Tilt Shift Photography

I’ve been seeing the Tilt Shift process more often lately & I find it pretty incredible.  Real landscapes and city scenes look like little toys.  Sometimes you have to really study the picture to determine if it’s real or a picture of a miniature set.

If you’re not familiar with this type of photography here’s a Google link to hundreds of examples.   There are software tools that let you take just about any photo and give it the Tilt Shift perspective.

I’m finding that a lot of these images make great desktop wallpaper on the computer.  The process can also be used for movies as seen in the following video.  This totally looks like some kind of claymation movie…

The Digital Pen That Delivers

I was in a meeting a few months ago and one of the vendors had an unusual looking pen. I quickly did a Google search and discovered the pen was called a “LiveScribe” pen and it has quite a loyal following.  The pen digitizes your handwriting, records meeting audio and a whole lot more.  After some online research and the discovery of a great deal on eBay I had one to try for myself.

The first thing I noticed once I unpacked the pen is its size.  I’m used to full sized pens with the daily use of my Dunhill Sidecar but this one was just a little bit chunkier (and all plastic).  The weight is well balanced and it’s pretty easy to get used to the feel of the pen.

The “secret” to the LiveScribe system is a special Moleskine like notebook with micro-dot paper and a pen with a infra-red camera in the tip. Navigation “buttons” at the bottom of each page control various functions of the pen.

If you don’t want to use the Moleskine type notebooks you can print your own pages if you have access to a 600 dpi color printer.  Other notebooks are available in various form factors.

After you turn on the pen (important) and take notes, you plug the pen into your computer and the software downloads a copy of your notebook.  The mico-dots tell the application what notebook and page the notes were written on.  You can have up to 8 notebooks in the system (200 pages each) before you have to start archiving data.  It’s pretty impressive how well this all works.  Individual pages from multiple notebooks can be grouped together into a virtual notebook within the software.  All pages can be printed for more flexibility.  Being left handed I found the spiral bound started notebook to be a little difficult to use but the Moleskine type books are working great.

The latest software upgrade allows you to draw a double line anywhere on the page and write “email”, “Facebook”, or “Evernote” and once you sync the pen your notes will perform that pre-defined action, such as email a copy of your notes as a PDF.

A built-in audio recording function allows you to record meetings and directly tie the recording timeline to your notes.  After the meeting you can tap any word in your notes and the recording will start playing what was recording when you were writing that particular word.  I have played with this feature a few times but very few of the meetings I attend really need to be recorded.  I did use it for a 2-hour vendor seminar and it worked perfectly.  The 4GB model will record up to 400 hours of audio.

Livescribe offers various applications such as foreign language translations and games such as hangman.  One of the most used features, besides the pen, is the calculator.  Inside the notebook covers (front and back) are calculator “buttons” that you can tap on at any time to perform just about any calculation.  If you need to perform scientific calculations an optional app and calculator card can be purchased for around $6.

For those of you that use Evernote, all of your notes can be synchronized with the online service.  An optional OCR application can even turn your handwritten notes into editable text!

This pen has a lot of powerful functions built into a small package.  The development of applications is a little slow but the apps that are available are solid and work as advertised.

The biggest thing you have to get used to is turning the pen on each time you use it.  If you don’t turn it on the pen will not capture your notes electronically & it works just like a (dumb) pen.

The Livescribe system, which includes the pen and a starter notebook is priced as follows:

  • 4GB Model $149.99**
  • 8GB Model $199.99
  • Journals vary in price from $9.99-19.99

**I was able to find my 4GB model on eBay for about 1/2 price.

It remains to be seen if the Livescribe pen is a toy or a productivity tool.  For now I’ll have to say the concept is working quite well and I have been happy with the purchase.

Mobile Blogging – SO Close!

Since the beginning of this blog I’ve been looking for ways to use technology to write more. I don’t always have the laptop with me but my Blackberry never leaves my site.  What else do you need, right?  well, it’s not that easy…

The folks at WordPress have released the latest version of their mobile application and it seems to resolve some of the issues I was encountering when attempting to update the Blog when on the move.  While the Blackberry app is functional I’m finding the iPhone (iPod touch in my case) is a little more streamlined for quick blogging on the go.  I just can’t quite get used to the virtual keyboard on the IOS devices…

With either mobile platform the addition of graphics to the post is more difficult and, unless you remember all of the HTML tags, formatting can be a little tricky.  There are ways to publish via email, and that might be worth pursuing more.

