How to Convert vob Files for iMovie
iMovie is pretty good, but lack some major features. If you have a DV camera it works well, but if the camera isn’t supported or you only have the DVD it can be difficult to get a file format that works with iMovie. It took me hours to find the right settings to convert the .vob files from my cousin’s DVD Camcorder. Good luck to anyone else with this issue.
First, you need to get OpenShiiva. It will convert the VOB file to an mp4 format that iMovie likes.
Start OpenShiiva and modify the settings on each tab as follows.
Files
Input File: Pick your .vob file
Output File: Pick your .mp4 output file
Debugging: xvid altivec, libmpeg2 altivec, multithread should be checked
Crop & Scale
Uncheck all
Luma bicubic/chroma bilinear
Video
Encode Video, XviD should be checked
No changes to other settings
Subtitles
Uncheck all
Track 0 (0×20)
Audio
Decode AC3 Audio, Encode Audio should be checked
Track 0 (0×80)
Uncheck the rest
Processing
Click Go! This takes a while. My MacBook Core 2 Duo processes 9 frames/second.
After the file is done, open iMovie. The File\Import Movies… and pick the mp4 file you just created. This will take a while as iMovie copies the file and parses it into thumbnails. From here you can edit the iMovie project like normal.
Planning for Failure
We recently had a defect that required a code change so big it was sure to cause lots of unpredictable baby defects. The thought of a never ending cycle of defects was nauseating. I knew I could not do this successfully. Or, to put it more accurately, “There was a high probability that portions of the system would be affected in unanticipated ways.” This change had to go into production between versions, actually, between maintenance releases.
How do you reduce the risk on something like this? First, draw a circle around the defect and fix the intended issue. Then draw a second bigger circle around the likely risks and add/modify features that mitigate them.
In this case encryption was added to lots of fields, which could confuse the old code that did not antcipate the encryption and might mistake the encrypted data for real data. So, the second additional feature was a kill switch on each field, a DontEncrypt flag.
This solution adds it’s own issues. The DontEncrypt code had defects to. In essence, two significant features were added at the same time. It gave me the willies at first, because I was afraid the DontEncrypt code wouldn’t work. Or worst yet, cause unrelated defects.
Now that we are in production, issues continue to arise from the Encryption code. However, we are able to quickly and easily fix clients by setting DontEncrypt flag to true. It’s saving significant development time and keeping the clients working more. We have yet had an issue, outside of development, with DontEncrypt or a defect that this flag doesn’t fix.
My point is that you should think ahead to that day when your feature is in place and users are reporting bugs. Ask yourself what you could have done to prevent this. Then remember that that day hasn’t happened yet and you can do something today to prevent issues.
Why are INI files deprecated in favor of the registry?
Raymond Chen has a fabulous blog about Windows. In his recent post, he writes about why .ini files were dropped in favor of the registry and why they are coming into fashion again.
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Why are INI files deprecated in favor of the registry? There were many problems with INI files.
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The registry tried to address these concerns. You might argue whether these were valid concerns to begin with, but the Windows NT folks sure thought they were.
Commenter TC notes that the pendulum has swung back to text configuration files, but this time, they’re XML. This reopens many of the problems that INI files had, but you have the major advantage that nobody writes to XML configuration files; they only read from them. XML configuration files are not used to store user settings; they just contain information about the program itself. Let’s look at those issues again.
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CH: Two Types of Programmers
I wonder how many other careers contain these two types of workers.
Two Types of Programmers
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The 20% folks are what many would call “alpha” programmers — the leaders, trailblazers, trendsetters, the kind of folks that places like Google and Fog Creek software are obsessed with hiring. These folks were the first ones to install Linux at home in the 90’s; the people who write lisp compilers and learn Haskell on weekends “just for fun”; they actively participate in open source projects; they’re always aware of the latest, coolest new trends in programming and tools.
The 80% folks make up the bulk of the software development industry. They’re not stupid; they’re merely vocational. They went to school, learned just enough Java/C#/C++, then got a job writing internal apps for banks, governments, travel firms, law firms, etc. The world usually never sees their software. They use whatever tools Microsoft hands down to them — usally VS.NET if they’re doing C++, or maybe a GUI IDE like Eclipse or IntelliJ for Java development. They’ve never used Linux, and aren’t very interested in it anyway. Many have never even used version control. If they have, it’s only whatever tool shipped in the Microsoft box (like SourceSafe), or some ancient thing handed down to them. They know exactly enough to get their job done, then go home on the weekend and forget about computers.
