On flights to/from Las Vegas a couple weeks ago I enjoyed a couple of episodes of Mythbusters. After recording them (to my desktop computer using a Hauppauge card) I converted them to DivX using a nifty utility called PocketDVD Studio . The programs were viewed on my Palm TX using the free application TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player). I've read that the same Palm OS application is popular with Treo cellphone users.
Ho-Hum Television in the den can be pretty good television when you're trapped in an aluminum can at 30,000 feet. (Not that Mythbusters is Ho-Hum Television by any definition... but I don't always have such quality teevee recorded for when I go out of town.)
There are versions of PocketDVD for those iPod thingies, Zunes and other portable devices other than those of the Palm persuasion. PocketDVD rips movies direct from DVD, too. TCPMP is also available for non-Palm devices.
P.S. Next time you're in Vegas, check out The FabFour Mania at Planet Hollywood. If you missed them in 1964 this may be your only chance to see THE Beatles live!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Big2 ?? No Clue
A call to KMID to ask the status of their High Definition upgrade has left me puzzled. When asked when they expect to implement their high definition broadcast, an employee (identified by the receptionist as the engineer's assistant) answered, "No idea."
The terseness of the answer made me think maybe the guy just didn't want to be bothered with the question. Politely prompting for some sort of explanation brought nothing.
Thinking maybe my question was not clear, I persisted.
Me: "So, you don't have any schedule for the upgrade?"
KMID: "Nope. No idea."
Me: Hmmm
KMID: "All I know is if something doesn't happen by 2009 we go off the air."
That makes no sense because KMID is already broadcasting in digital so the loss of their analog signal (as per the FCC rule) would have no impact except to those receiving only analog Over-The-Air. That has nothing whatsoever to do with High Def.
Me: "Who decides what you will do and when?"
KMID: "Politicians"
HUH?
Me: "The station owner has to depend upon...
KMID (interrupting) "Politicians. It's up to them."
Me: "Well thanks for your time. Goodbye."
I think I'll call back when the Engineer is available.
The terseness of the answer made me think maybe the guy just didn't want to be bothered with the question. Politely prompting for some sort of explanation brought nothing.
Thinking maybe my question was not clear, I persisted.
Me: "So, you don't have any schedule for the upgrade?"
KMID: "Nope. No idea."
Me: Hmmm
KMID: "All I know is if something doesn't happen by 2009 we go off the air."
That makes no sense because KMID is already broadcasting in digital so the loss of their analog signal (as per the FCC rule) would have no impact except to those receiving only analog Over-The-Air. That has nothing whatsoever to do with High Def.
Me: "Who decides what you will do and when?"
KMID: "Politicians"
HUH?
Me: "The station owner has to depend upon...
KMID (interrupting) "Politicians. It's up to them."
Me: "Well thanks for your time. Goodbye."
I think I'll call back when the Engineer is available.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
