The sleek Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme allows Thunderbolt-equipped computers to import and export HDMI video

Streaming live video from a camera into a computer has never been more difficult than today. Now that cameras rely on HDMI rather than simple composite, S-Video, or FireWire ports, it can be extremely difficult to connect them to a computer. That’s why I was thrilled to see the announcement by Blackmagic Design of two Thunderbolt versions of their respected Intensity video input/output box. But which is the better choice, the Intensity Shuttle or Intensity Extreme?

Introducing the Blackmagic Design Intensity

Blackmagic Design is well known for their inexpensive yet professional quality audio/video hardware and software. I first became acquainted with the company at NAB Show last year, coming away impressed by their broad lineup of video input and output devices. But the one that really caught my eye was the Thunderbolt-enabled Intensity Extreme.

You might also want to read The First Thunderbolt Peripherals On Display At NAB Show

“Intensity” is Blackmagic’s line of HDMI capture and playback devices. The Intensity Pro (internal PCIe) and Intensity Shuttle (external USB 3.0) have been available for a while. These offer a wide range of video capture and playback connections including HDMI, S-Video, component, and composite. Both are compatible with a wide range of professional editing software, including Avid Media Composer 6, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere Pro.

You can't use this Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro in a MacBook Pro, but the same components make up the other Intensity products

HDMI capture is critical for the latest generation of cameras, since most do not stream video over FireWire any longer. There is a vibrant market for “new old stock” and even used Canon HD camcorders with FireWire output, since these were the last to reliably stream live video to computers for use with webcasting applications.

The Intensity line opens up a whole world of cameras, including many HD camcorders as well as SLR and mirrorless cameras like my Sony NEX. This will lead to higher quality video for live streams of events like my Tech Field Day and Truth in IT seminar series.

The Thunderbolt Enabled Intensity Shuttle and Intensity Extreme

Although Apple Macintosh computers are widely used for live streaming, they have not been able to take advantage of the Blackmagic Intensity line due to Apple’s steadfast refusal to adopt USB 3.0. All that changes with the introduction of the Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt and Intensity Extreme.

The Blackmagic Design Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt may not look as cool, but it just might be the better product!

Both the Intensity Shuttle and Intensity Extreme feature HDMI input and output and Thunderbolt connectivity for Apple MacBook Pro laptops. Both also include a variety of alternative input/output options, including S-Video, composite, and component. Both versions are also compatible with a wide range of popular software, include a bundle of Blackmagic applications, and share the same internal components.

So what’s the difference between the Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt and Intense Extreme, apart from a $60-higher price tag for the latter? The most obvious difference is the gorgeous machined aluminum case on the Intensity Extreme, which totally outclasses the two-tone plastic of the Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt. The Intensity Extreme relies on a breakout cable rather than the lineup of connectors along the edges of the Intensity Shuttle. Perhaps the Intensity Extreme is more rugged, but I prefer the light weight and integrated connectors of the Intensity Shuttle.

There are only slight differences between Blackmagic's Intensity Shuttle and Intensity Extreme products

A quick look at the tech specs for the two devices shows some subtle but, perhaps, important differences. The Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt supports 8 channel audio input and output for HDMI connections, while the Intensity Extreme only lists dual channel support. But the Intensity Extreme is alone in featuring a 2-channel 24-bit SPDIF audio output port. The Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt appears to support a wider range of video formats, including 480p, 525p NTSC and 625p PAL, though this could perhaps be an oversight in the specifications listing.

Both versions of the Blackmagic Intensity require the separate purchase of Apple’s $50 Thunderbolt cable, and both appear to draw power from this port rather than increasing travel weight with an extra power supply.

I know I would lose the breakout cable for the Intensity Extreme...

