Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

Jaguar wrote:

vansmack wrote:
Jag - there's no need to go wireless then in the short term.  Just get a VGA to Composite (RCA Jacks) or Component cable if your TV supports is (RGB) for $10 hook up your laptop to your TV that way.  That would run you under $10.

Several months ago, I was going to buy this which was suggested to me….. but then I read this:

"Product Description
This cable allows you to view pictures and videos from camcorders on your USB-enabled television or on your PC.
This item does not come with any software and HDE cannot provide any.
THIS CABLE WILL NOT WORK FOR CONNECTING A COMPUTER TO A TV. You cannot get an image signal through a USB port that way. This cable is not transferring data or files, it is only for viewing images on RCA-equipped camcorders."

Sounds like it won't work though not sure either.

and you did the right thing, since that cable wouldn't work for you.  whoever suggested that to you was wrong.

you want a VGA-to-composite (single RCA) cable; or VGA-to-component (multiple RCA) if your TV supports it.  there is no USB involved here.  the VGA port on your laptop is the one you use to hook up a projector (or in this case, an external monitor, AKA your TV).

You know, what - just get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Lake-Converter-compatible-Windows-S-Video/dp/B00351VWKI/ref=pd_cp_e_3

And choose what ever cables you want.

Thanks to both of you!

The scary thing is that the exact cable that won't work was suggested to me by my brother-in-law whose profession is in IT. Not the first time I doubted his 'knowledge' and ended up being right.

Actually, I might be better off getting both of your suggestions. I like having extra types of cables and such around for all sorts of functions. Thing is, it often seems that I end up needing just the type that I don't have.

This is close enough to what my computer is. Not exactly the same but, other than visuals, I haven't noticed much of a difference on the basics listed. Probably something in the finer print specs.

The tv is an old piece of crap with 3 RCA inputs in the front and I think one in the back.


Btw NKOTB and anyone else considering a Roku 2XS (don't even consider the lower models!): If you hook up a USB cable to the thing, it cannot read any drives on a computer (at least, mine in too illiterate to do so). You'll have to hook it up to an external harddrive. That works fine… until you then have to get past the stupidness of it being able to recognize your files. It sees some but not most. I'm still trying to figure out yet if it's because they aren't compatible files or if it's something goofy with the naming or folder issues. Luckily, I like old movies and some really off-beat and even bad ones or I'd be movieless unless I opted for some subscription. Have been considering Hulu Plus and ditching cable but not sold on that either. I like that they have the Criterion Collection which is the big seller for me as far as available services go.

walkonby wrote:
so . . . is blu ray dead yet?  i have one, but rarely watch anything on it, and when i do i have to readjust the sound settings on the tv so the background noise doesn't drown out the dialogue.  great way to watch movies but it seems tedious and not worth it at times.

Blu Ray  ;D

sweetcell wrote:
hope you bought, 'cause looks like this ship just might be turning around:

Or not…these projections are awful.  My only hope is the Amazon acquisition at this point:



Currently trading at $77.71(!)

Eesh.  I don't know why I'm so fascinated by this, but it's incredible.

In his letter to shareholders, Hastings detailed some of the challenges in acquiring content.

He wrote about how licensing deals in the TV and film sectors are typically based on exclusive deals and the rights to a lot of important content are already sewn up by others. As an example, Hastings cited the exclusive online rights that Universal Pictures has sold to HBO. What he doesn't say is that HBO has similar deals with 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. That's content from three of the top six Hollywood film studios that Netflix can't touch.

With the Starz deal dead, Netflix is without the most-sought after content from five of the six majors.

"Given the existing licensing structure of the cable network industry," Hastings wrote to shareholders, "the total content available will likely remain carved up between Netflix, Showtime, HBO, Hulu, and others."

What he's saying is don't expect too much from us with regard to the latest films from the major studios.

 

Exclusive deals suck for the consumer, but Netflix is really poorly positioned for the future.

That being said, I don't the movie studios are doing themselves any favors either with this confusing labyrinth of online selections…

I'm not sure if I've been waiting for this since Herbie Fully Loaded, but around then I guess is the "safe" answer:

Lindsay Lohan Strips Down for Playboy for Close to $1M

vansmack wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
hey smackie - did you know that amazon gives away one android app for free every day?

Yes, Kosmo and I were talking about it back in March.  Back then I wasn't sold on it, but now I TOTALLY am.  I have well over 60 free apps from them…

  What you really need is this the Amazon App Store Reminder.  Seems dumb to pay for something that is free, BUT at 7AM every morning I get a notification that tells me what the Free App of the day is with a link to DL it.  Pays for itself in no time….

