Jason Tucker

Broadband TV is getting closer

2009-11-15T15:10:51Z

Image by changeiam via Flickr

In the past few years if you wanted to use your internet connection to watch TV, you basically had to hook up a computer to the TV view content. Why mess with all that?

TV's should be able to simply connect to HULU, Netflix, or any other service to stream content and bypass all the computer equipment. Just plug in an ethernet cable to the back of your TV and that's it.

Well, that's finally starting to happen. With new TV's from LG, Samsung, and others, you can finally watch TV via the internet without the need of a computer.

Comcast is out of bandwidth (Digital Transport Adapters)

2009-08-30T15:10:30Z

We really need some competition against Comcast. They initially built their networks so cheap to begin with that it's now beginning to catch up with them.

We noticed that channels on our non-set top box TV's were being replaced by some text encouraging us to switch to digital. You call Comcast and they give you 2 free DTA's (Digital Transport Adapters) to hook up to each TV.

By switching to all digital signals (different than the Federal switchover), they are freeing up more bandwidth because they have run out of space.

Again, just pause the DVR look at the picture quality on your digital HDTV channels. Notice the blocks of pixelation occurring because of how much compression they are using.

Where is the competition?

Are you disappointed in the sound quality of XM Sirius?

2009-06-28T16:59:16Z

Image via Wikipedia

I recently purchased a year subscription to XM Sirius after cancelling my previous service about 6 months ago. The receiver is a stock Nissan unit and stock Bose Infiniti system. I'm not sure if things have changed in 6 months time, but I've noticed quite a bit of compression that impacts the sound quality.

Notice the 's' and 't' sounds in the dj's voice when talking. It's missing quite a bit of high frequencies. It reminds me of low bit-rate 128k mp3's.

Does anyone else notice this as well? Is XM trying to cram more stations into their bandwidth at a cost of sound quality?

Transparent windshields would display widgets

2009-06-19T01:09:09Z

Image by Eay via Flickr

To build on my last post, imagine that the windshield in your car is like your computer desktop. Your desktop can display yahoo widgets or apple widgets to show you a calendar, clocks, rss feeds, etc.

Move this idea to your car windshield so you can see texts, maps, traffic updates, etc while you're driving. Of course, it would not obstruct your view but be displayed off to the side for brief glances.

It's a dangerous idea if implemented incorrectly, but I think it could be very helpful.

Device needed to read texts and emails while driving

2009-05-31T17:52:37Z

Image by Jared Kelly via Flickr

Now this may not be the best idea for those that are driving a car, but it would be less dangerous than what everyone is doing now.

Most Blackberry owners read and write emails while driving. Dangerous huh?

Imagine the heads up display in Pontiac and BMW cars repurposed as a text displaying bluetooth device. The Blackberry would connect via bluetooth and be used as an external display device for showing emails and text messages. This way, drivers can keep their eyes on the road and read messages at the same time. I know, not very safe, but it has to be safer than what people are doing now days.

I commend companies that are commenting on blogs

2009-05-19T20:49:51Z

Now that everyone vents their frustrations and thoughts online, it is much easier for companies to keep an eye on what people are saying.

A while back, I was upset that Capital One raised my interest rate. I made a post about it, and a couple days later, I had a comment from a customer service rep. Kinda cool that they're actually reaching out and trying to use these things to their advantage.

They must have some sort of search that scans the blogs and feeds for their company name and employs people to browse the web and respond.

Some companies won't embrace technology and others will. Just go to twitter, perform a search, grab the feed, and add to your google reader. Then you'll always be up to date on what others are saying about your company.

Apple charges $9.99 to update your iPod software?

2009-05-19T20:41:37Z

Image via CrunchBase

I ran across my mother's old iPod touch the other day and wanted to access the app store to see what programs were available for it. Unfortunately, the thing had not been used in a while and it needed a software upgrade in order to use the app store.

After much searching for the usb cable, I finally found one and hooked it up to my computer. I unfortunately had to download itunes and let it take over my computer. No, I don't want quicktime. No, I don't want the ituneshelper app loading at startup. No, I don't want the apple update software loading either. Goodness gracious. Too much unnecessary stuff.

Anyways, I went to update the software on the iPod and it asked me if I wanted to purchase it. Are you kidding? You have to purchase the update software?

I can understand having to buy new versions of an OS for Apple computers, but seriously. This is an ipod. The updates should be free.

No wonder people jailbreak these things.

BOYCOTT Kellogg's foods: They use genetically modified sugars!

2009-05-06T21:07:03Z

Image via Wikipedia

The multinational company Monsanto has entered the business of genetically engineering foods so they will withstand more of its pesticides. If the plants can stand more pesticides, the company sells more product and makes more money. It's such a shame that most everything evil is always traced back to $$$.

Monsanto has convinced Kellogg's to start using genetically modified beets in their cereals here in the US. The sugar in your cereal comes from these genetically modified beets.

Kellogg's is not selling their GM foods in Europe because the people won't allow them to. However, here in America, it seems that people don't care.

Why are GM foods bad for you? Here are some pros and cons from the Human Genome Project. You decide.

