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I decided to post this for anyone shopping for a technology geek. Also, I figured it might be interesting to see what was on my 2006 list several years from now. I should be clear that don’t need one single thing on this list, but it would be kinda neat to have. Here is the ordered list, with “highest-desirability” items first. Garmin 010-00467-00 Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor (Amazon link) $270 – I try to make myself go running 3 times a week. It would be great to know how far, how fast, and my current heart-rate, so I can better trackRead More →

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Overview: ReplayGain [Add explanation of lossless ReplayGain, how it does not modify the original music data, only writes a metadata tag, usually uses Ogg Vorbis tags instead of mp3 tags, etc.] WaveGain is an application of gain algorithms to standard PCM wave files. Where it differs from the other applications of this principle is that the gain adjustments are applied directly to adjusting the scaling of the samples. In other words, the option to write tags that can be read by other applications to apply the gain adjustment does not exist, so the adjustments are made directly to the data on-file. Therefore, in the strictestRead More →

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In: Home Theater
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Recommended Seating Distances and Resolution benefits (small)I’ve read various articles debating the importance of the 1080p. I want to set the record straight once and for all: if you are serious about properly setting-up your viewing room, you will definitely benefit from 1080p (and even 1440p.) Why? Because the 1080p resolution is the first to deliver enough detail to your eyeball when you are seated at the proper distance from the screen. But don’t just take my word for it, read on for the proof.

There are a few obvious factors to being able to detect resolution differences: the resolution of the screen, the size of the screen, and the viewing distance. To be able to detect differences between resolutions, the screen must be large enough and you must sit close enough. So the question becomes “How do I know if need a higher resolution or not?”. Here is your answer.

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In: Home Theater
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I just read the The case against 1080p article on cnet by David Carnoy. I think the article offers pretty decent commentary on side-by-side viewing comparisons of 720p and 1080p flat panels. However, the article states that it “isn’t the most scientific test” and that “At larger screen sizes, the differences might become somewhat more apparent, especially if you sit close to the screen.” Kudos to the author for pointing these out; I’ve addressed these issues in this post, which explains when and why 1080p (and 1440p) are important. I’m particularly impressed that the cnet article references the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), stating the theRead More →

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In: Web
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This is an update of my previous list of Firefox 1.5 Extensions. I’m a long-time user of the Mozilla and Firefox browsers. The base feature set is amazing but the extensions are what really make this browser a requirement. Here are my favorite extensions: Required (I use constantly): Tab Mix Plus: If I had to choose only one extension, this would be it. It makes the tabs behave any way you want them to behave. I use it to make child tabs open beside their parent, for the title text to be blue when the tab is unread, to show page download status in theRead More →

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In: Home Theater
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Disclaimers: First of all, this project discusses extracting the audio from DVD Video discs, not DVD-A / DVD Audio discs. DVD-Audio discs use an advanced form of encryption than cannot be digitally extracted / ripped. Extracting / ripping may be a violation of local laws. These instructions should only be used for content you own and it should only be used for personal use only. Overview: You think to yourself “why purchase both the CD and DVD of a concert when the DVD contains all the audio you need?” Since you purchased the audio on the DVD, it makes sense that you would copy audioRead More →

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In: Home Theater
With: 102 Comments

Overview: This page describes the most accurate way I know to extract and preserve the data from an Audio CD (compact disc). Two steps are necessary to get the best possible audio quality: Bit-perfect audio extraction from the CD Lossless compression of the extracted audio This 2-step process involves a lot of steps that most people would consider unnecessary. However, if you want to preserve and archive CDs by the most accurate means possible, this may be the page for you. NOTE: If you are not an audiophile and just want to use a lossless format, you probably will not be able to tell theRead More →

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In: Web

Update 5-September-2008:  I was contacted by the new owner of PetitionSpot.com today and was told that they have completely redesigned and refocused the site.  According to the e-mail, all spamming by the previous owner has been eliminated. I haven’t verified this but hopefully the situation over at PatitionSpot.com has improved since I originally posted. Original Post: I’ve started receiving 3 unsolicited SPAM e-mails a day from a company called “AmazingOffers”. Receiving SPAM is not really a big deal, but don’t you always wonder how they found your address? This time, it appears PetitionSpot.com gave them my address. Why do I suspect this? I gave PetitionSpot.comRead More →

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In: Automotive, Home Theater
With: 6 Comments

Last night, Nicole and I had several friends over and we wound up watching The Sentinel. The movie was not all that great but what I found even more distracting was the rattles in the room generated by the substantial bass of my subwoofer. I was probably the only one in the room that noticed or was disturbed by it, but so what. So today I’m identifying the offenders in the room. I know the door covering the equipment rack is rattling and there is a light fixture in the ceiling rattling as well. But both rattle at different frequencies and it’s a pain toRead More →