Stephen’s Stance

Overall, I’m thrilled to see Blackmagic bring HDMI video input and output to the Thunderbolt ports found on most Apple computers, and the low price of the Intensity products is certainly welcome. Personally, I will choose the Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt for its lighter weight and no-breakout connectivity, and use the $60 I saved to purchase the Apple Thunderbolt cable. I’m not convinced that the minor technical differences between the 2 devices are a dealbreaker for me, though I can imagine some might demand the SPDIF audio port found only on the Intensity Extreme. Note that neither device is yet shipping, but Blackmagic promises to deliver them this quarter.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | Preview: Two Thunderbolt Video Input and Output Devices from Blackmagic Design: Intensity Shuttle and Intensity Extreme
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

I started by explaining a little bit about radio waves generally. “There are radio signals that are very low frequency, with a long wavelength, as well as those that are very high frequency.”

“What do you mean? What are radio signals?”

“Radio signals are like waves in water,” I said. My wife, the science teacher, quickly brought up a picture of the electromagnetic spectrum as an illustration. “There are tiny, ultra-high-frequency gamma rays and x-rays, as well as light waves in the middle and lower frequency radio waves.”

“So there are radio waves all around us right now?”

“Radio signals are like light, only in a color you can’t see,” I explained. “Every radio device sends it signals out in all directions, hoping an antenna will pick them up. And the spectrum of all these frequencies is divided up into segments like television channels.”

Big mistake: My TiVo-raised kids have no idea what a television channel is. But they had some idea about radio stations and could understand that different frequencies could contain different information.

So I transitioned into a discussion of congestion. “The phone and the computer are like flashlights, but it’s hard to see a flashlight in a bright room. If the room has blue lights, and you turn on a red flashlight, it will be obvious. But a blue one would be almost invisible!”

“So why is 5 GHz Wi-Fi so much faster than our old network,” asked the kids.

“There are 2 reasons,” I answered. “First, the 2.4 GHz spectrum used by regular Wi-Fi is really crowded, with lots of devices sharing it. Even telephones, cameras, and microwave ovens use that frequency! Second, 5 GHz has a lot more space for everyone to share, so much that you can even use wider channels.”

“Why don’t they just make more space for regular 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?”

“They can’t! There’s just too many other people using radio signals around there, and they can’t move them around. The same thing happened in 900 MHz, and it might eventually happen in 5 GHz, too,” I explained. “It’s important that someone regulate who uses what frequency or it would be chaos. Imagine if anyone could drive in any direction anywhere on the highway!”

“It would be pretty cool to be able to see radio waves,” one of the kids commented.

“You can,” I answered. “A friend of mine makes a little device you plug into the computer, and it allows you to see all the signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It’s used by Wi-Fi engineers to plan networks. My friend gave me one, if you’d like to see it!”

I grabbed my laptop and Wi-Spy DBx card, started VMware Fusion, and launched MetaGeek’s Chanalyzer application. In a few minutes, I had a screen full of signals in the 2.4 GHz range. Although we live in a quiet suburb with large lawns, there were dozens of devices sharing that paltry spectrum.

This is why we can't have nice things...

I then switched over to the 5 GHz band. After a moment, we saw our first 5 GHz signal. Then we saw some more, all clustered around channel 100. A quick option click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar showed us that the Ruckus access point was indeed using channel 100. The only signal in the entire 5 GHz band was our own access point!

5 GHz is like a beautiful, open highway

After a while, we did see some others stray signals in the 5 GHz band. But Chanalyzer gave a wonderful visual demonstration of the contention in 2.4 GHz and the wide open spaces in 5 GHz.

I was even able to demonstrate the wider channels used by the Ruckus access point and my MacBook Pro. The kids walked away with a better understanding of electromagnetic waves, radio devices, and the rules that govern their use. Special thanks to Tech Field Day sponsors, Ruckus Wireless and MetaGeek for making this little demonstration possible!

