Is the Intel iMac’s CPU upgradeable?
Posted by Helper Monkey
Macenstein reader F_Windows sent us a blurb on xlr8yourmac which claims the CPUs on the new Intel iMacs may in fact be upgradeable. An unconfirmed story in a Japanese magazine claims that one industrious fella not only successfully replaced the 1.8 GHz CPU his iMac shipped with with a 2GHz chip, but that the iMac’s CPU is not soldered on to the motherboard!
Now, we eye unconfirmed articles in Japanese Magazines with somewhat the same degree of suspicion as our friend’s “girlfriend in Canada no one has ever seen�. Still, this would be VERY cool if true, and it would imply the lifetime of the new batch of Intel Macs may be (somewhat) easily extended beyond their normal lifetime.
EDIT: It appears the new iMacs use the same simple socket connections as standard PCs, so while this report is likely true, it does not provide any overly exciting or new information.
OS X 10.4.4 for Intel on Torrent hacker site
Posted by Helper Monkey
A report on hackinthebox.com claims that someone has uploaded their Intel iMac’s restore disk to the hacking community on Piratebay. This is not an cracked version, however, so it is not as though anyone who downloads this will be able to run OS X on their generic PCs. However, it DOES put a working copy of OS X for Intel into the hands of a much wider circulation, so it could be only a matter of time before we start seeing some successful cracks.
The 4.2 GB disk images was uploaded this morning.
Review: Snapz Pro X 2.0.2
Posted by Lab Rat
One of the more rewarding aspects of reviewing software is the rare occurrence when you come across an application that you know will change the way you use your computer. I had of course heard of Ambrosia Software’s Snapz Pro X 2.0.2 screen capturing software, but I had never really thought of it as a “must-have� application. After all, OS X comes with its own screen capturing utility “Grab�, as well as the keyboard shortcuts of Command+Shift+3 and Command+Shift+4 for capturing the whole screen and region/window, respectively. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Well, this cow can make cookie dough ice cream and low-fat chocolate yogurt in addition to milk, that’s why.
Snapz Pro takes screen capturing to a whole new level on the Mac, allowing for not only stills of your desktop, but full-motion video clips as well. This is an invaluable tool for creating software demos, capturing movie clips of QuickTime video, and creating hard-to-get footage for use in a video project, such as scrolling through a webpage. Snapz Pro also finally makes it possible to grab stills and movies from the DVD Player application, something Apple’s Grab prohibits.
Ironically, the only thing Snapz Pro can’t capture is images of its own interface. I had to use Apple’s Grab to get these.
Multiple file formats
Snapz Pro goes way beyond Apple’s built-in capture functionality, and allows for capturing stills in multiple file formats, not just PNGs. BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG, PICT, TIFF, and even Photoshop PSDs are supported. In addition, you can change the file creator, so if you want to save a TIFF of the screen, but want the computer to think Freehand created it, then you can. Likewise, QuickTime movies can be exported using any available codec on your system.
Capturing Stills
With Snapz Pro, you can grab an image of the entire screen, a window, or a region of the screen. What sets this apart from the basic capture functionality of OS X however, is the ability to define fixed regions for capture, to edit the selected regions by manipulating section handles, and to include the Mac cursor in the shots if desired. You can set up your preferences to decide what file type is created, where the files are saved, and what they are named.
Snapz Pro presents you with a wide array of options with which to tailor your capturing experience.
Capturing Movies
The ability to capture QuickTime movies of your desktop is what really makes Snapz Pro unique. As with capturing stills, you can opt for a full screen capture, or a fixed region. However with movies you are also given the option of a “moving camera� which follows your cursor around the screen. This is great for both minimizing the file size of your movie and for focusing the attention of the action to the area immediately surrounding the cursor. All action is recorded, such as dock animations and menus being navigated. Sound capture can either be done via a microphone (for narrations) or via the output of the Mac’s sound card. If you have an iSight, you can use it as your microphone by first selecting it as the sound input in your System Preferences.
The above movie is literally a “Snap” to make. This 15 fps version works great for the web, but full 30 fps video is also possible.