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Getting a Used Mac
This weekend, I went scouring the Internet for old used Macs. I found some great sites that are below. The criteria was a lowest price including monitor, peripherals, and shipping, running OS X, best performance, and modem. My question, to myself, was can I get a Mac computer for my nephew for under $200 or $300.
There is some great information out there. My bible was Lowend Mac. They are devoted to low cost and used Macs. There are several writers and the articles and prices are current. The website itself has a nice, clean, easy layout. I strongly recommend reading them if you are looking at getting a Mac or even just a computer.
An older Mac is quite suitable for getting on the Internet, playing songs, or running Word and Excel. What’s really surprising is that the Macs from 2000 can be upgraded to OS 10.4, which is the version of Mac OS prior to the most recent one, 10.5. Apple upgrades the OS more frequently and with less need for powerful hardware. Most of us are used to getting the next version of Windows with a new computer, because the old computer couldn’t run the new Windows. Can you imagine running Windows Vista on a computer that came with Windows ME? Absolutely impossible!
After looking at a dozen sites, I had narrowed it down to four. One was PowerMax on a Digital Audio G4/466 that had memory, modem, OS9 and OS X, and hard drive for $220. It was a box and I would have to give up one of my monitors. I plan on replacing one of the 19″s with a 28″, but not today.
Wegener Media has 17″ eMacs for $210, but there was no mention of OS. An OS X CD can cost $25-$80. This is a major point of uncertainty. The base system could do with a few upgrades. I might have some memory and hard drives to help. There are several PC100 sticks around here.
MegaMacs had several computers. If I could deal with OS 9 there were many G3 iMacs for <$100. I don't know anything about OS 9. There were several that could run OS 10 for about $150-$200. This page lists each used Mac.
MacAttic has a simple site, which can be good or bad. They have several eMacs and iMacs. They don’t seem to support orders over the site and are more like a shingle hung out with phone and email contacts. The prices seem good, especially on the older equipment.
All this searching left me needing to call someone, which is rare. I can usually track it all down online and make an order. However, several sites neglected to mention important points like modems and OS. These things aren’t expensive, but they move the best price from one website to the other. There are some sites that have stripped the iMacs and offer each part individually. So, you can’t assume one iMac is the same as another.
I called MacAttic first, since the only way to place an order was over the phone and they offered pretty good prices. He offered a G4/700mHz, 512mb, 40gig, OS 10.4.11, 17″ eMac with keyboard, mouse, modem, and network for $135 plus shipping of around $35. That’s $70 less than their website with more memory and far cheaper than anything else I saw on the web. So, I placed an order. No need to go any further.
A similarly equipped eMac from Wegener would be about $300. PowerMax for a G4/466 w/o monitor would be $220. This is about the product/price space right now. I feel like it’s a steal at ~$170 with shipping for a computer that will run the same OS 10 I use with all the right peripherals built in on a 17″ monitor. A used LCD 15″ monitor will run $60-$120. A new 17″ monitor will run $160-$220. A new iPod is $250. Computers don’t come with modems anymore. That’s $10-$20 on top of the purchase price.
The man on the phone had taken orders for 7 other eMacs that day, by 2:00. It will be shipped out as soon as possible, showing up Friday or next week. The next step will be installing the software I’ve discovered over the past 3 months and configuring it. That should take a week and I’ll be able to study it. The fun part.
Many, many Macs fit my parameters and many websites had good deals. I didn’t want to use PayPal. Mostly, because I don’t remember my account info off hand and it’s a hassle. That knocked some eBay stores out.
My final choices came down to the following:
MegaMacs.com
These guys have a lot of old and new Mac products. There are several used Macs and they’re pretty descriptive about the problems. The prices are very good. The website is pretty good.
MacAttic
MacAttic has a simple layout; one line descriptions that flows down the page. Their prices are some of the lowest I’ve seen. For example, an old tray loading 333 Mhz for $50. It can’t run OS X without some more investment, but wow.
Wegener Media
Great prices. I was concerned with getting one with OS X. They have laptops and parts too.
Power Max
They have a wide selection. Some of my favorites are the Digital Audio Macs. Prices are somewhat higher. Models I looked at were between $200 and $300. The eMac/iMac selection is kind of then.
Operator Headgap.
This is a great site to start on. They also have a wide selection. The iMacs were a bit pricey; in the $200-$300 range for what I wanted. This page lays out the box computers.
New XP Service Pack 3 Makes Your Computer Faster
Want another reason not to upgrade to Vista? Try speed. Vista is significantly slower on the same hardware. And to top it off the new Service Pack 3 for XP is faster than Service Pack 2. Remind me again why anyone would upgrade for over $100.