Please don't buy Kellogg's foods until they stop using genetically modified sources.

Additional information:
Organic Consumers Information - Boycott Kellogg's

Perez Hilton should be ashamed of himself

2009-04-30T23:40:21Z

Image by El_Enigma via Flickr

If someone is going to be a judge in a beauty pageant, they must be neutral and unbiased. Many have heard the story and comments of what happened the other week when this shameless man asked Carrie Prejean if every state should make gay marriage legal.

When he disagreed with her answer, he publicly attack her immediately afterward. He should be ashamed of himself. He may be an adult, but this man is nothing more than a teenager who never graduated from highschool.

Grow up Perez Hilton, please have some respect for other people's opinions.

Atlanta lawmakers: Please ban indoor smoking

2009-04-28T01:14:37Z

Image by Briebanofsky via Flickr

One of the great things about going out in Minneapolis or any other city that bans indoor smoking is that you don't come home smelling like cigarette smoke. I absolutely can't stand my clothes, hair, and skin smelling like that wretched stench. If someone wants to smoke, they simply step outside and do so without affecting everyone else.

That's one of the worst things about moving back to Atlanta. I enjoy going out with friends and having some food or a beverage in town. However, in most places you find smokers poisoning the air everyone else is breathing. I have no problem with them smoking, just don't let it affect the air I'm breathing.

Traffic is so inefficient....

2009-04-22T01:52:07Z

Image via Wikipedia

To all those commuters out there... How often do you sit in your car staring at headlights in front of you thinking: "There's got to be a better way."

What if after then light turns green all cars begain moving at once like a train Instead of waiting to go successively?

What if people had blinders like horses so they don't rubberneck, slow down, and look at accidents?

What if you knew the traffic patterns ahead of time and could navigate to the fastest moving lanes?

What if you could predict the optimal departure time to achieve minimum driving time?

So many ways our system could be improved. It will probably be 20+ years before we see any real progress. We need changes now!

Your tooth fillings may be causing mercury poisoning

2009-04-22T01:24:14Z

Image via Wikipedia

Did you know that if you ask your dentist about the safety of mercury in amalgam tooth fillings, he may lose his dental license if he says it's not safe?

Try it. Ask your dentist and see what he says. The ADA controls his business and what he's allowed to say.

New studies show that when dentists work on your fillings, it releases toxic mercury gas from one of the most dangerous metals known to man.

Mercury has a negative vapor pressure, so it's always releasing toxic gases.

Even those new, low emission, "green" curly light bulbs contain mercury. If one of those breaks, you have to call poison control and immediately evacuate the premises. Definitely not a good thing.

Do some research and have them removed for your own health.

Studies:
http://www.flcv.com/indexa.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/amalgam/
http://www.thebeautifultruthmovie.com/

Online bill payments should not charge convenience fees

2009-04-15T23:35:19Z

Image by photonburst via Flickr

One thing that I've always disagreed with is the required fees for paying your utility bills online. I used Xcel and CenterPoint Energy in Minneapolis for a little less than a year. I've always paid by check via US Postal service because they charge you up to $5 every time you pay online. This is quite ridiculous.

So, I pay by putting my check in the mail. Yes, I do have to pay for a stamp, but it's still cheaper than paying online. You also have to wait for the check to get there which is also a pain.

Taking electronic payments online is with no fees should be the standard.

Now don't get me started on the Tickermaster convenience fee either.

Max Gerson cured cancer over 50 years ago

2009-04-15T01:53:59Z

Image via Wikipedia

My sister recommend a movie to my family: The Beautiful Truth. It's quite an insightful story about the Gerson therapy and how Max was able to cure cancers and other diseases using organic foods, juices, and other methods to accomplish such feats.

The movie goes into such great depths like:

1. MSG is in almost every food we eat. The FDA has allowed food processing companies to get away with this by letting them hide it under other names. How MSG leads to autism (pdf flowchart): MSGTruth

2. The toxic effects of aspartame, which is in Diet coke, chewing gum, Listerine strips, and more.

3. How the ADA will terminate a dentist's license if they speak out against one of the most toxic metals known to man, mercury, which is almost every amalgam and filling. Just ask your dentist if having mercury in your mouth is harmful. If they want to keep their license, they will not say it's bad.

4. How the multi-national company Monsanto wants to rid the world of heirloom seeds and replace them all with genetically modified seeds that withstand their pesticides better. That way, they sell more pesticides and make more money.

This is some serious stuff. Our health is being manipulated just for our money. Can the world ever break free?

Please watch the movie. It's on Netflix streaming.

The Beautiful Truth

Some excerpts on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQsi777_B1g

Google maps should have historical driving times

2009-04-15T01:47:24Z

Image by Telendro via Flickr

I thought of this idea while I was looking up some directions with Google maps: Wouldn't it be great to display driving times depending on departure time?

For example, if you leave at 6PM on a Friday in Atlanta traffic, it usually takes x amount of time to drive this route. You could then adjust the departure time and you can see how that affects total drive time.

It's an interesting idea and would be great in cities with heavy traffic. Google, care to implement?