In the end, nothing really beats sitting down with the laptop and being able to visualize the blogging process.  I find myself using the mobile devices to capture blog post ideas and subjects and finishing/publishing the post from the laptop.  Perhaps that’s where I need to concentrate my efforts…

Hey Bloggers, what tools are you using?  I’m especially interested in hearing from the local food bloggers.  Are you writing your reviews while mobile or using the computer when you return from your visit?

 

Online TV – Which Network Does it Right?

Don’t you hate it when your favorite show gets interrupted by local or national news events?  This is especially true when using a DVR and you might not realize your show was preempted until a week later.

Enter the streaming features just about all of the major networks are using as another avenue to get their programming (and advertisements) in front of you.  Not all of these networks treat online video the same though.  Some sites tease you with clips and previews instead of making the entire show available.  Other sites only show 1-2 recent episodes and leaving the older shows to collect dust until summer re-runs (or syndication).

Some sites such as Hulu have a great selection but put all of the good content behind a subscription fence.  Another site (I’m not sure how legal this is) called justin.tv allows users to stream their TV to the web.  This is really helpful when local games are blacked out or delayed (i.e. Indy 500).  As of this writing Justin.tv had 2,606 live channels on their site.

I’ve thought about dropping cable TV all together and relying on online content and Netflix but with all of the existing restrictions imposed by the networks it’s just easier to keep things they way they are.  Bit Torrent, legal or not, has the content (so I hear) but automating the entire process and making it available when you want it is something that’s just not there yet.  Not to mention the legal aspects of downloading copyrighted content.

I remember hearing the president of NetFlix saying something about not shipping DVD’s in 5-10 years.  Maybe then the content will be easier to package and deliver digitally through the Internet.  Can the Internet itself handle this increased traffic load?  Is Bit Torrent and peer-to-peer technology the answer?  This is going to be an interesting issue to follow.

How do you get your entertainment content?  TV, Internet, DVD, other?  Where do you see content delivery changing in the upcoming years?

 

2,606 live channels

NutriSmart Prototype Embeds RFID Tags Directly Within Food!

Amazing potential use for RFID technology.  I can see this being a huge benefit to dieters and persons with various food allergies.  Like anything else though, there’s a dark side to this too…  Insurance companies could use this data to deny you coverage, databases of your food consumption could be created…

NutriSmart from HannesRemote on Vimeo.

Blogs I’m Following (Part 3) – Misc.

This is the third and final installment of my favorite Blogs and RSS reeds on the Internet.  This is a small sample of the other sites I follow.  Everything from comedy to crackpots to cigars.  I hope you find something new in the list.

FAIL Blog – If you like seeing people paying the price for stupid actions this is the site for you.  There’s usually some pretty good signage mistakes too.

The Oatmeal – I’m really not into modern-day cartoons and comics (Dilbert is lost on me & The Far Side no longer exists) but this guy hits my funny bone just about every time.  Fair warning, these are usually not kid friendly or safe for work.

David Allen Company – In my opinion Getting Things Done (GTD) is the best life management system ever created.  I started with the book, attended the seminar, and intently read every newsletter from the David Allen Company.  This guy is a former hippie (for lack of a better term) turned entrepreneur and productivity demigod.  If you are looking for an alternative to all of the other systems, give this one a try.  It’s been truly life changing for me.

The Art of Manliness – From shaving to shoe shining to being a better man, this site has it all.  Sometimes it’s a little “old fashioned” but the articles are well written and have a lot of good content.  This concept would make a great magazine.

ThinkGeek : What’s New – The premier geeky toy store in the internet.  It’s also one of the best sources for everything caffeine (and bacon) related.  Where else can you buy Caffeinated Marshmallows?

Cool Tools – Not as active as it once was but you can still learn about such things as the Bombproof laptop case and Dependable soldering irons.

No Agenda – This podcast stars former MTV VJ Adam Curry & and tech columnist John C. Dvorak.  It covers mainstream and not so mainstream media.  Always good for a laugh and exposure to a new conspiracy theory.

Daily dose of imagery – As a photo hobbyist I always enjoy seeing other peoples work.  More often than not I get inspiration from these images.

Every Day Carry – I always called it “Being Prepared” but there’s a cult following to the Boy Scout motto.  This site posts user submitted images of their EDC items.  From watches to knives to guns, it’s all there.  I’ve found a few neat tools on this site that I’ve added to my daily carry.

