Have Laptop Will Travel

Musical chairs with audio formats

Originally posted on August 8, 2007 @ 7:31 pm

I finished ripping about twenty CDs from my collection last night. That means I’ve still got, oh, 968 more titles to go before I finish this project.

I used to rip some of my CDs to an MP3 format, at around 192kbps. At that time, that setting suited my purposes of having a decent enough sound quality without the file getting too large. With the arrival of the iPod, I started ripping from between 256 to 320 kbps. I still used the MP3 format but there was a time I actually used Apple’s AAC format just to try it and because I knew it had a smaller file imprint. That experiment didn’t last long because AAC may be great if you only have Apple compatible machines. Put the file in an environment where “Apple” means a kind of fruit and you’re left with unplayable music files. I’d rather go for the more universally accepted format.

With this present batch of CDs though I am tinkering with a lossless format, specifically FLAC. I’m doing this for three reasons. First, I installed Rockbox on my iPod, which means I can now play practically any format. It’s liberating to know that you can dump OGG VORBIS, FLAC or even Monkey Audio into your Rockbox’ed player and be confident that it will work. My second reason for using Flac is that I’m looking at really archiving my collection for easy access and to protect my CDs from unnecessary scratches. If I want to play something from my collection, I’ll just get the FLAC file with no worries at all. Third reason? Well, with storage capacities at its largest and most affordable, it’s not a problem consuming such a large space for my music files.

What about you guys? What kind music formats do you use when ripping your CDs?

Hot laptops on your lap, anyone?

Originally posted on August 18, 2007 @ 12:34 am

Heat is one of the things that annoy me the most in laptops.

Okay, it’s great that you can bring your computer anywhere with you and basically do anything you want, anywhere you want. Portability is really a great come-on for anyone, but heat issues with certain laptops can really dampen your enthusiasm for them.

Take for example, my trusty Acer laptop. We’ve been through so much together. It has been a very able and tough road warrior but what I hate about it is that I really can’t consider it a “laptop”. Any attempts to use my lap to prop up my laptop will only last for thirty minutes or less. The bottom gets uncomfortably hot for any extended usage time. It actually gets hot enough for me to worry about my fertility. I can imagine my little sperm cells boiling down there, all because of a little computer.

I hope computer companies make laptops with more effective heat dissipation designs. I’ve already heard of units that employ heatpipe technology to wick away ambient heat from CPUs. I look forward to future products that will employ more exotic heat dissipation solutions so I can finally get a laptop that I can put on my lap without fearing for my balls.

Beta testing Pownce

Originally posted on August 22, 2007 @ 7:37 am

I’ve been looking for an effective file sharing service so that I can more easily share files with my friends. Rapidshare is good but the web interface is butt ugly and at some point during the process (the part where you click on the “FREE” tab to download the file) it gets downright confusing. A friend of mine still thinks that I’m asking him to subscribe to Rapidshare’s paid service just to download an MP3 file I sent him.

I recently found out about the Pownce project that is currently on its beta phase. The new service includes Kevin Rose of Digg (I’m a big fan of the guy ever since his TechTV days). The new service has two components and you can use either one. There is a web component and also a small applet that uses the new Adobe Air runtime technology.

I’ve been lucky enough to be included in the beta and it really is promising. Imagine Yahoo! Messenger, only more user friendly and geared towards creating groups that can share files. The only thing that I don’t like is that you can only share up to 10mb of files. If you want more, then you have to pay a subscription. I admit I’m a cheapskate so I’d prefer for the service to be free.

Social WiFi, A New Kind of Network

Originally posted on June 11, 2007 @ 1:07 am

Ever since the first days of wireless networking, mobile computing, sharing someone’s wireless internet connection has been popular. Wardriving has been a popular sport and I know many IT freaks who have their wireless connection activated where ever they go, trying to capture a signal.

In our days, most networks still are unsecured and open to anyone who wants to connect.
But with the rise in social networks we also see a new kind of networking : social wireless networking. People who knowingly share their wireless internet access with other users, members of communities.
What networks are there. What communities to join as laptop user and do they really help?

[Read more…]

Google Wireless Mobile Phone

Originally posted on March 14, 2007 @ 8:35 am

Could Google be looking to build or design a wireless mobile phone?

This job posting titled “Analog Designer/Engineer” would lead me to believe Google is at least considering it.

According to the job posting (copied here for archive purposes):

Google organizes information and makes it accessible and useful. To improve accessibility, Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts.

We are building a small team of top-notch Logic Designers and Analog Designers aimed at nothing less than making the entire world’s information accessible from anywhere for free. Are you in?

Here is the list of skills and requirements that Google is looking for in a Analog Designer:

  • Electrical Engineering or related technical degree.
  • First-rate Analog Designer with more than 5 years experience.
  • Extensive circuit modeling and analysis experience.
  • Excellent programming skills.
  • Experience with switching power supply design a plus.
  • Ham radio license a plus.

Although rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for quite some time, this is the best evidence so far that Google is really considering such a device.

You can bet we’ll hear more rumors about this mobile or wireless Google device in the next few weeks. Stay tuned, this rumor has a lot of potential.