can reuse it. I wound up prying open the cardboard.
The first thing I checked is the power supply. Though it looks similar to the Roku HD power supply, it's different. It's a 12V, 1 amp power supply vs. 5V for the Roku HD. Looking it up, the new power supply works on the Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku 1, and new Roku LT, but not on the older models.
Plug it in. The Roku 3 is heavier than the Roku HD and requires an HDMI input (the Roku HD also supported composite). But it has an ethernet port and a USB port which is not on the HD.
The new remote also feels heavier than the old remote and has a tether (so it doesn't fly into the wall when you're swinging it playing games). The OK button is in a different place. On the old remote it was in the middle of the cursor pad. On the new one it's below the cursor pad and in between the instant replay and * buttons. The old remote doesn't have a replay button, so I guess that's a plus.
OK, the display comes up asking you to select your language. Select English.
Then it tells you the next three steps on the next screen: connect to your network, get the latest software, activate your roku. Continue.
Select Wireless (Wi-Fi) or Wired (Ethernet). I'll select Wireless.
Seven networks were found my network at the top with the best signal - one bar below the max. Hey, looks like my old remote works too! That's a bonus.
Enter in my network password. Unlike the Roku HD, there's no option to hide your password as you're typing it in. Connect.
Get the latest software. Continue. Your Roku will automatically restart once the update is installed.
The Roku logo wiggles when it restarts. Cute.
Activate your Roku. For an internet connected devices, go to roku.com/link. The enter the code YYK4. I suppose I could do this on my ipad, but let's try my laptop (which is on WiFi). My laptop must be updating something as it taking a long time for firefox to come up and the hard drive light is flickering. Wait...
Forget it, let's do it on the iPad. Do you have a Roku account? Yes. Sign in to Roku account.
Then it goes to Add some channels to your account. There's a lot selected that I don't want, so unselect them. I'll unselect them all except for Angry Birds Space. Make sure I'm not getting charged anything (Total $0.00). Continue.
You're Done! Happy Streaming.
While your player is updating, take advantage of these great offers:
10 free downloads Redeem Redbox ticket
Spotify. Try Spotify Premium for free.
GAIAMTV Free 10-day Trial exclusively for Roku Users!
WTH, 10 free downloads sounds good. Redeem
it goes to www.targetticket.com/uv-promotion
10 free UltraViolet titles
It's totally free to join - no hidden fees or monthly costs
1. log-in or sign up for a new Target Ticket account
2. set up your billing information
3. link a new or existing UltraViolet account
once you're done... choose 10 free titles
OK maybe later. Back to the Roku.
Updating channels. Channel update x of 71. So I guess it's importing the channels I already have. I wonder if VideoBuzz and the other unofficial channels like Nowhere TV will get added?
Meanwhile, my laptop is still locked up. CTRL-ALT-DEL to go to task manager, then it goes back to the screen. Seems OK now? Restart and see what happens.
Back to the Roku. Congratulations! You're done and everything looks good. Let's start streaming.
I see Nowhere TV, but no VideoBuzz. And the apps are all out of order. OK, no problem I'll just reorder them.
Checking Settings, I see Diplay type is set to 720p, which is correct since that's what my plasma TV supports. Captions are set to instant replay. Turn them on. Remote is paired to the Roku. Time zone is set to Hawaii. About: Roku player 4200X. Network signal strength: excellent. Themes: Roku (default). Screensaver: Bouncing Roku Logo (default). Change to facebook. You must link device to Roku. OK, let's link later. I see a Twit.TV option. Let's set it to that for now. Audio Mode: stereo (the other option is surround sound). Sound effect volume: medium.
Let's try youtube. Yep, much faster than on the Roku HD. Let's test the captions. Search for natgeowild. Choose Delta and Dong Dong. The captions work, but the top line is partially off the top of the screen (and the bottom is partially below the bottom of the screen). That's disappointing. Try switch to 1080p. Nope. That's a strike.
Let's try Netflix. Have to sign in. Interesting. The keys are in qwerty order. Where do you want to go? Netflix or Kids. Netflix. The interface is different. Everybody Love Raymond. The subtitles look OK, but season 1, episode 4 is stretched out of proportion. I think Netflix screwed up. Let's go to episode 7. Yep, now in 4:3. The subtitles are in white with no background. Let's try to change the system settings. Nope, looks like Netflix app is using their own captions. Strike 2. Although the captions aren't bad especially compared to the old captions on the Roku HD Netflix app. But I like the system captions on the Roku HD for Netflix betters. So strike two.