Support for dual monitors
I have a 21-inch CRT monitor and a 15-inch Apple display hooked up as an expanded desktop. Snapz Pro was able to easily capture a 2304×768 QuickTime movie of my cursor moving files across both monitors, opening menus and folders along the way. I thought this was very impressive. For best results, however, you should set both monitors to the same resolution, as Snapz Pro will take the height from the monitor with the shortest screen height (this caused my dock to be cut off in the previous example).
One side note on dual monitors; I found it odd that while Snapz Pro can capture a movie from both screens, if you simply want a full screen desktop still, you need to choose one monitor or the other, Snapz Pro does not see them as a continuous desktop for stills.
You can even grab stills and video from DVDs, something Apple’s built-in capture utilities cannot do. (image © Copyright Disney Enterprises Inc.)
Limitations:
The right hardware for the job
For your average still grabs and desktop movies, Snapz Pro will likely run fine on almost any hardware that supports OS X 10.4. But if you are attempting to capture a high framerate movie of, say, a DVD or QuickTime, the results depend largely on the power of your system. Attempting to capture a 2 minute clip at 30 fps of a 560×416 MPEG-4 video clip playing in QuickTime Player on a 1.2 GHz G4 PowerMac with 1.12 GB of RAM resulted in an extremely choppy movie full of stutters and unsynced sound. Attempting to capture the same movie again on a dual 2.0 GHz G5 with 1.5 GB of RAM produced an almost perfect copy.
Likewise, attempting to capture full motion (1024×768) video of Civilization 3 Complete resulted in fair amount of frame drop outs on a single processor system (and Civ 3 is far from Halo when it comes to taxing the system).
Still, on more robust systems the performance is excellent, and for even full screen (1280×960) movies showing Word or Safari usage Snapz Pro did very well on the older system.
Above: the movie capture dialogue box.
ALMOST perfect
Snapz Pro is incredibly robust, and can meet almost any screen capturing need. However there are a couple features I would like to see in the next version. First and foremost, when installed, Snapz pro defaults to taking over Apple’s “full screen grab� short cut key combo of “Command+Shift+3�. While Snapz Pro lets you change this key combination to any other available configuration, you cannot get back Apple’s “Command+Shift+3� functionality without first uninstalling Snapz Pro. The developers claim this is due to Snapz Pro’s tight integration with the Apple grabbing functionality, and to be honest, you don’t NEED to be able to do both, but when you just want to capture the whole screen, it takes an extra click on the mouse to use Snapz Pro, and my time is extremely valuable (sarcasm).
Secondly, a timed-screen capture feature would be nice. Apple’s Grab has had this forever, and I find it useful. Not so much for stills, as Snapz Pro “freezes the screen� when taking a still, so you can fairly easily capture the exact frame you want, but for capturing movies it would be nice. Snapz Pro begins capturing a QuickTime as soon as you hit go, not allowing you time to position your cursor on the screen where you want it. If you wanted to get a shot of an application launching, you cannot hit “capture in 5 seconds� and then go over the application’s icon in the dock, wait as time counts down, and then launch the application to capture the splash screen and such without capturing excess intro footage. Snapz Pro does not contain any editing software like Camtasia Studio does on the PC, so I found it necessary to trim off the beginnings and ends of my movies in either QuickTime Pro or Final Cut (Snapz Pro movies CAN be brought into final Cut with some effort. See the Snapz Pro forum for more on this).
Conclusion
As a software reviewer, capturing still images of my computer screen has become essential. After using Snapz Pro for a couple weeks, I now realize I was wasting time by over capturing areas using Apple’s solutions, then bringing those images into Photoshop to crop out portions of the screen I did not want. The flexibility of selection and output directly from Snapz Pro make it a great utility to have in your arsenal. The ability to capture QuickTimes is essential for anyone wishing to create video tutorials of software. Snap Pro X’s ability to capture areas of the screen that Apple’s built-in captures solutions just can’t (like DVDs) also sets it apart.