Disclaimer: Ruckus Wireless and MetaGeek gave me the products mentioned in this post free of charge as part of Tech Field Day. I still may have had this conversation without them, but I wouldn’t have had such exciting visuals!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | Teaching Science with Wi-Fi (Thanks, Ruckus and MetaGeek!)
This post was categorized as Apple, Ask a Pack Rat, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Das Keyboard promises that their Model S for Mac is a worthy successor to the legendary IBM Model M, but I beg to differ

I make my living typing, and always have. From my days as a systems administrator to today doing whatever it is that I do, half my waking hours are spent in front of the keyboard. I’ve long used a very specific and much loved keyboard: A 1987 IBM Model M. But, in need of Macintosh keys and a USB connection, I jumped at the opportunity to pick up the brand-new Das Keyboard Model S for Mac. Here’s what I thought of it, my recommendation, and why I’m sending it back.

What I Look for in a Keyboard

I literally spend 8 to 10 hours a day typing, and I’ve gotten fairly fast over the last 2 decades. The only really satisfactory keyboard I have ever used is the one I continued to use most of that time, an IBM Model M manufactured in 1987. What’s so great about this keyboard that people like me continue to use them?

The IBM Model M is “defend your house from zombies” solid, with a thick steel backing plate and rigid plastic case. The “buckling springs” under each key give a perfect “press and pop” feeling, with each key press rewarding the finger and ear with a satisfying “clack.” This old-school typewriter feel is much sought after, and has spurred a vibrant aftermarket for otherwise-obsolete IBM keyboards.

To see how to use an old 101-key keyboard with a Mac, see Command and Control: The Clash of Keyboards

But I use a Mac. Macs have USB ports and make heavy use of the control, option, and command keys. IBM Model M keyboards are short on keys, and use AT or PS/2 connectors, making them less than compatible with Apple Macintosh computers, or recent Windows PCs, for that matter.

Introducing the Das Keyboard Model S For Mac

The Das Keyboard Model S is smaller and lighter than the IBM Model M

I’ve heard rumblings about Das Keyboard and their enthusiast oriented clicky keyboards for a while, but they only recently came out with a product specifically designed for use with Apple Macintosh computers. The Model S line uses Cherry MX blue mechanical key switches, known for their satisfying tactile feel. And the Model S for Mac includes Option and Command keys, along with media and sleep keys for use with Mac OS X.

Not having used a Das Keyboard, I decided to give it a try to see if it really “compares to the legendary IBM Model M”, as promised on the company’s website. I went ahead and ordered my keyboard, and it shipped much more quickly than I had expected. I must’ve gotten one of the first keyboards off the line, because the estimated ship date is still a month from now!

The Das Keyboard Model S is truly an enthusiast oriented keyboard, with 6 key rollover and a built-in USB hub. But the USB hub uses a separate connector from the keyboard, is only 2 ports, and interferes with right-handed use of mice or Apple’s Magic Trackpad. The dark glossy finish contrasts with flat black keys, though I do not care for the illegible lowercase font used by Das Keyboard.

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

Shipping was fast, but I was surprised by the small size and light weight of the box I received. The inner container, though glossy and thankfully not overly verbose, looks and feels cheaper than one would expect from a high-end enthusiast product. Honestly, it would get lost on the shelves at Fry’s or Micro Center amid thir ocean of worthless, mushy, flexy junk keyboards.

This is a shame, because the keyboard itself really is impressive in a “2001 monolith” or “Death Star” sort of way. The sharp angles make it appear at once smaller than it is, yet more substantial than the plastic junk most companies call keyboards. The style is entirely different from the slim slabs of aluminum sold by Apple, yet both are iconic in their own way.

But the Das Keyboard Model S for Mac feels much lighter than its 3 pound weight would suggest. Although I didn’t expect it to have the same heft as my 6 pound IBM Model M, it does not feel much more substantial than the cheap Compaq keyboard I had sitting in my closet. The keys are extremely lightweight, with a feathery feel that filled me with dread. This is no Model M.

Das Keyboard Model S Typing Feel

I gave the Das Keyboard a thorough workout, using it exclusively for over a week of heavy typing. Although I could type just as fast on the Model S as the trusty IBM, I did not enjoy the feel at all.

