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Episode 187:
Robert's back from THX training, Vista Performance and Reliability Pack and more!
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What's new in Episode 187
STUFF
• Robert returned from his THX training in Southern California. He learned among many other things the importance of sound in a home theater. Specifically:
- It's all about the room - isolation, size, speaker placement
- Sub placement (standing waves/modal problems)
- The Center Channel is the most important speaker
- ~40 degree field of view (screen width per given distance) is optimal
- The remote (if done correctly) is often the favorite item in an HT setup
- Listen, listen, listen - getting intimate with speakers
• Vista Performance and Reliability Pack: Vista Performance and Reliability Pack released. NeoWin is reporting a new Vista update that resolves some performance and reliability issues users have been having with the OS. So don't forget to "update" Vista next Tuesday.
• AutoRuns for Windows: Grant has informed us of a probably the last Windows start-up utility you'll ever need and paradoxically enough it comes from Microsoft?.
• We're Coming Out On Joost and TiVo: Catch us and Cranky Geeks now on TiVoCast. It's easy to do and oh so convenient.
• Sonos Music System: If you're a fan of online radio stations like Pandora then the Sonos Digital Music System might be for you. Find out if streaming web or digital music to all points in your home is a worthwhile investment for you.
• Optical Mice: Sure optical rodents are dime a dozen, but when it comes to packing one of those rats with you when you travel are you better off with the desktop variety or one of those smaller pricer models?
• San Digeo Comic-Con 2007
The nerd-fest that is the San Diego Comic-Con is over. While the wild days of celebrity packed panels, signings, cosplayers and video games might be over you can still catch some of the fun by checking out the following:
- Super awesome looking Tux toys from October Toys. They have wonderful selection of Tux both big and small that will assuredly have any true Linux fan tickled pink.
- The Devil's Panties is a satirical web comic created Jennie Breeden. It's not super high brow but it is loads of fun. Check it out!
- Speaking of webcomics we can't forget Penny Arcade!. This online strip pokes fun wonderful world of videogaming and pop-culture nerds. Plus they got themselves a game coming out soon.
• We received a great question from Chad about encrypting IM sessions. Most popular IM clients don't but AIM along with Pidgin and Adium do. You do, however, need to enable them in application. Also checkout AIM Crypt as well as SimpLite-Lite.
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Posted by:
Ossi
July 31, 2007 3:50 PM
Thank you for an entertaining show. It is always nice to have you both back!
I really enjoy your show. Please keep us updated on the latest gadgets and software. I know it is often hard to find new topics, but you have done great so far!
Posted by:
James
August 1, 2007 1:30 AM
In the mouse story, what is up with Patrick's fingers? Couldn't hide those band aids. Looks like they went in a garbage disposal. lol Hmmm, there goes the hand model job. What the heck happened Patrick?
Posted by:
Ken
August 1, 2007 1:51 AM
I hate to kick a man while he is down, but plaese no more close-ups of Patrick's Hands. Dude did you stick your fingers in a jar of acid.
JK
Ken
Posted by:
Chris Feehan
August 1, 2007 9:12 AM
On the HDTV update its Component not Componant as displayed on the screen.
Can you guys do an in depth review of the benefits/limitations of Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD?
Can you report on which may be the best choice in light of recent news regarding Blockbuster and Target's Blu-Ray choice?
I know Robert has said in the past they both look fantastic at 1080P (just got a 1080P HDTV), but I don't want to get stuck buying the losing technology, and I would like your opinions.
Thanks
CureMode
Posted by:
reddragon72
August 1, 2007 2:01 PM
Hey Patrick you missed the MoGo mouse!
Great coverage on the Comicon as well....
Due tell about the sub placement for home theater's cause mine will knock pictures off of walls in every room but the room it is in, you can barely hear it, but step into ANY other room in the house and it's make you deaf!
Great show!! but again no updates on the Folding@home cause, we are kicking arse still!!!
Posted by:
Ned Cipollini
August 1, 2007 2:07 PM
In the notebook mouse "roundup", Robert mentioned the USB receiver length problem. Logitech just released the Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse, which has an incredibly tiny USB receiver. Check it out on the Logitech web site.
Posted by:
Christopher
August 1, 2007 11:20 PM
Unfortunately, Pandora will only work if you're in the US. I've been wanting to check it out, but they block any connections from Japanese IP's. I'll be back soon, though, so I look forward to checking it out.
Posted by:
CCheeks
August 2, 2007 11:12 AM
This is just a little tip I learned about for speaker placement, mainly the subwoofer, to get the "money seat". Put the sub in the seat you will most likely sit in to watch your movies and them walk around the room until you hear what sounds the best to you. That should be the spot you place the sub box. Therefore when you sit in your seat you should hear the sound as you did when you and the speaker was reversed, if that makes any sense. :-)
Posted by:
Bob
August 2, 2007 11:55 AM
The Vista Compatibility and Reliability Pack links are dead or have been removed. Just letting ppl know...
Posted by:
reddragon72
August 2, 2007 1:11 PM
JustDavid.... The KB's were removed from the Mediafire server at MS's request due to them still finishing the Beta segment. The rest of what is said by the reviewer is all speculation and not fact. Lets just see what happens here in the future.
BTW google is your friend if you really want to install these....
Posted by:
Nagilum
August 2, 2007 3:34 PM
Regarding the IM encryption I can strongly recommend OTR - Off The Record messaging.
Check out the wikipedia article about it for the theory behind it.. There are plugins for Gaim/Pidgin/Adium, Miranda and probably other clients as well.
With the aforementioned clients OTR can be employed on all protocols. And of course the whole thing is free.
Posted by:
Anders Lund
August 4, 2007 3:24 PM
Autoruns - warning! This is a very powerfull tool and you can render your Windows installation useless very fast.
I have just made some adjustments and removing RDPNP (On WinXP) makes a BSOD error. Booting in safe mode made it work again.
Just a warning, that you could seriously hurt your Windows.
Posted by:
Sean
August 6, 2007 8:08 PM
Patrick, you mentioned a list that you subscribe to, called the nerds or something, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. You mentioned it before the Autorun demo and I think the Vista patch. Can you provide a link?
Posted by:
Marshall
September 9, 2007 11:33 AM
I think it is important to stress that THX certification doesn't necessarily mean one product is better than another. It just means that the manufacturer of a THX certified product was willing to pay the big $$ to have their product certified.
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