Cutterpillow site syndication http://cutterpillow.com Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:34:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://cutterpillow.com/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://cutterpillow.com Cutterpillow site syndication http://cutterpillow.com/news/bibble/bibble_5_previewed_bibble_4.10.1_released_4 At my day job we just released a sneak peek of Bibble 5 (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/) in action. There's a video (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/video1/index.html) that shows a quick overview of a few features from Bibble 5 (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/) - our multi-image comparison tool among other things. There hasn't been too much announced just yet regarding Bibble 5 (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/) so this is a nice treat for those that are wondering what it's going to do, or wondering what I've been up to. Also we just released an update to Bibble 4, Bibble 4.10.1 (http://bibblelabs.com/press/pr20080729.html) to be specific. This update fixes some bugs and adds support for the Nikon D700. (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=83 Itemid=29) Discussion about Bibble 5 (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/) and any publicly announced features can be found in the Bibble Forums. (http://support.bibblelabs.com) I'll be posting more information about Bibble 5 (http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/) when there's more stuff to show off. News - Bibble Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:30:02 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/interestingness/iphone/to_iphone_or_not_to_iphone_2 The iPhone 3G (http://www.apple.com/iphone) is now upon us and now the question for me is whether I really want one or not. Well, yes, I REALLY want one, I just don't want all the AT T baggage that comes with it. I want the iPhone for many reasons, chief among them are that I'm a big Mac Geek and developer (http://kuwan.net) and I'd really like to write some software for the iPhone. The fact that it runs Mac OS X and has a built-in camera and GPS is just too cool for a software engineer to ignore. So I think that I won't be able to stay away from the iPhone for long, it's only a matter of time before the Mac lover in me gives in and I buy one. That brings us to the AT T baggage. The actual phone plans that are available from AT T are nothing short of outrageous. They can get away with this because you have no other choice in the matter. If you want an iPhone then AT T is your only choice so they can charge whatever they can get away with. So let's look at the cheapest plan and compare it to what I have now with Sprint. The base iPhone plan is $70/month which is really a $40 voice plan + $30 for unlimited data. This gets you a measly 450 Anytime Minutes, 5000 Night Weekend minutes, Unlimited Data and no Text Messaging. The plan I have right now from Sprint is only $55/month for 1000 Anytime Minutes, Unlimited Night Weekend minutes, Unlimited Data and also no Text Messaging. If I wanted to get the same service that I have now with Sprint from AT T with the iPhone I'd have to go with their $90/month plan which still only has 900 Anytime MInutes. That makes the iPhone 1.6x more expensive than the Treo 700p that I have now with Sprint. Such is the price of progress I suppose. Luckily I barely use any of the 1000 minutes I have now and the base 450 minute plan will be more than enough for me, that's still $15 more than what I have now and includes a lot less. And don't even get me started on Text Messaging rates. The fact that text messaging is extra when you have an Unlimited Data plan is mind boggling. Especially since it has virtually zero overhead for the Cell companies. It's basically a way for them to print money. The actual network overhead for a text message is less than pretty much any other service they provide on their network - less than voice calls, less than voicemail, less than data (internet) services - yet text messaging @ $0.20 a message costs more than any other service. Not only that but each message is charged twice: once when it is sent and again when it is received, so that's really $0.40 per message. It's quite possibly the most expensive form of communication ever invented. In fact, a professor recently concluded that text messaging is more expensive than communicating with the Hubble Space Telescope! (http://www.physorg.com/news129793047.html) Four times more expensive to be precise! Luckily I don't do much, if any, text messaging. If I did I think I might just go postal. On top of all of that, AT T also charges a $36 activation fee for the privilege of becoming their customer. Yep, you get to pay them an extra $36 for the honor of signing up to a two year contract that at minimum will cost you $1680 over two years. A $36 fee for the privilege of bending over and taking it for the next two years seems a little over the top, even for AT T. But that is the price of progress. Sadly I'll eventually give in and become a slave to AT T, but that sure is one damn expensive phone. Interestingness - iPhone Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:50:41 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/news/latest/nikon_d700_officially_unveiled_2 It looks like the cat is officially out of the bag regarding Nikon's new D700 digital SLR. I'm not sure if Nikon UK (http://www.europe-nikon.com/home/en_GB/homepage/broad/site.html) jumped the gun (still not available on other Nikon websites) but if you go there right now you'll see information about the new Nikon D700 and the SB-900 Speedlight. The D700 features a 12.1 MP Full-frame (FX) sensor, ISO 200-6400 and 5fps. It's basically a D3 in a D300 body. While the D700 hasn't been a closely guarded secret, with multiple leaks coming out in recent days, this is the first official information from Nikon about the camera. I don't think I'll be replacing my D300 with this any time soon, but I really can't wait until we get one in the office so that I can play with it. Read on for more information. News - Latest Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:39:34 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/news/cutterpillow/pictures_working_again__2 For some time now there's been some weird behavior if you tried to view certain pictures here. I think I've finally tracked down the problem so if you click on the photos (photos/) link from the main page everything should be working again. One of these days I'll get around to actually uploading some new pictures. News - Cutterpillow Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:13:39 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/news/apple_stuff/apple_feeds_a_patent_troll_over_visual_voicemail_2 Apple has settled a patent lawsuit (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9969909-37.html?tag=xlr8yourmac) over the Visual Voicemail system in the iPhone. The sad fact that something so pathetically simple can even be patented is lamentable. It makes you wonder, is that list of missed calls on your phone also covered by a patent? News - Apple Stuff Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:49:50 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/photos/life_in_austin/zilker_park_in_january_2 Zilker Park in January (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=3317) pictures. Photos - Life in Austin Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:18:19 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/photos/family/christmas_morning_2 Christmas 2007 (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=3061) pictures. Photos - Family Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:55:08 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/deals/electronics/logitech_harmony_880_advanced_universal_remote_control Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control for $117 after rebate Amazon.com has the Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00093IIRA?ie=UTF8 tag=kuwannet-20 linkCode=as2 camp=1789 creative=9325 creativeASIN=B00093IIRA) on sale for $130. That alone is a great price as the MSRP is $250, but you can combine it with a 10% off rebate from Logitech (http://bundleup.logitech.com/index.php) to get the price down to $117. I've had the Harmony 880 for the past year or so and absolutely love it. It's much better than your average universal remote as it will set up each of your components for whatever activity you choose. For example, if you are going to watch a DVD it will turn on your DVD player and set your TV and audio receiver to the proper inputs. Then when you're done with the DVD and you want to go back to watching TV from the antenna/cable then it'll switch all your components back. It's truly the last remote you'll ever need. Act fast because this price is sure not to last long. Deals - Electronics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:56:20 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/photos/family/thanksgiving_2007_2 (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=2615) Thanksgiving (photos/?g2_itemId=2498) pictures. View Silver Lake (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=2547) pictures. View Catch Phrase (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=2636) Pictures. Photos - Family Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:48:57 +0100 http://cutterpillow.com/photos/life_in_austin/texas_rain pictures (component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,32/?g2_itemId=2170). Photos - Life in Austin Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:57:29 +0100