Cherry’s MX Blue switches have a two-piece “snap” design Image: GeekHack.org	IBM Model M uses a buckling spring Image: WakWak.com

The Cherry MX blue key switches do indeed have a nice snap, but they are undone by an overall feeling of lightness to the action. The keycaps do not feel “locked in” or solidly-connected, They wobble slightly as you type, and are so light that you may not know you’ve pressed them at all if not for the snap and pop of the switch.

What’s worse, in fast typing I found myself “getting ahead of” the key switches. Unless released to spring back nearly their entire travel, the switch will not snap or pop at all on the next press, though the character input will still register. Perhaps it is my typing style that is at fault, but I found myself typing extra characters without knowing it.

I’m disappointed that Das Keyboard would emphasize the comparison between this keyboard and the Model M so strongly in their marketing materials, and disgusted that reviewers would go along with this farce. No one who had ever tried both back-to-back would ever make this comparison. Das Keyboard is fine on its own, but is nothing like a Model M. It’s like slamming the door on a Honda Civic and a Mercedes S Class: Both are satisfying, but there’s no mistaking one for the other.

Another peculiarity of the Das Keyboard Model S for Mac is its handling of the media keys. Unlike Apple’s own keyboard, and the Unicomp Spacesaver M I am currently typing on, the Das Keyboard requires one to press the function key to activate the media keys. And these media keys are oddly shifted to the left: reverse, play/pause, and fast-forward are on F6, F7, and F8 rather than F7, F8, and F9; mute, volume down, and volume up are similarly shifted from F10 through F12 to F9 through F11. I find this extremely curious in a keyboard designed for the Mac.

Stephen’s Stance

Make no mistake, the Das Keyboard Model S for Mac is a whole class better than the plastic junk most people use, and the snappy Cherry MX blue key switches are more rewarding than any scissor or membrane keyboard out there. But this is no IBM Model M, so buckling spring fans should look elsewhere. I would not hesitate to recommend the Das Keyboard Model S for Mac to anyone looking for an alternative to Apple’s scissor key aluminum slabs or built-in MacBook keyboards, but I will be returning mine and evaluating a Unicomp Spacesaver M instead.

Pros:

• Great to see a company so committed to the keyboard, a critical computer component
• Classy black monolith shape
• Good (but not great) Cherry MX blue keyswitches
• Macintosh keys (option, command, and media)

Cons:

• Totally different feel from the IBM Model M feel, despite Das Keyboard’s marketing
• Paltry 2 USB ports are in the wrong spot and use their own separate cable
• Mac media keys mis-located and require function-Fx press
• More expensive than the son-of-Model M sold by Unicomp

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | Review: Das Keyboard Model S for Mac (and Why I’m Sending It Back)
This post was categorized as Apple, Features, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The Clear PXU1900 WiMAX modem is cheap, and daily service is a steal

The first thing you need is a Clear modem. Luckily, eBay is flooded with their PXU1900 USB modem, starting around $25. I bought mine a year ago for a bit more, and it’s a nice backup Internet device provided you’re in their service area and near a window. Clear WiMAX performance drops precipitously indoors but is perfectly speedy in the clear (if you forgive the pun).

You’d probably also like reading my Hands-On Review: Clear WiMAX Service (and PXU1900 USB Modem)

Next, you need service. Do not sign up for a monthly subscription: With Clear going down the tubes, this is a seriously bad investment. Instead, just sign up for one of their on-demand plans whenever you need to get online.

You won’t find Clear’s 2-hour pass, 24 hour pass, or 1 week pass listed online. It’s clear that the company doesn’t want users using these. But they are available if you have a modem and want to get online!

Download and install the latest version of the modem software, launch the CLEAR Connection Manager, and insert the modem. It will search for a signal and hopefully be able to connect.