Cigar Aficionado – The website is a treasure trove of information to the cigar enthusiast.  Just about all of their back issue articles are online and the review database is a great resource.

So there you go, some of the more non-traditional items that pique my interest.  If you have read all three posts you can probably put together a more accurate picture if me and my lifestyle.  There’s a few things you probably don’t know about too.  Stick around and check the blog for future posts.

Part 1 & Part 2 of this series.

Blogs I’m Following (Part 2) – Food

OK, this list is going to be tough.  The Food category of my RSS feeds is comprised of 42 of the 199 sites I follow.  I just can’t get enough of the food sites.  From recipes to reviews there’s a little bit of everything in here.  I’m going to list my “top 10” in no particular order.  Several of these links are local to the Indiana/Indianapolis area.  I love hearing about new places to try around town.

The Amateur Gourmet – One of the things I love about this site is the ever changing header image (think Google).  This guy has written a book (that I need to read) and has a really good mix of news, humor and recipes.

Would I Buy It Again? – These guys have introduced me to new places to try in and around Indy and warned me of ones to stay away from.  Great concept & the articles are short and to the point.

Indianapolis Restaurant Scene – This site always has great imagery that goes along with very well written posts.  Definitely one to refer to often for restaurants around the Indianapolis area.

All tenderloins, all the time – This one is funny.  Rick and I have known each other for years (through my old website) but have never actually met (we seriously need to fix that).  I love the focus on reviewing just one thing, the humble tenderloin (an Indiana classic) and reviewing it very well.

Indianapolis Amy – Amy has a great mix of recipes and reviews as well as seasonal posts and observations. Amy always covers several subjects with each post and its always a great read.

Serious Eats – This is a national blog with several interconnected sites (like A Hamburger Today).  Lots of good information & updated very frequently.

Chez Pim – I was attracted to Pim’s site from the photography alone.  She’s been posting “Food Porn” for years and sometimes you feel like you’re in the kitchen with her.  Pim has been on several food shows and has a line of food products she’s developed.

Food Obsessed in the Midwest – Another new Indy food blog that’s caught my attention.

Indulge In Indy – This site focuses on locally owned restaurants and products produced by Indiana businesses.

Epicurious.com: New Recipes – I used to get all of my recipes from Food Network, but not anymore. Epicurious has it all & then some. The newsletters are always a great read and the site covers just about everything in the culinary world. I’ve fixed many impromptu meals after seeing an article on this site.

Bonus Link:
Food Network Humor – I had to throw this on in here for good measure.  It’s not always safe for work (or the kids) but it can be VERY entertaining. I just hope the FN Stars take it all with a grain of salt (pun intended) as its usually all good fun.

Do you have a favorite food blog that you can’t live without?  Tell us about it in the comments section.

Part 3 will wrap up the series with some of the more unusual blogs that are on my list (No, LOLCats will not be on the list).  Part 1 of this series can be found here.

Blogs I’m Following (Part 1) – Technology

I’m a hug RSS feed fanatic.  As of this writing I’m tracking 199 RSS feeds with Google Reader and using Feedly on top of everything to present it in an organized manner.  I read everything from technology to food to entertainment & a few other genres.

Over the next few posts I’m going to share some of my favorite feeds.  This time we’re going to start with technology.

Lifehacker – If you like to tinker, this site is for you.  Lots of fun things to do with common (and not so common) things around the house and office.

Crackberry – If you use a Blackberry, this is the site that will keep you informed about your addictive little device.  There are several imitators but this one is the best.

The Gadgeteer – A tech blog with an Indiana connection.  I’ve been following Julie and her reviews for years.  This site has a daily “deal of the day” that can save you a lot of money.

IndyGeek.net – A new (at least for me) Indiana tech blog with daily podcast.  It definitely has potential to grow and I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen so far!

The Wall Street Journal – Technology – My new “national newspaper” site now that the NY Times went to a pay model.  I actually like the reporting better & never thought anyone could dethrone David Pogue.

Engadget – This one just about rounds out (and covers) everything.  sometimes there are more posts per day than I can follow, but a really great source of information nonetheless.

The list above just covers the top tech feeds I follow daily.  There are others that I check out a few times a week.  What are some of your favorite RSS feeds?

Next up…  My favorite Food links!