OK, I'm well behind the bleeding edge curve here. But I bought my first
iPod this week, an 80Gb thingy. It's astounded me. I've used various MP3
players before including trying to struggle with an iPaq as an MP3/video
player for the last year (don't bother). But the iPod is so far ahead of
them that it's difficult to put into words. No one specific thing, just the
usual Apple sense that every single aspect of the thing works, properly.

The only major headache is that iTunes seems to be fussy about ID3 tags and
I'll need to edit many of the MP3s downloaded (legally) from Jamendo since
the artists aren't that consistent in their completion of the tags.

Oh, and the earphones suck, copiously. Fortunately the in-ear noise
cancelling JVC earphones that I have work fine and they're a nice anonymous
black so I don't wander around looking like I have an iPod in my pocket.

Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
boring wimmins stuff on the box.

Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:

> Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
> a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
> time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
> boring wimmins stuff on the box.

Check out iSquint and Handbrake for all your encode-it-yourself
requirements.

Jim

On 2007-02-17 15:25:17 +0000, jim (Jim) said:

> Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:
>
>> Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
>> a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
>> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
>> time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
>> boring wimmins stuff on the box.
>
> Check out iSquint and Handbrake for all your encode-it-yourself
> requirements.

Then budget for a faster Mac ;-)

Cheers,

Chris

Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:

[..]
>
> Oh, and the earphones suck, copiously. Fortunately the in-ear noise
> cancelling JVC earphones that I have work fine and they're a nice anonymous
> black so I don't wander around looking like I have an iPod in my pocket.
>
> Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
> a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
> time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
> boring wimmins stuff on the box.

I bought my wife a 30gb video iPod not long ago. She's totally embraced
the video thing and watches video podcasts and conversions of shows on
her commute. I even get the US Deal or no Deal and convert that for
her. It's really very very easy.

I bought a "blueye" for my Nano the other day...brilliant! the phone
can be in my pocket or bag and I won't miss the call, or even have to
take my shure e2cs out. It also works well as a car kit if you use a
cable or tape adaptor to connect the iPod to the car stereo.

Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:

> OK, I'm well behind the bleeding edge curve here. But I bought my first
> iPod this week, an 80Gb thingy. It's astounded me.

Funnily enough, I had a similar experience coming in completely the
other direction: I was a very early adopter (Mac Expo the year they came
out), and so I'm very used to me trust v1 click wheel/firewire iPod. My
sister-in-law came to visit last week with a post-Christmas Nano - the
only other iPod I've handled in the intervening 5-6 yr. The new size,
weight and screen made me feel like I'm in the stone age! Stunning.


Gwynne

On 17/2/07 3:04 pm, Steve Firth wrote:
>
> Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
> a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
> time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
> boring wimmins stuff on the box.

Yes, despite the fact that the BBC have [quite deplorably] decided to go
with M$ DRM, there is a large body of BBC stuff on ITMS although I've
not checked for video lately.

On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:25:17 +0000, Jim wrote:

> Check out iSquint and Handbrake for all your encode-it-yourself
> requirements.

OK, thanks. At present it is being done by one of the many servers wot I
have, using AVS Media (Win only, I'm afraid).

On 17/2/07 16:23, "David Kennedy" wrote:
>>
>> Also since there's more video on the Internet archive than I could watch in
>> a lifetime, I think I'll be as happy as anything. I've already downloaded
>> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
>> time around so that's me settled while "someone else" is watching more
>> boring wimmins stuff on the box.
>
> Yes, despite the fact that the BBC have [quite deplorably] decided to go
> with M$ DRM, there is a large body of BBC stuff on ITMS although I've
> not checked for video lately.

http://www.uknova.com/browse.php will supply all your UK TV download needs -
both recent (i.e. yesterday night's TV) and archive (i.e. all the known
Horizon episodes)

On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:39:08 +0000, Stimpy <stimpy1997uk>
wrote:

>On 17/2/07 16:23, "David Kennedy" wrote:
>
>[..] will supply all your UK TV download needs -
>both recent (i.e. yesterday night's TV) and archive (i.e. all the known
>Horizon episodes)

Note that they're pretty scrupulous about not having anything that you
can already buy in the shops or has already been declared to be coming
out on DVD. Nice bunch.

Cheers - Jaimie

Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:

> I've already downloaded
> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
> time around

Wonderful stuff.

On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 19:10:34 +0000, Peter Ceresole wrote:

> Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:
>
>> I've already downloaded
>> the BBC documentary trilogy The Power of Nightmares which I missed first
>> time around
>
> Wonderful stuff.

Indeed, and much of it tallies with my experience so unlike the Americans
who are howling that it is "biased librul (sic) commie propaganda" I think
it's a useful insight into the causes of the current wars and much else
besides.

Politicians wish to kill libertarian thinking because they can see it leads
to a future in which we don't need them. They also, I feel, are beginning
to realise what a can of worms communications and the removal of trade
barriers has opened for politicians. After all if the population fo the
world can talk person to person over the net, we can inform each other of
when the government machine starts to spin more effectively than they can
rotate it.

Hmm currently listening to Ginger Baker's "Horses and Trees" at the mo on
my shiny new toy. Worth the download from iTunes (for me, OPMMV.)

Steve Firth <%steve%> wrote:

> Hmm currently listening to Ginger Baker's "Horses and Trees" at the mo on
> my shiny new toy. Worth the download from iTunes (for me, OPMMV.)

My pleasure from iTunes, as I've said, is swing and American (mostly)
'30s and '40s popular music. My horse, my course...

As for 'The Power of Nightmares', I reckon it has the smell of truth
about it, and events seem to prove it right. It's also intelligent and
witty. Truly excellent.

On 2007-02-17 21:14:28 +0000, peter (Peter Ceresole) said:

> As for 'The Power of Nightmares', I reckon it has the smell of truth
> about it, and events seem to prove it right. It's also intelligent and
> witty. Truly excellent.

Plus it sold me a Brian Eno album, for which I say thanks.


Cheers,
Ian