I mentioned earlier that I've a few new toys. One of them is a Verizon Mifi. I got the 890L, which is the black top and red bottom device.
I went to get a new holster for my phone...mine had recently broken. While at the Verizon shop, the salesman looked at my account and offered me a plan refinement, which I took. The adjustment allowed me to purchase a Mifi...in fact, I cut off $50 when adjusting the plan (employee discount helped a ton there), then I used the $50 to get the Mifi. I also got a $50 rebate, so really, I got the Mifi for free.
It uses my current data allocation and I can use it when I go on vacation when there's no internet. I can tether my iPod to it, or my iPad. My wife can tie her Kindles to it. My daughter can tether her Nook to it. I've warned them to not stream videos and music when tethered to the Mifi, though...I don't want them using all my bandwidth. I can also use it for work when I'm traveling on business (or if I need to do some emergency work while on vacation). I can use it to access the internet using my iPad when I'm at autocross meets, too, which I actually welcome. I can tether up to 10 devices to it.
The Mifi is extremely easy to tether to. I gave it a test run while at work, tethering it to my iPad since I can't get a wifi connection from my cube. It worked quite well.
I also can use my existing Verizon phone's charge cable to charge it (basically, it can use any micro-usb charging cable). I've no idea how long of a charge it has and how long it can keep a charge with a tethered device connected to it (without the Mifi charging). We'll eventually find out, although I do NOT want to hit my bandwidth limit.
Another thing: I can update my data plan to 4GB if I have to, for only $20. I'm on the 2GB plan now, and my data usage trend is 1GB/month on the average, so if I find I'm toeing the limit, I'll get a notice on my phone, then if I have to, I'll either stop using the Mifi for that month or upgrade to the 4GB plan.
I'll keep you informed of my Mifi usage and the positives and negative.
Friday, August 17, 2012
iMovie and GoPro
So, I got me a new toy (several, actually): a GoPro Hero 2 HD Motorsports Edition.
I've been getting some driving footage during my commutes to/from work, just to get a feel for how to use the GoPro. I got about a bit over an hour of footage and only wanted to collect up the footage of my car's exhaust (Subaru Impreza STI).
I tried to use VirtualDub on the Alienware, but VirtualDub doesn't like the .mp4 format that the GoPro utilizes. I tried to use VideoPad, but and it's conversion tool (converting it to .mpeg) but Windows Media Player doesn't like the conversion. So, I tried using the tools on my Macbook...bad move. For one, the Macbook seems to be seriously under-powered when it comes to video editing. My Macbook also doesn't come with iMovie (using Snow Leopard...the max OS X version it can utilize, which doesn't come with iMovie). What's funny is that the wife's Macbook DOES have iMovie, and is an actual C2D system, while my Macbook is just a Core Duo system, which came in the first generation Macbooks. So, next I tried my iMac. I found that it had iMovie (it is running Mountain Lion). It also did not bog in the least when it came to creating the montage I had in mind. It was much easier to use than VirtualDub, as the interface is decently intuitive.
It took awhile to get the video footage from the SD card of my GoPro to the iMac, though...the files were rather large (recorded in 1080p at 30fps), so I went to bed while the files were transferring. The next day, after work, I began to edit the files, which didn't take all that long. I took about 8.5 minutes worth of clips and consolidated them, putting in the transitions I wanted. I then finalized my project at 1080p/30fps, which took about 3 hours to do (went to bed while it was finalizing). The next day, I reviewed the final product and it was very nice.
I uploaded it to YouTube. It is here. While it is not raw, there is no music (I wanted to capture the that boxer rumble), as well as no annotations or text comments. There's no title either. I'll experiment with all of this sometime soon.
I'll be messing with iMovie a lot more when I get more footage, as I plan to use the GoPro when I have autocross meets and when I ride the motorcycle. Maybe I'll play with VirtualDub and VideoPad a bit more, but I'm thinking iMovie is the best of the three tools...I do want to try to use the Alienware to edit videos, though, especially when/if I'm not home. The laptop is my strongest system, so it may just outperform the iMac when using iMovie.
Now, let me tell you about this particular GoPro.
It is NICE! I bought some accessories with it: 16GB SD card, as well as 2 extra batteries and a wall charger. The Motorsports Edition comes with a bunch of accessories as well. It comes with a suction cup mount, which has several bendable joints, including where the camera attaches to it. It comes with several more permanent mount points (straight and curved) that you can stick to almost anything. It comes with a back plate that allows sound into the protective case (the standard back plate makes the case water-proof, though). There's a charging cable that I can use to connect to a computer to download the pictures from the camera, instead of removing the SD card. That same cable will also charge the battery within 4 hours (provided the camera isn't currently being used).