The big test is Hulu Plus. Log in. Please visit www.hulu.com/activate on your computer and enter this code: 9JD5YHD Remain on this screen while logging in with this activation code. Hulu Plus has been activated on your Roku. You can start watching Hulu Plus now. Let's try Cesar 911. Screen goes blank for several seconds as it loads the commercial for EndGame. It looks like it's using the system captions. Which is acceptable. But there's still the odd problem of a block of background showing when there's no text. Change text color to default. Nope still yellow. Let's change color to white. Nope still yellow. So it's using their own captions. Check swing.
Crackle. Seinfeld. OK, looks like the system captions as it's white.
OK, let's go to Amazon instant video. Sign in. Get Started on Your Roku (the other option is Get Started on the Amazon website). OK, I'm in. Looks like they're using their own captions which are kind of small. Let's try make the system captions bigger. Hey, too big. I guess they are using the system captions. Change from extra large to large. Still kind of big. Try medium. OK, that's about right. I guess I had it on default earlier.
Nowhere TV. Nowhere TV 2.7. This version introduces a new style grid screen. If you encounter any problems using this screen, please let us know. If you prefer the old style grids screen, you can switch back to it from the options menu by pressing the * button on your remote. chris@thenowhereman.com
So let's sum up.
Netflix looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku HD, then Roku 3.
Hulu Plus looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku 3, then Roku HD.
Crackle about the same on all.
Amazon Instant Video. Roku 3 and Roku HD about the same. Apple TV not supported.
Youtube. Roku HD video is actually the best picture as the captions are not off the screen. Roku 3 app is better than the Apple TV app which doesn't support captions. Maybe it'll get updated later.
Breaking down by device,
Apple TV: does a good job on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but doesn't support auto-play on Hulu Plus. The youtube app doesn't support captions and doesn't find some foreign (Korean) videos [like my Return of Superman playlist]. Doesn't support Amazon Instant Video.
Roku 3: does OK on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but the captions are from the app and not customizable. Supports captions on youtube, but they're top (or bottom) of multi-line captions are partially off the screen. Amazon Instant Video is supported with system captions. Plus I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, which is unique to the Roku 3 and Roku 2 (so far).
Roku HD. I actually like this better than the Roku 3 for Netflix since it uses the system captions. Hulu Plus seems to lock up particularly when using captions. Youtube app is very sluggish, but captions display OK unlike the Roku 3 (oddly). Amazon Instant Video is OK.
So none of them are perfect, but I guess I'd go with the Roku 3 since it support Amazon Instant Video and youtube is more responsive than the Roku HD. The big drawback is that the youtube captions are partially off the screen which is somewhat hard to believe. Let me try it on a 1080p LED screen and see if it's better.
If you want just Netflix and Hulu Plus, I'd go with the Apple TV. If you want iTunes videos, you pretty much have no choice. But if you want Amazon Instant Video (free from HitBliss) or Amazon Prime, Apple TV is not an option. If Roku 3 cleans up the youtube caption problem, then that's the way to go.
Maybe I should try the Amazon Fire TV.. Or wait for the new Google set-top box (Android TV) that's supposed to be coming out. Or maybe even the Chromecast.
*** 5/5/14
YouTube on Roku update. Tried plugging in my Roku HD via HDMI, then setting the display to 720p. Same problem. Part of the caption is cut off at the bottom (or top) of the screen. But if you set the display to 16x9, then the captions don't cut off. Unfortunately there's no 16x9 option on the Roku 3.
OK, maybe it's my TV. Plugged it into my mom's Samsung 32". Same thing. Then the bigger Samsung in the lounge. Same thing.
I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, so maybe a Roku 2 might be OK. It supports composite, so likely has the 16x9 option. I think I might return the Roku 3. Plus now I see the Roku 3 is $10 off at the website. So if I return it to Costco and buy at the website, I'll gain a few bucks.