Hotmail Sucks
Hotmail was my second email account ever. Right after the nearly unused college email we got while taking that experimental English writing class (we used Macs, ~1993) While working for Amarillo College for the summer, I saw the students all making their own email accounts on this thing called Hotmail or HoTMaiL, at the time. Over the years is has changed dramatically. MS bought them in the dot com boom. Spam became a bane of online existence. Yahoo, Google, and everyone else added free email. AOL, MS, Google and everyone else copied IRC and added chat. Size limits went from 1 meg to 2 meg to.. I don’t know, way more than I would ever use. MS tried to get rid of the Hotmail brand. Then changed their mind and slapped the the endless Microsoft Live Hotmail name on it. The UI changed to match Outlook 2003 in a web page. Awesome.
I stuck with my original purpose. Email I can access from anywhere; home, Grandma’s house, work, etc. All the bells and whistles are pretty meaningless, except for the space. Now, I don’t have to clean out my inbox.
The past 18 months have made it tough to stick with Hotmail. First, the switch or switch off their spam filter and I got flooded. That lasted 6 months. They still let obviously spammy picture emails in. Then they force upgraded to the “better” interface. They tried to kill the Hotmail name, which indicates how little they know about their own brand.
None of that affects functionality in a major way. But then I started noticing not all emails sent to me got through. I contacted the sender’s ISP, also my ISP, and they blamed it on MS. Besides that instance it seemed other expected emails didn’t come in. This is very disturbing. A free email account that doesn’t recieve emails is worse than worthless.
A few weeks ago I watched the person in the next cube checking her Yahoo account. I could believe it. The screen refreshed in ~5 seconds. I have to wait 30 seconds miniumum and sometimes it never comes up or renders wrong. And this is with ad blocking turn on. Does it take a full minute to load over a T3 with ads? One things for sure. It’s never fast.
Today, I tried to send a Thanksgiving and got the screenshot below, “The server is too busy.” Are you freaking kidding me? Now, I can send emails when I want to. What if I had been on a wireless link at a coffee shop and couldn’t hang around for MS to get their act together? It may be time to cut the cord. This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps, it’s now worth the pain of changing a 9 year old email account. Thank God, I never opted to pay for this.
I will try to send this rant to Tech Support at Hotmail. Assuming I can find a link. It not, just add it to the list of aweful consumer service providers.
The VA Computer Sytem Meltdown
A story that didn’t make the news was the meltdown of the VA’s IT infrastructure on 8/31 for one day this year. This article from Computerworld is an illuminating look at Enterprise level Information Technology. The principles interviewed have blamed the problem on employees failing to follow procedure. I’ve heard this used before in the IT department of every organization, all two, that I worked for. It’s a drum beat that the process owners beat relentlessly.
It’s also completely impossible for one simple reason. People aren’t computers. There is no way to tell a person to follow a set of rules every single time and expect them to do it. Computers are good at doing this. That’s why we use them, but don’t confuse computers with people.
This article competely misses two points. One is that this is going to happen again without a doubt. The second point is poor design of their infrastructure.
The VA should plan for IT mistakes just like any other disaster scenario. They seemed to have planned for natural disasters and network problems quite well. No forethought is given to getting the data back in spec. That’s simply not supposed to happen. Paper forms specifically made for resyncing data should be prepared and sent to replace any old forms that existed prior the technology “upgrade”. Plans for workarounds should be made for getting vital information from medical instrumentation. There is no excuse for test results or machine readings to be unavailable.
When the computers failed people did the natural thing. They reverted to the prior process which was paper based. It took two weeks of data entry to get one day of paper records in the computer. This is the real disaster. Where is the plan for the computers being down for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month? Apperantly, there isn’t one. Zero downtime and 100 percent uptime are impossible. Anyone who sells you this is lying. Get over and plan for it.
Why did the VA IT infrastructure fail? We’ve all seen the internet weather several storms. It slows down and some systems fail, but the whole Internet keeps going. If this system can be brought down by one port misconfiguration it has not been properly designed. Sites on the Internet are exposed to large scale intentional attacks every day and survive. The architectural descriptions of high volume sites like Slashdot are very interesting. Where is this attention to detail? Where is this level of skill? Where is this fault tolerance?
This instance happened to the Veterans Administration. It is no less applicable to any system that puts people lives in the hands of technology. At the medical malpractice suit your family brings, do you want Bob the 23 yr old computer geek to be your cause of death?. You can’t blame him. He’s not a computer.
The VA’s computer systems meltdown: What happened and why
Computerworld
Dian Schaffhauser
Systm: Make Your Own Arcade Machine
Have you ever wanted one of those big arcade machines from the ’80’s? You know, the classics; Frogger, Pacman, Asteroids… Well, the guys at Revision3 are making one. You can watch them put it together. They are up to week 3 of a 5 week build.
