TV Downloads, XMas Shopping and some history

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Chris

NBC has entered into a deal with online commerce and digital delivery guys Wurld Media to make selected movies available for download via protected peer-to-peer network Peer Impact beginning in early 2006.

No word yet on the price for this but here’s the best part: you pay for the download, watch the content and then 24 hours later, it deletes itself. You can’t keep the show more than 24 hours. Seriously, why would i want to do that when i can record it on TiVo and delete it when i want to or keep it if i want? This is a really dumb idea that i hope will fail miserably and all who thought it was a good idea will get flogged. (well, maybe not flogged but at least they should get a stern talking to).

And, here’s the best places to shop this holiday season, at leat according to CNN money. Its pretty much the way i feel too. I hate Best Buy and Wal-Mart unless i absolutely need something in a hurry. As for Amazon.com, don’t get me started. I took a look at my Amazon order history the other day and I have to say it was a little scary. Although, being an Amazon Prime member does cut down on the shipping costs but damn you one-click ordering!

Also, as the holidays are fast approaching I just wanted to comment about the decor of my usual Starbucks in Studio City. Yes, they have the damn Christmas decorations up already and its not even Thanksgiving yet. When I asked about this I was told that the comromise they made was not to have Christmas music playing until the day after Thanksgiving. What a bunch of good guys.

Actually, Thanksgiving really isn’t next week anyway. When it was originally declared a holiday by President Lincoln in 1863, it was on the LAST Thursday of November. However, in 1939, FDR decided that people needed an extra week in order to make sure they could get all their shopping done in time for Christmas. So, he moved it to the third Thursday in November, thus giving us an extra week to shop and have to deal with the holidays. Thanks FDR.

Please don’t get me wrong, I like the holidays. I just don’t like them quite so soon. Besides, Thanksgiving is important. It deserves a little time of its own so people can appreciate it before they get bombarded with Christmas stuff. Don’t you think?

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New Business and some old New Business

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Chris

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we are considering many alternatives and are getting together a new business venture that promises to bring many exciting things (at least for us). we are working hard and are not ready to reveal all the sordid details as of yet. however, it will be pretty cool and has the potential to make some pretty good returns. so, anyone out there want to be our angel? (sorry, shameless plug but really, we could use some more startup dough).

in other news if you have a TiVo Series2 box connected to your home network, you’ve likely noticed that TiVo is testing a new feature that allows you to download programs to your TiVo box over broadband. as part of this test, they’ve got a special offer for their network-connected subscribers: a free movie! can TiVo Netflix be far behind? sign me up.

also, popular science magazine showcases their 18th Annual celebration of innovation or best of what’s new for 2005. a.k.a. the 100 most impressive technologies of the year. check it out. i like some of the choices but the airbus a380 does nothing for me. besides, their french.

and, the first reviews for Xbox 360 games are starting to hit the web. 1UP has reviewed Kameo, Project Gotham Racing 3, FIFA Soccer 2006, NBA 2K6, and Amped 3, while IGN has reviewed Madden NFL 06, Kameo, and NBA 2K6.

last but not least, the battle for the new DVD standard still rages. here’s a summary of the arguments and features in favor of either. go nuts!

Posted in News, Tech, video games | Comments Off on New Business and some old New Business

How CBS and NBC got it wrong

Posted on November 9, 2005 by Chris

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even though they seem like they are trying to do the right thing. it appears that greed trumps innovation yet again. i’ll let om tell it like it is.

all i have to say about this is that the apple business model seems to make more sense to me. i think you should be able to record content and time and place shift it at your convnience, as i have said before.

also, in case you missed it, sony has been up to no good selling cd’s that install a rootkit on your windows machine. what does this mean? well, its an attempt by sony to monitor and control in what way you can use their content. here’s a more “tech” explanation.

i don’t like it when sony (or anyone) installs something on my machine that i don’t want and didn’t agree to. or even did agree to but didn’t know exactly what i was getting. that’s not very nice. good thing i use a mac. also, here’s a partial list of the cd’s that have this problem. can you say boycott?

and finally, good old steve ballmer, ceo of microsoft, on why apple computer is seen as “good” and microsoft is seen as “bad”. interesting read and with good play-by-play from mac daily news.

Posted in News, Tech | Comments Off on How CBS and NBC got it wrong

Over 1M people switch from Windows to MAC

Posted on November 7, 2005 by Chris

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mmmm, this is an interesting development. who can blame them? thank you iPod (now with video). i know i love mine. even though i only got the 30gig, its still cool. i can even watch movies on it. its not so bad, really, the screen is a little small but it looks great. maybe santa steve will bring a horizontal iPod video with true 16×9 screen? commence breath holding.

also, not on a related note except that i’m writing this post and its about video (sort of), have been busy putting together a little horror film with some friends of mine. soon, i will allow the waiting masses to view the carefully crafted trailer. but for now, a photo will have to suffice. say hello to the bad guy.

Posted in Macintosh, Movies, News | Comments Off on Over 1M people switch from Windows to MAC

We’re number one!

Posted on October 26, 2005 by Chris

i don’t know if i should be happy or a little concerned about this one. if you type a search for “chris ullrich” at google.com, i come up as the number one response with my other website: chrisullrich.net. that’s a little weird. but also, a little bit cool.

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We’re number one!

Posted on October 26, 2005 by Chris

i don’t know if i should be happy or a little concerned about this one. if you type a search for “chris ullrich” at google.com, i come up as the number one response with my other website: chrisullrich.net. that’s a little weird. but also, a little bit cool.

Posted in Internet, News | 2 Comments

Think About It

Posted on October 26, 2005 by Chris

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Another Flock Post – featuring news of the internets!

Posted on October 25, 2005 by Chris

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I find it interesting using the new browser called flock. So easy to get it going and to blog about something you see on the internet. Its almost like instant gratification (almost). Anyway, here’s some of the stuff going on around the internets today:

Phone companies may soon try to block those free calls you are making via skype. What, do they want to keep their monopoly going or something?

The sci-fi channel has renewed “stargate:sg-1” and “stargate:atlantis” for another year. this makes “stargate:sg-1” the longest running sci-fi show in history, beating out the “x-files”. Also, sci-fi i expected to renew “battlestar galactica” for a third season as well. After all, bsg is the highest rated show on the sci-fi channel and critically acclaimed so it would make sense to renew it. Not that TV execs always do things that make sense. How does one explain “everybody loves raymond” staying on the air for so long?

And, laser etching for your powerbook and ipod (hence the pic above). This is pretty cool. Now if only i could be away from my precious powerbook or ipod for the time it takes to get it laser etched. What?

Also, over at TUAW, they have a video of someone who was able to get Apple’s new software Front Row to run on his Mac Mini even though it is only “officially” supported on the new iMac G5. That didn’t take long. Come on Apple, take a hint and let it run on all of your computers. I think they will soon enough.

finally, an article about one of my favorite subjects, nanotech, talks about the state of the technology and where it might go. good read. we now return you to whatever it is you were doing before (gaming, porn, both?).

Posted in Apple, Blogging, Software | Comments Off on Another Flock Post – featuring news of the internets!

joining the flock

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Chris

just testing flock, a new web browser that has integrated blogging tools, rss tools and a bunch of other stuff. its still an early beta and so, not for all. but you know me, i like to live on the edge.

Posted in Blogging, Software | Comments Off on joining the flock

just wanted to show this

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Chris

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something for the weekend. and something for the new video ipod you just got. have fun!

Posted in News, Photography | Comments Off on just wanted to show this