***
Looking at CordKillers on the Roku 3. Turned on automatic captions. These captions display OK. Comparing the Roku TV video to the youtube video on my computer, I can see the edges are slightly trimmed on the TV. I see there's three lines of comments on the TV whereas on the computer there's three and a half. And I see the C of the CordKillers logo on the bottom left is partly cut off on the TV. So that's the problem.
[5/17/14] Here's another thing I prefer the Roku HD to the Roku 3. On Netflix, when you press the * on the Roku HD controller you get the option to "View more like this". This option doesn't exist on the Roku 3, as far as I can see. On the Apple TV, they give a list of "More Like This" at the bottom of the description screen (8 items). On the computer, you get a scrollable horizontal listing of "more like.." at the bottom of the screen (the number of items varies, I counted 23, 22, 24 items). On the ipad, you get a "More Like" list at the bottom of the screen (non-scrollable list of 5 items).
Decided to hook up both the Roku HD and Roku 3 simultaneously. (The HD is via composite.) Comparing the youtube captions. And here's the problem. The cut-off captions occur when the HD is set to 720p video. When I change it to 16x9, the Roku actually displays the captions lower (with the captions at the top of the screen) then when it's set at 720p. So it's actually a Roku problem.
And now that I have the Roku HD on composite, I can't switch back to 720p. So apparently the way you set it to 720p with composite cables is to plug it in via HDMI, set it to 720p, then connect via composite.
I think I'm going to return the Roku 3 and get a Roku 2.
[5/17/14] According to this, it appears you can set the caption appearance from the Netflix settings on the computer and changes will appear on your Roku 3.
[5/18/14] It works! But I still like the Roku HD captions a little better. They're a little more customizable and you can do it on the Roku instead of having to go back and forth to the computer. An annoyance is that the same settings are used for the computer and the Roku 3. They don't necessarily translate the same to the TV.
[posted to forum, we'll see if I get any response]
And still another quirk on the Roku 3 (or Netflix in general?) is that the captions default to off. You have to set them on whenever starting a new show.
Hmm.. Maybe this will work (though it was for the Fire TV). "She told me to turn off the subtitles in Netflix on the PC and let the movie play for 10 minutes, at which time the "off" setting for subtitles would be saved as the default preference. It worked. No more subtitles on the PC, no more subtitles on the Kindles." So I assume the reverse will work?
[5/18/14] posted the youtube captions problems to forum. We'll see what response I get.
Thursday, May 01, 2014
how smart was Woz?
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of BASIC,
Steve Wozniak has written some memories about his first experiences
with this popular language—and how he created his own BASIC from scratch
for the Apple I and Apple II computers. An incredible feat.
-- via facebook
-- via facebook
CordKillers
Apparently HitBliss was having problems with their server last night, as information was really slow to come up (or didn't come up at all for the TV shows / movies.
So I was wondering whether the problem is being reported on their Facebook page or on their twitter page. Nope.
But the point of this post is that I wondered who the 49 HitBliss was following.
And it looks like 48 is Cord Killers, 47 is Tom Merritt, 46 is Brian Brushwood. Sound familiar? Those are the guys from Framerate, the show that was discontinued at Twit. They're back!
The first post on their blog was December 16, 2013 which was soon after the last Framerate. They were supposed to email me as they had something to subscribe to on the last Framerate, but I guess I missed it or it never got sent. Episode Beta 1 was on December 23, 2013. Beta Episode 2 was December 30, 2013. And Ep. 1 was January 6, 2014.
Their blog is worth going to as they have an outline of what they talk about on the show (with links). So you can check the sources and details instead of just mindlessly couch-potatoing (nttawwt).
Their shows are hosted on youtube.
[you can donate to these poor guys here]
Meanwhile HitBliss is still having problems as the application ain't loading the main interface now. The application doesn't appear locked up though, as I can access the feedback section and click the exit X. We'll see how long this lasts.
*** [8/13/15] The old framerate shows are no longer on TWIT, but have been archived on youtube. [I thought I had written about this before but I don't see it now.] Also at archive.org.
[you can donate to these poor guys here]
Meanwhile HitBliss is still having problems as the application ain't loading the main interface now. The application doesn't appear locked up though, as I can access the feedback section and click the exit X. We'll see how long this lasts.
*** [8/13/15] The old framerate shows are no longer on TWIT, but have been archived on youtube. [I thought I had written about this before but I don't see it now.] Also at archive.org.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)