Steve Holden's Blog

Mini Review - Samsung YP-T5V Portable MP3 Player

I got my upgrade to my trusty Creative Labs 128 MB Nomad Muvo MP3 Player player last Friday.  It is the Samsung YP-T5V Portable MP3 Player. 

It is definitely a significant improvement over my Muvo (which is now my wife's MP3 player).

Things I like a lot: interface (seeing the titles, play times, rates); controls (joystick fast/rewind & volume control); FM radio; battery life (AAA); voice record (WAV); and line in record (MP3).

Only major ding is the line-in requires an amplified signal. So, most of the microphones I have don't work in it.  I was hoping to have a completely mobile podcast recording tool, but I'll either need to find a small mobile battery-powered mini-preamp, or a powered hands-free microphone headset.

It would also be cool if it could capture audio playing on the unit (like a podcast) which in theory could be enabled via a FIRMWARE upgrade?  This would be really neat for doing podcast commentaries.  Anyone know anyone at Samsung to evangelize?

Weblog/Podcast Filter for 11-29-2004

The following items were interesting enough for me to do a little more digging:

• “While You Were Out” Outlook Add-In [excellent tool, plus possible framework for other solutions in the same genre of add-in to Outlook's functionality]
• The ACM OOPSLA (Object-Oriented Programming, Systems, Languages, and
  Applications) conference will be held in San Diego during October 2005.
• Mark Gibbs on a tool that sort of solves WinXP multihoming config problems.
• Possible Podcast Hosts: BlueHost, MidPhase.com
• Three Tablet PC Comparison Charts via Scoble
• ClearContent Inbox Manager (for Microsoft Outlook)
• Directions Magazine looks at cool new advanced technologies shown at an ESRI User Conference [via Scoble]
• Tom Peters Stats: Big Money Supporters (Bush vs. Kerry); and U.S. National Debt
• Tech Shorts Podcast: Pointer to more non-RIAA music http://magnatune.com/

Coming Clean on Amazon Affliate

Scoble mentioned on his blog that he would never point people to Amazon via their affiliate program.

That reminded me that I forgot to mention that I will point people to Amazon items via the affliate program if there is something that Amazon is offering and I think is worth buying.

I am not going to go out of my way recommending stuff that I have no interest in.  But if I plug a product that I like and someone reads my thoughts and decides to buy it based on my recommendation, then I think I should get part of the sale.  The affliates problem enables that option ... so far it hasn't worked ;-) [ie. no sales].

If anyone has a problem with that, let me know ...

Travel - Washington DC

I am in the National Capital Region (NCR) for the next couple of days ... through Thursday evening.

I have a lot planned but I think I should have most of the evenings free for podcast/weblog/technology stuff.

One thing I do need to do is watch "Mulholland Dr." so I can take full effect of MWGblog's Real Reviews upcoming cinephile.

Bloggercon Newbies MP3 - Trackbacks

The IT Conversations Bloggercon Newbies MP3 is a good listen.  At times the audio quality isn't that good and you can't hear all interactions, but the discussion on TRACKBACKS is good.

Also, if you are building any type of blogging solution as a vendor or programmer, you should listen to this one because there a good number of tidbits on what needs to be improved for new users and current bloggers.  Especially the discussion on the lack of seamless blogging deployment solutions.

Fast Forward Podcast Ads?

In the BBC show that showcased podcasting and Adam Curry, has some comments from by David  Docherty that said 'people will zip through ... fast forward ... the ads.'

I disagree because fast forwarding on current players is not very useful to get back to the content.  And if you are driving along it is actually very dangerous to try to do any fast forwarding because you really need to be hands on the players to do it effectively.

I am with Adam ... who says that podcasting is ripe for "good advertising" and that listeners will pay attention and listen to those that are well done. 

A good example is in the U.S. and the Superbowl.  A good majority of people watch the football game just to see the ads.

Critical Java Bug Targets Java Virtual Machine

eWeek has a good summary of "Critical Java Bug Targets Java Virtual Machine".  I have been following this since early on Tuesday I think.  It seems pretty critical that folks do some patching to protect themselves.

Podcast Alley - Feedback (or lack of it)

OK ... I guess I only got two podcast listeners because I only got four votes on Podcast Alley and two of them are from me. :-)

Here is the URL to get to Tech Rag Tear  Outs (TRTO) on Podcast Alley.

Podcast #11 - Tech News, Music from Dead By Gun, & Commentary

Here is the manual link: Download TechRagTearOut_011_11-24-04.mp3 (9243.6K).

The show details are as follows:

• (00:00-00:52): Show Theme + Target Audience
• (00:53-01:13): Sample #1 from DJ Amber
• (01:14-03:06): Introduction (11th Podcast; Show Overview; Jimmy Jett Content Label, Garageband.com's Dead By Gun)
• (03:07-19:21): Primary Content (Forbes, InfoWorld, Network World, Federal Computer Week, Chief Security Officer, Chief Information Officer, AFCEA's Signal Magazine, and two ads from tech magazines)
• (19:22-22:16): Dead By Gun "I'm Coming Home"
•  (22:17-25:54): Podcast Commentary (Session Records Podcast, Tech Shorts, The Bitterest Pill, Todays Podcast, Dawn & Drew, DJAmber's new album)
• (25:55-26:18): Short sample #2 from DJ Amber

The topics talked about in the primary content section includes:

• Forbes: Majors: Google, Yahoo (no Microsoft); Minors: Pluck, Blinkx, Groxis, Fractal Edge; New: A9, Clusty, Icerocket, Info, Snap
• InfoWorld: Updatedcollaboration tools from IBM & OpenText; HP Proliant DL360 G4 vs. Dell PowerEdge G4
• Network World: Sony Vaio U Ultra Portable PC; Sharp IT-TVs; DMTF's SMASH
• Federal Computer Week: UPS Wireles Security
• Chief Security Officer: Bruce Schneier “It's an interesting paradox in the computer world. Products are never ready for prime time until after they're widely deployed.”
• Chief Information Officer: Three Steps to “BETTER” Risk Assessments
• AFCEA's Signal Magazine: USFK's JCISA High Resolution COP Display Systems (Information Systems Support & NCI Information Systems)
• Two Ads: AT&T Audiovox PPC4100 Pocket PC & SafeNet

 

San Diego Area Podcasters or Webloggers?

I am wondering if there is a group of San Diego area podcasters and/or webloggers interested in getting together on a regular basis (monthly) or at least once a year in a conference format like Dave Slusher is proposing on Evil Genius Chronicles with a Myrtle Beach Blogging Conference.

UPDATE: Dann Sheridan created a Yahoo Email Group (sd-bloggers) [all are welcome].