Clear has a message for you! (Hint: It's a set of undocumented short-term plans!)

Do not click “My Account” – that’s only for monthly subscribers! Instead, just open your browser and type in any URL. Clear will redirect you to a special page announcing they have “an important message for you”. This is your gateway to the undocumented short-term passes!

Be patient while waiting for these pages to load. They always take forever – 5 minutes today! This kind of focus on customer experience probably explains Clear’s success…

http://www.clear.com/plans

Click “Continue” and you will be taken https://home.clear.com/account/casual-use-reactivate. From there, you can log in or create a special account just for “casual use”.

This is much more reasonable than signing up for monthly service with a dying company!

There are three “casual use” service plans available, but you won’t find these listed on the official Clear service plans page:

• 2 hours for $5
• 24 hours for $10
• 1 week for $25

All are unlimited with no download speed throttling. Pick whichever works best for your needs and you’re online!

By the way, pairing a Clear modem with a Cradlepoint router allows you to keep it near the window for better service.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | Cheap, No-Contract 4G Data: Clear’s Undocumented Daily- and Weekly-Pass Plans
This post was categorized as Apple, Deals, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

All Your Lttrs Ar Blong To Us!

Here’s the problem: You’re dictating happily into Mail or some other supported application (even Word) and suddenly one letter starts disappearing from everything entered. Maybe it’s the E, or the T, but some random letter just goes away.

nd ll of your text strts looking like this.

Dictation still works fine, it’s just the text entry that’s broken. And of course, you can still dictate into Note Pad in Dictate without an error. The only solution at this point is to exit Dictate and restart.

Apparently, the new in-line spelling correction engine in Mac OS X Lion is causing this new issue with Dragon Dictate. Any time OS X corrects your spelling or (more likely) inserts appropriate accent marks, Dictate loses its mind and can no longer correctly enter some random letter.

There are two ways to fix this problem (apart from just restarting Dictate all the time):

1. Disable OS X spell correction in the Language & Text System Preferences panel under the Text tab. Then restart Dictate and it will no longer trip over accent characters and auto corrections. Of course, you will lose automatic spell correction as well.
2. Strangely, it appears that if you disable spell correction before launching Dragon Dictate and then enable it afterwards you get the best of both worlds: In-line spell correction and no more bug bites from Dictate. I haven’t tested this long, but it hasn’t failed me yet.

Sriously? I hav to disabl spll corrction to kp Dragon Dictat from dropping lttrs all th tim?

Contrary to rumors and suggestions from Dragon tech support, TextExpander is not the culprit in this particular bug. I found no difference when enabling, disabling, or closing TextExpander. It was only when I disabled OS X spell correction that I was able to eliminate it.

 Why Keep Using Dragon Dictate?

I do wish that Dragon would correct these of noxious usability gaffes, since the recognition engine is actually pretty strong. I just wonder if anyone at Dragon actually uses this application, or if they just put out there hoping it will work.

A fair question is why I keep using Dragon Dictate even though I despise using it. Truthfully, I get a huge amount of value from dictation software generally, and have been using it since my Windows days. Dragon is the only game in town for Mac dictation, so people like me who like dictation software have no other choice.

I intend to continue to use Dragon Dictate despite its flaws, in hopes that the company will improve the product. But I’m frankly not that hopeful this will happen, considering the long history of unresolved bugs and frustrating usability issues.

I only hope that Apple will integrate dictation into Mac OS X more thoroughly, since this would eliminate the majority of issues I have Using Dragon Dictate.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | The Case of the Missing Letters: Another Obnoxious Bug in Dragon Dictate
This post was categorized as Apple. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

This GE lightbulb expired after just 5/100 of one percent of its promised useful life. And it is not the first of these bulbs I have seen fail so quickly. That's why I wrote the install date right on the base and save my receipt.

The idea of a product warranty is fairly simple: a company “warrants” that, should their product fail in a specified period of time and circumstances, they will repair or replace it. But the implication of the product warranty is far more subtle: it tells the consumer what level of reliability they should expect. In short, a warranty is all about confidence. But when does a warranty become a confidence game?