PCMag: Vista Death Watch
The articles title is overstated to say the least. It’s pretty good and makes a point.
The Vista Death Watch
Microsoft has extended the life of Windows XP because Vista has simply not shown any life in the market. We have to begin to ask ourselves if we are really looking at Windows Me/2007, destined to be a disdained flop. By all estimates the number of Vista installations hovers around the number of Macs in use.
How did this happen? And what’s going to happen next? Does Microsoft have a Plan B? A number of possibilities come to mind, and these things must be considered by the company itself.
Happy Thanksgiving
Have a good T-day! Turkey, Thanksgiving, Therapy,… You get the idea.
Hospice tree aglow again
Congratulations, Patience!
Hospice tree aglow again
reporter-news Photo by Victor Cristales Patience Broyles, the coordinator for Hendrick Hospice Care’s 20th annual Light Up a Life campaign, places dove ornaments Sunday on the Hospice Christmas Tree in the Mall of Abilene before a tree lighting ceremony. Each dove represents a $15 donation benefitting patients of Hendrick Hospice Care.
We have lost control of the apparatus
This completely blows by those that have not dealt with bureaucracy of Dilbert’s company. For the rest, enjoy..
We have lost control of the apparatus
I know, I know, they stare at our work for eight, ten, or twelve hours a day. So you would think that we would set the standard for how computers ought to be. But the Good Old Days when most of users had never seen a computer before work have gone. Some of our users, fresh out of school, have already been using computers for ten years!
As if that wasn’t enough, the really bad news is, when our users go home they have this thing called the Internet. I know, IT locked that down in the office. But we can’t stop them from getting on it at home, on their mobiles, and now even on those insidious Apple iPods! And when people use the Internet, they are actually using other people’s applications.
I’m not kidding. Our users are being exposed to applications we don’t control. And it messes things up. You see, the users get exposed to other ways of doing things, ways that are more convenient for users, ways that make them more productive, and they incorrectly think we ought to do things that way for them.
24/7 File Server Ordered
I’ve been working on selecting the components for an always on file server that will, hopefully, be run by solar power. If you keep up with this topic, you’ll know that it’s something like ten times cheaper to pick low power components than build large sources of power. Last night, I made my choice and place the order for the motherboard and power supply.
The most important aspect is the motherboard. It’s the single largest consumer of electricity. This component determines the power saving features like Wake on Lan and Sleep modes. All the devices plug into this one. It will stay on as long as one hard drive or network connection remains open.
A lot of PATA and SATA connectors with at least on expansion card are needed to be a file server. Many USB ports are nice, but not necessary. USB can be chained and any USB device probably means power wasted in an external brick. The minimum I settled on is 4 PATA hard drives, to support the existing set. And some SATA connectors, again, to support an existing pair. The expansion card will probably be used to provide an additional set of hard drive connections. Though, the way my onboard NICs fail it might serve as a backup NIC.
The goal was the lowest power usage that can support a lot of connected devices. There are three types of motherboards that can do this. The first is made of Via components. For years, they’ve been making motherboards that can fit easily into a high school biology textbook. I built a computer for Grandma off a 5000 board 2 years ago and am quite satisfied with it. Intel began making boards in this space a few years ago. Their performance is quite a bit better than Via, but the power needs are 5-15 Watts more too. Lately, AMD has begun making boards. These are by far the most efficient. The AMD Geode uses 5 Watts.
The Intel boards were out, because both AMD and Via scored better on power and processing power isn’t something I care about. The AMD boards were very tempting, but they didn’t support all the hard drive necessary connections. AMD and Intel have a limited selection of boards compared to Via.
I chose the lowest power Via board I could find, the Via CN10000EG. It’s related to the better performing LN10000. Idle is <10 Watts and Load is ~16 Watts. The LN was just a 1-2 Watts more. It supports 4 PATA, 2 SATA, 2 PCI cards (with riser), built in NIC, 4 USB, and six more USB internally. Of course, video and audio are built in.
The board and power supply should come in this week. Or not. Thanksgiving is Thursday.
Which President is Really For You
This site tracks the candidates statements and actions. You fill in a questionnaire and it shows you which candidates match your interests. They says they update this as the candidates shift around. Connect2Elect.com
This site collates publicly available data on campaign contributions and votes. They track California and the US Congress. Does AT&T get their money’s worth? MapLight.org
This site tracks the presidential campaign contributions. Their tag line is, “Your Guide to the Money in US Elections”. OpenSecrets.org