The camera can take pictures, can be adjusted to take, for example, a picture every second or every 5 seconds (for time lapse vids)...up to a picture every 60 seconds. It has various HD video configurations or can take VGA video. It can do up to 60fps with certain HD video settings. I believe it can take up to 11 megapixel pictures. The max size of SD card allowed is 16GB. I can take up to 4 hours of video footage, depending on how I'm using the camera.
The suction cup mount can be used on my motorcycle's fuel tank (that's about the only place it can go, since I've no fairings, although I could mount it on the tail of the bike, if need be). The tank might be the best mount place, since I've seen much bike video footage that has a LOT of wind noise. I can purchase several mounting accessories for motorcyling, too (helmet mount or chest-mount straps).
About the only thing I'm worried about is if the suction cup fails if I decide to mount the camera outside the car. I'm thinking of fashioning a tether, but I don't want a huge dent in my car's aluminum, either. I'm gonna have to think this through.
I really can't wait to test this thing out some more, but I'm going to have to wait about a month before I can do autocross footage.
I've been getting some driving footage during my commutes to/from work, just to get a feel for how to use the GoPro. I got about a bit over an hour of footage and only wanted to collect up the footage of my car's exhaust (Subaru Impreza STI).
I tried to use VirtualDub on the Alienware, but VirtualDub doesn't like the .mp4 format that the GoPro utilizes. I tried to use VideoPad, but and it's conversion tool (converting it to .mpeg) but Windows Media Player doesn't like the conversion. So, I tried using the tools on my Macbook...bad move. For one, the Macbook seems to be seriously under-powered when it comes to video editing. My Macbook also doesn't come with iMovie (using Snow Leopard...the max OS X version it can utilize, which doesn't come with iMovie). What's funny is that the wife's Macbook DOES have iMovie, and is an actual C2D system, while my Macbook is just a Core Duo system, which came in the first generation Macbooks. So, next I tried my iMac. I found that it had iMovie (it is running Mountain Lion). It also did not bog in the least when it came to creating the montage I had in mind. It was much easier to use than VirtualDub, as the interface is decently intuitive.
It took awhile to get the video footage from the SD card of my GoPro to the iMac, though...the files were rather large (recorded in 1080p at 30fps), so I went to bed while the files were transferring. The next day, after work, I began to edit the files, which didn't take all that long. I took about 8.5 minutes worth of clips and consolidated them, putting in the transitions I wanted. I then finalized my project at 1080p/30fps, which took about 3 hours to do (went to bed while it was finalizing). The next day, I reviewed the final product and it was very nice.
I uploaded it to YouTube. It is here. While it is not raw, there is no music (I wanted to capture the that boxer rumble), as well as no annotations or text comments. There's no title either. I'll experiment with all of this sometime soon.
I'll be messing with iMovie a lot more when I get more footage, as I plan to use the GoPro when I have autocross meets and when I ride the motorcycle. Maybe I'll play with VirtualDub and VideoPad a bit more, but I'm thinking iMovie is the best of the three tools...I do want to try to use the Alienware to edit videos, though, especially when/if I'm not home. The laptop is my strongest system, so it may just outperform the iMac when using iMovie.
Now, let me tell you about this particular GoPro.
It is NICE! I bought some accessories with it: 16GB SD card, as well as 2 extra batteries and a wall charger. The Motorsports Edition comes with a bunch of accessories as well. It comes with a suction cup mount, which has several bendable joints, including where the camera attaches to it. It comes with several more permanent mount points (straight and curved) that you can stick to almost anything. It comes with a back plate that allows sound into the protective case (the standard back plate makes the case water-proof, though). There's a charging cable that I can use to connect to a computer to download the pictures from the camera, instead of removing the SD card. That same cable will also charge the battery within 4 hours (provided the camera isn't currently being used).
The camera can take pictures, can be adjusted to take, for example, a picture every second or every 5 seconds (for time lapse vids)...up to a picture every 60 seconds. It has various HD video configurations or can take VGA video. It can do up to 60fps with certain HD video settings. I believe it can take up to 11 megapixel pictures. The max size of SD card allowed is 16GB. I can take up to 4 hours of video footage, depending on how I'm using the camera.
The suction cup mount can be used on my motorcycle's fuel tank (that's about the only place it can go, since I've no fairings, although I could mount it on the tail of the bike, if need be). The tank might be the best mount place, since I've seen much bike video footage that has a LOT of wind noise. I can purchase several mounting accessories for motorcyling, too (helmet mount or chest-mount straps).