Typical retail products are backed by warranties ranging from a few months to a few years. Some products, such as cars and major appliances, are warranted for far longer. Products generally carry a warranty that matches their expected lifetime, and consumers have come to expect that products will last roughly this long.

But there can be quite a bit of gamesmanship in product warranties. Companies can “one up” their competitors by offering longer warranties, a typical tactic for up-and-coming car manufacturers, for example. A longer warranty is a promise to consumers that product quality has improved, as well as a security blanket in case this is untrue.

Companies also game the terms of their warranties. It is not uncommon to find that the “10 year warranty” on a new car only covers the engine and transmission, or that the 3 year warranty offered by Apple only includes one year of technical support. But the generous length of coverage is what gets attention, regardless of the terms and conditions.

Companies know this, and sometimes they offer warranties that they never expect to be called on to meet. Consider the incredible shrieking warranties on hard disk drives in the wake of the Thai flooding disaster. Seagate and Western Digital did not suddenly begin to cut corners on drive quality. Rather, they simply decided that they could no longer afford the extra cost of drive replacement and shrunk the warranty to match.

A recent example in my hands was a compact fluorescent (CFL) floodlight that carried a 4 year warranty from GE. It failed after just 41 days of occasional use in my kitchen, not the 6000 hours promised on the package. But the terms of the warranty made it clear that the company never expected to replace the product: I would have to mail it to Cleveland at my own expense, along with my original sales receipt, in hopes of receiving a replacement. This replacement transaction would probably cost far more than the bulb itself, so it is clear that the warranty was just a bunch of hot air.

I rarely purchase extended warranties for products, and never even consider offbrand or store offered warranty products. These are generally a scam, with vendors hoping that customers will forget or misplace warranty materials before a claim is needed. The only exception for me is AppleCare, which I happily purchased on my MacBook Pro after having the logic board replaced in my previous Apple computer. I even purchased the new AppleCare+ package for my iPhone 4S, since I really can’t survive without a phone.

What does this say about warranties and consumer expectations? Clearly, companies know that customers put a great deal of faith in product warranties, whether deserved or not. And customers have come to expect that a product with a longer warranty will offer a longer useful life. Sadly, this is often not the case, and many companies never expects to live up to the expectations they set right on the package.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | What’s the Point of a Warranty, Anyway?
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Learn to drive a Ford Model T and you will be amazed how automobile controls have progressed! It looks similar but it's totally different from today's cars.

“The nice thing about standards is that you have so many to choose from.” Andrew Tanenbaum’s statement may be a cynical and dismissive, but it’s not far from the mark. Indeed, there are a great many standards, perhaps as many as there are efforts to standardize the world around us! But what good are standards, really?

The 3 Standard Types

In technical fields, standardization is a process of establishing a specification, definition, or procedure that is generally applicable. In other words, a standard is the exact opposite of a one-off or proprietary item.

End-users and vendors often clamor for standardization, though not usually for the same reasons:

• End users like standards because they promote options and tend to drive down costs
• Incumbent vendors like standards that give them control over the market or competitors, while challengers prefer “open standards” that allow them entry

Not all standards are created equal, however. Some are designed to be open and free to use, while others simply fall into widespread use. Some are designed by committee, while others are driven by a dominant player in the market. Generally, standards fall into one or more of the following categories:

• De facto standards emerge “accidentally” as they become used more and more broadly. In many cases, companies are hesitant for their developments to become de facto standards, since they may lose control of the market and usage of their products.
• De jure standards are legally binding requirements from contracts, laws, or regulations. These are quite rare, and often adopted only when absolutely required to ensure safety or avoid major market upheaval.
• Other standards are made available on a voluntary basis, in hopes that they will be used. Whether designed by a committee or a single entity, voluntary standards usually serve to encourage market development.