Price: $69 (full version) $29 (upgrade from previous versions)
Rating: 9.1 out of 10
Pros: Ability to capture QuickTime movies; much more control over the capture process than Apple’s built-in methods
Cons: No timed capture feature, performance a bit sluggish on single processor systems.
How much do you love you iPod? The Negligee Costume for iPod
Posted by Igor
It would not be an understatement to say that millions of people across the globe are having a love affair with the iPod. It would also not be an understatement to say that millions of people across the globe are insane. To that end, we present you with the Negligee Costume for iPod.
There is no denying that the iPod is the sexiest music player out there.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, now is the perfect time to surprise your iPod with a romantic getaway somewhere secluded, and this spicy number is sure to get the sparks flying. And for those of you not into “fat chicks�, don’t worry, there is a Negligee for the iPod mini as well. And the ladies need not feel left out either, as there is also a range of sexy boxer shorts and briefs available as well.
These designs are the brainchild of California based iAttire, which specializes in creating unique iPod accessories for those people who consider their iPod to be not just a music player, but a friend as well (and presumably now, a GIRLfriend).
There have been a lot of reports lately implying that the iPod is isolating America’s youth by giving them a great way to “tune� out the world while tuning in to their favorite songs. Well, if you really want to be left alone, nothing says “Don’t make eye contact with this guy� better than a fella holding an iPod dressed in sexy underwear. Operators are standing by.
Norton AntiVirus now MacIntel compatible… but should we care?
Posted by Helper Monkey
Symantec, makers of the (formerly) popular Norton Systemworks suite have released an update to their Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh 10 software, making it compatible with the newly released Intel Macs.
From the release:
“If you have a new Intel-based Macintosh computer, install Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh 10.0 and run LiveUpdate to update to the latest version.�
This news comes just as a new eWeek article attempts to stir up the hornet’s nest of “Intel Mac� security, and calls into question just how safe users of the new Macs should feel. “The shift to Intel processors from the Motorola Power PC processors will make it easier to create software exploits for Macintosh systems, “ writes eWeek’s Paul F. Roberts, “and could result in a steady stream of Mac exploits in years to come.�
Apple responded to Intel security concerns in an e-mailed statement claiming that OS X for Intel is just as secure as OS X for PowerPC.
Even before Apple made the switch to the Unix-based OS X operating system, there were less than a handful of viruses which targeted Macs. Since switching to OS X there have been none, and some Mac enthusiasts have even offered monetary rewards seeking proof that a Mac virus exists.
Microsoft to mount challenge to iPod with new MBox music player?
Posted by Lab Rat
BusinessWeek is reporting that Microsoft is considering plans for an iPod-esque music player of its own. This represents a huge change in Microsoft’s thinking as they now have to admit that their relying on a dozen or so manufacturers to provide media players to compete with the iPod is just not working. Combined sales of all other media players accounts for only 33% of the total Market.
While BusinessWeek claims Microsoft is merely in the theoretical planning stages of such a device, NewTechSpy.com has a (pretty fake) rendering of what they claim the 40 GB version looks like. They claim the devices (called MBoxes, an attempt to cash in on the Xbox brand no doubt) have already gone into the manufacturing stages, and will boast a huge array of features, and sell for a very low price point in order to take away Apple’s MarketShare.
Above: the MBox
From the site:
“The entry level model (shown) is believed to have a 40GB hard drive, with the ability to play music, show pictures and even play video. The Mbox will also have recording capability, with line-in and voice, along with FM transmitter duty. Functionality is straight forward with all the necessary buttons and the unique new “X-padâ€?, Microsoft’s answer to the click wheel. The X-pad is programmable, and is said to have remarkable progressive touch sensitivity, and walk the line between simplicity and ultimate control. No word yet on the introduction date, but this product launch will sure make for an interesting 2006.”
Viacom joins the iTunes family
Posted by Dr. Macenstein
Viacom has jumped on board the iTunes bandwagon, and has made select programming from some of its channels available for download from the iTunes store. Last month Viacom-owned MTV announced its own download service called URGE in conjunction with Microsoft (although not officially active yet), so this comes as a little bit of a surprise.