About the only thing I'm worried about is if the suction cup fails if I decide to mount the camera outside the car. I'm thinking of fashioning a tether, but I don't want a huge dent in my car's aluminum, either. I'm gonna have to think this through.
I really can't wait to test this thing out some more, but I'm going to have to wait about a month before I can do autocross footage.
Monday, August 06, 2012
iMac Repaired
I got my iMac back last Thursday, but was unable to do anything more than pick it up from the Apple Store, since I had to immediately go on bereavement leave. I got back home today and I've just now finished installing Mountain Lion. It is NICE!
Yes, my hard disk had to be replaced, but I've verified that S.M.A.R.T. isn't showing errors. I'm now installing patches and will go through Time Machine to determine what I wanted restored to the drive...this'll be a week-long process.
So, stay tuned for whining and praises of Mountain Lion!
Yes, my hard disk had to be replaced, but I've verified that S.M.A.R.T. isn't showing errors. I'm now installing patches and will go through Time Machine to determine what I wanted restored to the drive...this'll be a week-long process.
So, stay tuned for whining and praises of Mountain Lion!
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
iMac showing SMART failure
Wow...this is the second time in a row where I'm having drive issues with my Mac. The firs time, it was my Macbook, where the drive outright failed. This time, it is my iMac.
I purchased Mountain Lion two days ago. I began to download it last night to install on my iMac and during the install process, I was asked to select where to install ML, so I selected the main drive. A pop-up appeared stating there were errors on the drive and that failure was imminent. It would not let me install.
So, I've made an appointment to the local (if you want to call it that) Genius Bar, for tomorrow morning. I've to pack up the 27" iMac and tote it to the Genius Bar. That's going to be a bit of a PITA. Then I'm probably going to be told that they'll have my iMac for a week or so...let's not hope I have to go through the same situation as my last visit.
Now, this problem is rampant on the Apple.com forums, as well as MacRumors.com. Many people were blaming Lion, but some people were running Snow Leopard when this occurred. I don't believe it is any Mac OS version, but something isn't quite right here. Many people were affected by this. The culprit is either a bad batch of drives, which Apple has a "recall" on (my system didn't qualify for this recall...weird), or a cooling issue that is adversely affecting hard drives, as many have complained that their systems are running excessively hot. Many people have also stated that OS X is becoming smart enough to actually correctly assess imminent drive failure (whereas the previous OSs were not able to do this consistently). That only partially explains the large amount of drive failure complaints...what's causing the failures?
Another thing: I have no idea how long my machine has been showing "fail" as a SMART status. You'd think the user/admin would be prompted somehow that there's an issue related to drive failure. I wasn't made aware until I tried to install v10.8. An admin shouldn't have to check the SMART status daily, weekly, or even monthly. Really...this is 2012 and an OS should somehow convey (proactively) the nature of such a status.
I've Time Machine, so I've a backup.
I purchased Mountain Lion two days ago. I began to download it last night to install on my iMac and during the install process, I was asked to select where to install ML, so I selected the main drive. A pop-up appeared stating there were errors on the drive and that failure was imminent. It would not let me install.
So, I've made an appointment to the local (if you want to call it that) Genius Bar, for tomorrow morning. I've to pack up the 27" iMac and tote it to the Genius Bar. That's going to be a bit of a PITA. Then I'm probably going to be told that they'll have my iMac for a week or so...let's not hope I have to go through the same situation as my last visit.
Now, this problem is rampant on the Apple.com forums, as well as MacRumors.com. Many people were blaming Lion, but some people were running Snow Leopard when this occurred. I don't believe it is any Mac OS version, but something isn't quite right here. Many people were affected by this. The culprit is either a bad batch of drives, which Apple has a "recall" on (my system didn't qualify for this recall...weird), or a cooling issue that is adversely affecting hard drives, as many have complained that their systems are running excessively hot. Many people have also stated that OS X is becoming smart enough to actually correctly assess imminent drive failure (whereas the previous OSs were not able to do this consistently). That only partially explains the large amount of drive failure complaints...what's causing the failures?
Another thing: I have no idea how long my machine has been showing "fail" as a SMART status. You'd think the user/admin would be prompted somehow that there's an issue related to drive failure. I wasn't made aware until I tried to install v10.8. An admin shouldn't have to check the SMART status daily, weekly, or even monthly. Really...this is 2012 and an OS should somehow convey (proactively) the nature of such a status.
I've Time Machine, so I've a backup.
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