This is how media viewing was supposed to be all along, local files and internet media living together in 1080i (mostly). I think that the Apple TV should be free, and Boxee should be $250; because the Apple TV is pretty much a doorstop until you install it. The ATV fulfills almost none of my media viewing needs until this beautiful application is introduced.

This makes me want to get rid of my cable service, but who knows what will happen if and when Apple releases a new update? Let’s not think about that now. This is indeed a major step forward in integrating all the media you would ever want into one place. And as far as installation and usability, I have no complaints. I mean it is still in alpha and it is this good! The install was not bad at all as long as you follow the instructions on the Giz, and make sure that you update all the components of Boxee before running it. So take a look at the video below, as I detail the install and the usage of Boxee on the Apple TV.

I have had a few complaints about the quality of some of my videos, so I am going to try to do a bit better.

So as you might have heard Circuit City is not doing too well. And though I prefer them to Best Buy, it looks like the time for CC might be coming to an end. Last week they announced they would be closing 20% of their stores, just days before announcing that they would be filing for bankruptcy. Ouch.

Well one of the stores being closed is the one near me, and they have 10% to 30% off of most things, so I thought I would go and see what kind of open box goodness I could enjoy. A few weeks back I reviewed the Flip Video Mino camera, take a look here. I love that little camera, and the video quality is pretty nice for something that fits in your pocket. The downside? It can’t read displays or text off of my computer or iphone or anything printed at all. It just won’t focus on it. So that is the only disappointment in a pocket sized video camera, fine with me. But still I had a gap to fill. 

I walked into circuit city and it was a mad house. I saw a nice little flash based camera that would be fine for recording short blurbs and it would certainly be able to zoom in on small text of all kinds. It was open box and was going for around $150. It still had the battery, charger and manual; just no box. I thought about what a great deal I was getting as I took it up to the counter…

Anyway, I paid and I was on my way. Once home I pulled out the manual to check out the functions, and noticed a second battery in the plastic bag. Score! Free spare battery! Then I saw something wasn’t right, the model number on the manual did not match the model number on my camera.

It turns out they had this camera grouped with the wrong set of cameras. They were trying to keep all the same model open boxes together, however a lot of the Samsungs use the same casing, and you have to check the model number on the inside of the screen to tell the difference. Well I paid about $150 for a $400+ HD (720p w/ HDMI) Camera. Not the top of the line by any means, but way above what I paid for!

I thought this was a nice change after years of being over-charged by retail, now it is my turn to taste a little victory.

Thank You Veterans!

This music application Ocarina by Smule is amazing and only $0.99! It is so easy to play and it is linked to hundreds of other people playing around the world. A portable musical instrument and social networking tool in one!

Take a look at how easy it is, and how bad I am at it!

Now check out someone much better playing the score from Zelda

SMule: Ocarina [Zeldarian] from SonicMule, Inc. on Vimeo.

Get Ocarina via the app store

Sonos has released it’s own remote control software for the iphone. A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the Zones for iPhone application. Now let’s check this one out!

 

This is a great free application! (although the Sonos system comes at a price) If you have a Sonos and an iPhone this app is indispensable.

And think about this, a 1st generation iPod Touch is under $200 used, instead of one Sonos remote for $399, get 2 iPods and put this free application on them.

Update: I am finally blanking and restoring my firmware 1.1.1 iPhone 2G. Now that I have a 3G and the app store, I don’t need a jailbroken 2G. I will be using it as a Sonos remote from now on!

Today in the App Store I saw Air Mouse by R.P.A. Technology. You can control the mouse on your Mac or PC via the iPhone, and even type remotely? Surely a feat such as this could not be accomplished for a mere $5.99. Alas it is true, it controls your computer, and it does it well. Take a look.

 

Click to purchase in the App Store.

You know I just thought of another use for this. You can install the server software on multiple machines. Now you can hijack someone’s mouse and keyboard with your iPhone. That would be a great joke!

Where to start… Well let me start by saying that I went into this hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I have been burned so many times in the past by no name electronics companies that promise greatness, and deliver weird dongles and incompatible codecs.

In this case I didn’t even trust my normally trustworthy Amazon ratings which gave it an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5; 234 people surveyed.

With that said, let’s get down to it. (FYI @ 5:10 I start filming with the Mino)

This thing is pretty cool. It shoots clear crisp video, and gets to the task quickly. The buttons and interface are fairly easy to navigate. It shoots 30 frames per second MPEG4, with each minute taking up about 25MB. The verdict: It is well worth the $150 if you have a need for on the go video.
Here are some pictures, and some video shot with it.

Purchase @ Amazon.com

When I was growing up, man did I love that game Risk! I used to carry it around on a 5 1/4 floppy disk in the inside pocket of my jean jacket. You know, just in case I came across an Apple IIC, IIE or IIGS. Yes I was a nerd, yes I wore huge glasses and yes I will beat your ass in some Risk if given the chance.

Greyscale Goodness

Now here is your chance to relive your old days of greyscale global domination…except now in color on your iPhone. The game is Lux by SillySoft, and it is already poplular for the Mac and PC. They now have a free version for the iPhone, and I can’t get enough of it. 

This version Lux Touch is what they are calling the free version for the iPhone. The company says that they will be coming out with Lux Dlx (deluxe) in the near future which will have more levels and better AI. I can’t even imagine Risk on any other playing field besides the continents, but it is on its way to the iPhone. 

For more, take a look at the video review below:

 

Click to Purchase in the App Store

The Sonos music system is one of the coolest things ever made. It can play music from your archive, Sirius, Rhapsody, Napster or Pandora in any room of your house. Play the same song in all of the rooms or a different one in each. The Sonos is an amazing and versatile system, but one thing it isn’t is cheap. The remote alone is $399. I really want a second remote for upstairs, but don’t want to pay $399 right now. The solution? Zones.

Zones is a Sonos remote control application for the iPhone. Although it is not perfect yet, it is functional and only $14.99. Still that is priced on the high side for an iPhone application. But the idea of having a Sonos remote integrated into something I always have in my pocket made me take the plunge.

I am impressed with the functionality so far. It runs very smoothly, and like the Sonos, setup is effortless. It is missing a couple of core functions for now, but there are work arounds. Take a look at the video below to the see the rest of the review.

Click to purchase in the App Store

That was my first video review of anything. Future ones will surely suck less, surely.