Whose Standard Is It?

When considering one standard or another, it’s important to keep in mind it’s origin. Sony’s Memory Stick, the Blu-Ray disc, the Apple dock connector, the Microsoft Windows API, and so many more were all developed to lock in licensing and product revenue. Although it is beneficial to consumers to have standard camera media, multimedia discs, and such, these were not developed solely with the interests of consumers in mind.

Automobiles present an interesting case in standardization. It may come as a surprise to the uninitiated, but nearly every part of the car is proprietary, right down to the control mechanisms we take for granted while driving. Certain elements (seatbelts, windshield wipers, and the gasoline fill valve) are indeed de jure standards, but most everything else is subject to the whims of each manufacturer. Think of how difficult it is to operate the air conditioning or set the cruise control in a rental car. Then go to the auto parts store and see just how many different air filters they stock!

Consumers generally benefit when broadly accepted standards emerge, regardless of the origin. The Edison screw base on a lightbulb, for example, was developed to encourage a market for electric light fixtures but also to secure licensing revenue for the Edison company. In contrast, the “flash shoe” found the top most high-end cameras developed accidentally and incrementally over the last century. Both are now de facto standards out of control of their originators, but despite major shortcomings the value of interchangeability has made them commonplace.

Stephen’s Stance

I certainly benefit from standardization of the world around me, and I welcome interoperability and interchangeability as well as the price and product selection advantages. But I am not blithely focused on standardization above all else. I will happily use a proprietary solution if the alternative is inelegant, ineffective, or insufficient.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | The Myths of Standardization
This post was categorized as Apple, Computer History, Features, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

StarTech 2-in-1 Mini-USB and Micro-USB Combo Cable

Perhaps sensing my cable fetish, StarTech offered to mail me their latest invention: A T-headed cable with both mini USB and micro USB connectors. The tiny cable arrived in a massive box, and I immediately went about plugging it into just about everything I could find.

Sure enough, it’s a cable. You plug things into it, and it connects to them. There’s really nothing special at all about this tiny cable apart from the fact that it includes both micro- and mini-USB connectors. Unfortunately, the micro-USB side does not include any of the special resistors required by devices like Novatel’s MiFi routers.

Retractable USB Cables

The StarTech cable is really an awful lot like my previous solution: A retractable mini-USB cable from Emerge. I’ve had a whole pile of retractable cables in the past, and they always fail me. They either fray and break at the ends or the retraction mechanism stops locking. Higher-quality cables from companies like Emerge and Belkin seem to last a bit longer, but I’m not sure if their high price is really justified.

I do like the fact that retractable cables sit neatly in my bag, however. And I’ve picked up a few adapters along the way, including a mini-USB to micro-USB adapter from Motorola. Sadly, this won’t power a Novatel MiFi either, so I have to carry the bulky Novatel power brick wherever I go.

The Accursed Apple Dock Connector

I have a lot of devices from the Cupertino Fruit Company, and they all seem to use proprietary cables of various sorts. My bag currently includes both fixed and retractable Apple dock connector cables as well as both 1 Amp and 2.1 Amp supplies for the iPhone and iPad, respectively. I even have a dual USB 2.1 Amp car charger left in the outlet by the previous renter.

Probably the coolest solution to the Apple dock connector conundrum comes from Apple itself by way of European Union regulations requiring mobile phones to use a standard micro-USB cable. This little guy is only available in EU countries currently, but I’ll definitely be dropping £8 on one the next time I am in the UK.

Stephen’s Stance

Cables are the bane of my existence as a business traveler. They’re always getting misplaced or lost, and you can never find the absolute perfect one for the job. The StarTech has earned a spot in my bag since I can’t lose the tip, but I’ll keep looking for a cable that will charge my Novatel MiFi. What’s your favorite cable?

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | In Search of the Perfect USB Cable
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Isn't this thing supposed to be easy and reliable?

