Tip on using video in your site

Here’s a cool site on how to embed video on your site – which handles HTML 5, Quicktime, Flash downgrading gracefully: http://camendesign.com/code/video_for_everybody

I’m starting to see the writing on the wall that HTML5 (H.264 likely) will overtake Flash for video in the future.  Google and Apple are pushing hard for it – and in theory it works a lot better.   I don’t have a lot of experience with it myself – but I’m learning.  I just put a YouTube video on one of my clients sites: http://www.bradbuyshomes.com/.  I originally made this video as an AVI and uploaded it to YouTube (which took a while). Unfortunately it didn’t work – so I then exported it as MPEG-2  and that worked better.  Probably MPEG-4 is now the best choice – buy my Roxio Videowave doesn’t have any MPEG-4 at anything other than very small resolution outputs. I should have used Pinnacle Studio to create the MPEG-4 file….

Does Palm have a future?

I’m wondering if Palm has a future – given the intense competition in the smartphone market.  There was a rumor they were shutting down production but I still wonder about the long term.  I’ve been a long term Palm user – back to the Handspring day so I’m actually a fan.  I’ve been using some Palm apps for quite a few years – and was an original fan of “Grafitti”   I’ve been thinking about upgrading from my Palm Centro to a Palm Pre for a while -but am wondering if that’s a good long term strategy. Read more »

Google View of the World?

The news about Google is starting to get interesting – in terms of the scope of what they are addressing now.  Google seems to be building a vertical stack of services to cover almost everything to do with the computer.  This goes back to what Jeff Jarvis said – Google makes money when we use the web (advertising, advertising, advertising) – and faster means more:

1. Google announced today they’re planning on testing out a new 1 gigabit internet service (http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi) – so they could be in the neighborhood soon.
2. Google has a DNS service (http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/) – the magic thingy that translates the names we type in into the numbers that define the internet.
3. Google has Gmail – it’s free web-based e-mail service.  It has a corresponding calendar, contacts, etc. service.  One concept of calendars is you can share them – have group calendars, etc.
4. Google has it’s Google Docs – word, processing, spreadsheets, presentation, etc. – so you can do those basics online. Read more »

Apple Table features an Apple Processor?

One of the most interesting things I’ve read today about the Apple iPad (http://www.apple.com/ipad/) was that it featured it’s own processor- the Apple A4.  This is a custom processor that runs at 1Ghz and is supposed to be very power efficient – which would be essential in a tablet.  From what I can tell a consumer company creating it’s own chip is a break from trends – as even Apple switched to Intel for it’s computers.

Overall I was a little underwhelmed by the iPad – except for the price.  I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it might be – going from $499 to $899 – based on memory and 3G capability.  This price point may actually be reasonable – considering the device essentially compares to the netbook niche.  That’s what I see this as – as Apple’s positioning between a smartphone and a laptop.  For that price you may actually get some sales – more than just Apple addicts – but for people who just want to surf the web, check their e-mail, read a book, listen to music, watch a movie – not a full computer but something easy to use.

I don’t know how much of an advantage their own chip has – it might depend on how much it cost – versus how much better it is than Atom or ARM based chips.  It is an interesting trend  toward power efficient processors – after the era of chips being a fire hazard.  I think that’s where windows mobile as always had a problem – as it’s not very power efficient – vs. the old Palm phone I have.  This tells you something about Apple – they made it themselves instead of using someone’s technology -because they could.  It’s something Google would do (oh wait – they made their own phone hardware and OS).  It definitely has a better cool factor than a Chrome based PC – even though those might be more functional in some core ways – but the “thinner” device seems to be in now…

Here are a few links related to the A4:

http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2010/01/27/ipad-debuts-apples-custombuilt-a4-systemonachip/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10442684-64.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A4

Is the digital decade here?

I was thinking today about the new decade (still hard to believe) but especially about digital pictures and video.  I’ve loved going digital with pictures – as opposed to film (am I the only one who never got around to developing film?).  I love the ability to take multiple pictures,  to review them, to see them on the computer, make slideshows, and videos.   I think it’s important to take these snapshots of our lives -as they’ll never occur again. Read more »