| browse: mobile | android | pc hardware | firefox | fun | music | .

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Sony NW-E016F walkman


Finally a new interesting walkman will arrive.

Short description: full color OLED Display, 1/2/4GB Versions, FM radio, plays MP3 / Atrac / wav / wma, only weights 28g. Software: Sonic Stage 4.3 wich now supports vista. I hope the software is not as crappy as in the previous releases. High speed battery charge: 3 hours in just 3 mintues!
Source of all the images: Sony Japan.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Winamp Theme Barracuda

Very stylish Winamp theme! Get it here and make sure you've read the creator's comment.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Divx in Vista Media Center?

Of course you already want your Vista Media Center to play all your divx vids? But there's no official DIVX release out there yet right? Head to this site and download the vista compatible ffdshow tryout. The beta2 worked fine for me.

Monday, March 26, 2007

bought the MX 3200

Some thoughts about the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200. I have to mention that I use all my Logitech devices with the uberOptions applied to the original drivers. Most software limitations set by Logitech are simply swept away then.
  • The search&zoom bar is kinda useless. I gave it a try in Photoshop, the web browsers etc. and then there's this annoying beep beep beep everytime you're using it. (update: how to turn the beeps off)
    What else can you do with the zoom bar? Check out the configuration options in the screenshot - you get the idea. All the other buttons around the zoom bar are ok and freely configurable.

  • The "100% button" below? Does exactly what it says - also in Photoshop: simply reverts all views back to 100%, default zoom level or default font size. Quite handy and placed at the right spot on the keyboard.

  • One Touch Search is quite handy too, but I wish they would integrate more sites like answers.com and not just Google, Yahoo, Live.com. (update: see logitech Forum plus here)

  • As with most Logitech cordless mice and keyboards your computer might not enter into standby mode anymore when the MX 3200 receiver is connected, because the powersupply&motherboard combo simply can't deliver enough power to keep the USB-receiver running while in standby or hibernate. The solution is to not allow keyboard and mouse to wake up the Computer. See screenshot on how you can correct the situation. (same for XP).

    Update june 2007 - finally solved this issue - see my posting

  • The tiny display is not backlit and has the functionality of a digital stopwatch back in 1982. The only thing I'll ever use it for is to check out time and date, it doesn't bother me either that it's there though. Design wise it blends nicely into the whole thing.

  • Vista support? The Logitech software won't let you assign hibernate as a shutdown option. Hibernate is Vistas (and also my) default shutdown mode. I also miss the ability to assign "switch user" since it presents another dialog than "lock." But I'm looking forward to see this being implemented in a future release of Setpoint.

  • Didn't figure out yet how to make the VOIP buttons work together with Skype (ver 3.1.0.147). None of the three buttons works so far.
    Update: it works now try this - thx Richard.

  • What my wife absolutely loves about this keyboard is the following: compared to most other keyboards out there, you almost won't hear me typing anymore. No clicking no nothing. Everyhing's smooth but the feeling while you type is still good.

  • BEST OF ALL: the keyboard mouse combo just looks fabulous and blends perfectly into a working space with a black flatscreen. Eye-catcher!

Alltogether I'd say that the MX 3200 is a great set; you get what you'd expect for the money. Also the included mouse is the best one for my liking - especially because it runs with just one battery inserted. (Lefthanders can go for the mx610-lefty)

(for more pictures, try this google image search)

== ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ == ~ ==

UPDATE Sep 2009: I can't use the keyboard anymore :-( after 2 yrs I also became a victim of the sticky key issue [google]. A lot of force was required to press some of the keys, so I decided to follow the instructions given in this guide. The result was devastating: all keys now required at least double the force than they used to. All the cleaning to remove the oil didn't bring back the key press feeling from back when I bought the keyboard, so I eventually bought a Microsoft Keyboard - you see - I don't like the currently available Logitech KBs. Aren't they just plain ugly?

But don't get me wrong - the MX3200 was a stunning piece of hardware and worked perfectly 98% of the time! For me the time to switch has come, that's all.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Nice Keyboard



Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200. Keyboard with some goodies. For more information on the good looking device - head here for a review or go to the official site.
Of course the mouse still looks as good as it did in Sep2005. It comes all black now.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

it's easy to trick you

try this one - I'm always surprised how easy it is, to fool around with what you thought to be the reality.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Check this out - LOL

just follow the instructions given in the video
"es isch würklich cool"
the phantasmatron...

Friday, June 30, 2006

Winamp & Streamripper

Na dann. Alot of people asked me about winamp and Streamripper. But why the heck doesnt everyone know about winamp since what... 1998? I'll never understand.

I don't like using MediaPlayer and RealPlayer when it comes to online radio, the players themselves are fine but take RealOne as an example: often you're forced to listen or watch 25s advertising before the stream would begin playing. Quite annoying!

That's why I'm always listening to audio streams presented on Shoutcast with Winamp. Winamp also offers us a very easy (and free) way to record the streamed media with a plugin called Streamripper. Check out the screenshots below if you have problems configuring Streamripper.
Through shoutcast you're able to access over 9000 music streams of every taste. When you enter the site you'll be presented the radio stations with the highest listener count, quite convenient if you're listening to mainstream stuff.
You're into Black Music Specials, Jazz, Brazil Jazz, Lounge Music or whatever? Just type your genre's name into the search box and voilà - a list of stations is presented immediately. Drag the yellow button into your winamp playlist or just klick on it...

Some of my favorite stations include:

Digitally Imported - Chillout - ambient (site)

Digitally Imported - LoungeBlueMars Music for the Space Traveller (site)
Groove Salad (site)
Thaidisconet Morlum
Smooth Jazz (site)

for 80s sound try .997 The 80s Channel (site)


Need help configuring streamripper?








Your Winamp playlists are always a mess?
Winamp's video playback sucks?
Try using these settings