Although I love Verizon’s super-fast LTE service, I’ve had no end of trouble with my Novatel 4510L MiFi device. On a whim, while traveling, I discovered a new software update that promise to fix many of the vexing issues I’ve had. But it caused one massive issue: the thing stopped working entirely. Happily, I found a solution online and I’m now back up and running.

My Novatel 4510 L MiFi was pick of the litter a few months ago, but now the bloom is off the rose. I’ve had many issues with it, including a refusal to connect to Wi-Fi devices in a vexing issue where it will not stay powered on while plugged in. Early on, I also had issues switching between CDMA and LTE but these were resolved in a previous firmware update.

While traveling in San Diego, I decided to have a look at the Verizon webpage to see if the new firmware version had been released in the last few months. Low and behold, a document described why and how to update to the newest version, 2.23. Happily, there was even a Mac version of the firmware updater (though this would be the group to all my trouble last night).

I followed the instructions in Verizon’s PDF file, apparently successfully updating the MiFi. Everything looked great until I powered the device back on and attempted to connect to the Internet. Although the status on the nifty e-paper screen showed normal, the green LTE LED refused to flash. The MiFi simply would not connect to Verizon’s network.

In a fit of whimsy, I decided to contact Verizon customer service about the issue. Although no mobile providers tech-support line has ever been able to help me with anything, the Verizon tech was surprisingly knowledgeable and friendly. But of course she was totally unable to diagnose or fix the problem, simply offering to mail a replacement device to my home.

That’s when I hit the Internet, and found the solution right there on Verizon’s own tech support forum. Apparently, the Mac updater always installs firmware version 2.23 incorrectly, “bricking” every device it comes in contact with. That’s some awesome software quality right there, I tell you.

The solution is to use an executable in the Windows software updater to reenable the modem and reflash the software. I followed the instructions of “JeffR” out of desperation, and amazingly enough everything worked. I now have a functional MiFi as well as the replacement in the mail. I now have to decide whether I should keep my original device (which has been flaky) or send it back and keep the replacement. But at least I can get online while I am in San Diego.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | How Software Update 2.23 Killed My Verizon MiFi 4510L (And How I Brought It Back to Life Again)
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I really do like the bumper with the iFixit transparent back!

Let me explain. The key moment of the story is when I used the updated Apple Store app on my phone to scan the barcode on the bumper package and pay for it online using my Apple account. No one in the store saw me do this, and I opted to receive my receipt through e-mail. I’m still not sure how Apple plans to keep shoplifters at bay.

Maybe I need to explain a little more what is happening here. Apple was one of the first companies to do away with fixed cash registers at the front of the store, opting for mobile payment devices in the hands of their “associates” on the floor. Now they have implemented do-it-yourself payment called “EasyPay” using the iPhone in just about every customer’s pocket.

"Thank you for walking out with merchandise without talking to us!"

The combination of in-store network connectivity, a high quality built-in camera, and perhaps the most complete database of customer credit cards in existence allows Apple to introduce a really revolutionary shopping experience. But is it revolutionary in a good way? I definitely felt like I was doing something wrong, even though I waited for my confirmation e-mail and PDF receipt before walking out of the store.

Supposedly, store management and associates are notified whenever a customer buys something in this manner. But how could they possibly know who it was? There’s no way they could locate a phone in the store with that kind of granularity, and I didn’t see any indication that the app snapped a picture or otherwise identified me. Maybe store security just isn’t looking out for middle-aged guys acting suspiciously with iPhone bumpers.

I’m still nervous about paying for things at the Apple Store in this way. But it’s hard to deny the speed and convenience of the transaction. I was in and out in just a couple of minutes and never once talked to an employee. Maybe I’ll get used to it, or maybe Apple will decide that it really wasn’t such a good idea after all. But I paid for my bumper. Honestly, I did. And it looks great with the new transparent iPhone 4S back plate from iFixit!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | A Nerve-Racking Revolution at the Apple Store
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.