I check daily for the Free App, probably get a third of them.  However, the best part of the Free App offer are the reviews.  The moaning about yet another Bejeweled or Tower Defense game, or it won't work on my ancient phone.  The recent active wallpaper app reviews were pretty hilarious as well..

But, the best reviews are by the clueless permissions vigilantes, who suddenly seem to be experts in what permissions they will and wont grant apps.  Most of their analysis's seem way off base.  The best example of cluelessness was over a recent version of the Target app, where everyone was convinced that it was mining all their contacts for nefarious reasons.  The outcry was so great Target had to update and remove a feature.  <insert people is dumb pic>

The comments are great, especially by the time I wake up - they've already gone the way of the crowd.

That being said, today's app is a gem.  It's MS Office for your smart phone.  I use Google Docs as much as I can but their are limitations.  Definitely pick up today's app, especially if you might own a Google based tablet some day (that's where I get most of my OfficeSuite mileage).

vansmack wrote:
The comments are great, especially by the time I wake up - they&#039;ve already gone the way of the crowd.

That being said, today&#039;s app is a gem.&nbsp; It&#039;s MS Office for your smart phone.&nbsp; I use Google Docs as much as I can but their are limitations.&nbsp; Definitely pick up today&#039;s app, especially if you might own a Google based tablet some day (that&#039;s where I get most of my OfficeSuite mileage).

so, i haven't bought my new phone yet (still fighting with corp IT, the GSII isn't officially supported yet) - can i DL this now and install later?

edit: i went through the steps of requesting it from Amazon, and it sent me a 1.3 MB .apk file for the Amazon app store, but not the installer for OfficeSuite.  because I've requested it on the website, will the app be sitting in my purchase history?  will i be able to DL it later, once the unhelpdesk allows me to buy my damn phone?

The vast majority my amazon apps are purchased, but not installed, however, I've purchased all of them via the phone app.

It's easy to check though - go to amazon.com, log into your account and scroll down to "Digital Content"

At the bottom of that list you'll see "Your apps and Devices"

Click that and you should see the app you "purchased" - as long as it's there you can install it from the apk on any phone you sync with that account (up to 10, I think) in perpetuity essentially. So it will be there when you get your new phone as long as you see it in your app list on amazon.

nope, nothing there in Appa & Devices .  i guess you have to install it via the amazon app store to have it show up as "installed".  requests through the website don't work (since that only gets you the app store, not the app itself).

sweetcell wrote:
nope, nothing there in Appa &amp; Devices .&nbsp; i guess you have to install it via the amazon app store to have it show up as &quot;installed&quot;.&nbsp; requests through the website don&#039;t work (since that only gets you the app store, not the app itself).

It looks like you have to have an authorized device.  When I purchase from the web, it asks me which of my devices I would like to send the app to - it look like you can't purchase from the web until you have an authorized device.

I have quite a few Google phones lying around.  I can install the APK on one of them, authorize the APK to work on your Amazon account and that should create your locker.  You can then "purchase" apps in the Amazon store and they will be available when you get your phone if you'd like. 

Anyone here have an iPad, Android phone, and Windows PCs?  I'm interested to hear how mixing OS's has worked for you.

i don't have an android yet, but we have PCs and ipad.  to date, i haven't needed to transfer anything between the ipad and the PCs that couldn't be done over the internet (attach to e-mail).  for the most part we use the ipad as a very pretty dumb terminal: access e-mail (personal and work), stream online content, having fantasy stats up as i watch a football game on the TV, etc.  playing games is maybe the only standalone functionality i use on the ipad.  i couldn't imagine getting any work done on the thing… MS Office docs without a keyboard?  no thanks.

do you have any concerns about mixing OSs?

I'm not as concerned about Windows to iOS, mostly about mixing Android and iOS … I've invested a fair amount of time in getting comfortable with Android apps and I'll need a whole new set of parallel apps for the iPad

i mostly used mine the same way as sweetcell. i'm chained to my thinkpad for anything work related though

twitter, facebook, sportstap, youtube and movies are the only apps i used more than everyone in a while

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
I&#039;m not as concerned about Windows to iOS, mostly about mixing Android and iOS … I&#039;ve invested a fair amount of time in getting comfortable with Android apps and I&#039;ll need a whole new set of parallel apps for the iPad

The features will be different for some, but not all.  They are all fairly close these days in terms of functionality.

The navigation structures are different between the two phones, but neither are very difficult.

The real downside will be for paid apps - you'll have to purchase two versions of the apps.

I made it to hand 100 in last night's WSOP main event.

I'm not sure what the ratings are going to indicate, but ESPN will probably rethink how they did that last night.  Finishing after midnight on the west coast, I doubt many east coast folks watched the final or set their DVR for nearly long enough to see the last hand.

didn't the "kid" win it all on an ace high??!!!