Notable programs include:
From Comedy Central - South Park (First 2 seasons), Drawn Together (First 2 seasons), Best of Comedy Central Stand-Up
From MTV - Beavis and Butt-Head, Laguna Beach, Gauntlet 2, My Super Sweet 16 (First 2 seasons), Jackass, Punk’d (First 3 seasons), and Wonder Showzen
And for the kids
From Nickelodeon - SpongeBob SquarePants (Season 1), Dora the Explorer (Season 1), and Zoey 101
Also added are shows from SOAPNet, The N, and ABC Family.
Intel produces 45nm chip
Posted by Helper Monkey
Only 1 month after it began shipping its latest 65nm processors, Intel has announced it has successfully manufactured a chip at 45nm. This makes Intel the first chip company to successfully showcase a working 45nm chip. The chips are said to provide a 5x decrease in transistor leakage over 65nm chips, and a 20% improvement in switching speed. While these chips will not be shipping until mid-2007, the speed at which Intel cranks out faster chips is something very new and exciting to we Mac users who were saddled with the PPC roadmap which in recent years delivered only minor speed bumps every year or so.
Intel Core Duo Chips full of flaws?
Posted by Lab Rat
Geek.com has an article which claims numerous flaws are being identified in Intel’s newly released Core Duo and Core Solo family of chips at the alarming rate of 1.5 per day since their January 3rd unveiling. Currently 34 known issues have surfaced, and while some are more serious than others, only one is slated to be fixed by Intel at this time. While the speed at which these problems are being spotted may not bode well for Apple (and PC makers in general), Geek.com is quick to point out that it is not at all uncommon for chips to continue to ship with flaws. The Pentium 4 processor have 65 known flaws and are there are no plans by Intel to fix them.
Of course, theis report is noteworthy because the Core Duo family of chips is being used in Apple’s new iMacs and MacBook Pros. User comments point out that most processor flaws can be addressed by workaround in the software coding, so this may not end up being a big deal. But it is always fun to cause a panic.
Review: DISH Network’s PocketDISH AV700E
Posted by Dr. Macenstein
There can be no argument that in the portable media player arena the iPod is the undisputed heavyweight champ. Both Mac and Windows users have time and again chosen the iPod over rivals that have often offered more features and lower prices. With the latest generation of iPod, Apple has expanded on the audio-only roots that made the iPod such a huge hit, and added the ability to play back videos on the iPod, thus eliminating one of the last justifiable argument in selecting a different portable media player. However, with a 2.5-inch screen, many users have felt the hand-held home theater experience a bit lacking.
To be sure, the iPod is still first and foremost a music player, and this 5th generation of iPod can be seen as largely a test by Apple to judge the marketplace’s reaction/demand for portable video. Based upon the latest reports of healthy iTunes video sales, Apple will likely be looking to deliver a more cinematic viewing experience by equipping future iPods with larger screens (and dare I say, perhaps even external speakers?).
But the iPod will always be limited by its size. It is doubtful that the iPod as we know it will ever outgrow the average person’s pocket. While I have incredible respect for the industrial designers over at Apple, there is only so big you can make the screen on an iPod. For an actually enjoyable portable video viewing experience, consumers (for the moment) still need to look elsewhere.
The French company Archos had been making portable media players long before Apple, and even with the latest video iPod on the market, many industry analysts will still you Archos delivers a much more engaging viewing experience than the iPod, and delivers functionality that Apple’s player just can’t deliver.
So why am I bring up Archos in a review of DISH Network’s PocketDISH? Well, while the outside branding is all DISH, the guts are all Archos. A couple years back DISH Network sunk about $15 million or so into Archos with the agreement that Archos would design some neat products for DISH Network customers. The PocketDISH portable video players are the first spawn of that marriage. These devices allow you not only to view videos, photos, and listen to music, you can also record video and audio directly from any source with RCA/S-Video jacks.
Above: the PocketDISH AV700E.
The $599 7-inch widescreen AV700E is the bad-ass big boy of the PocketDISH family, and boasts a couple of unique features the smaller PocketDISH players (the AV500E and AV300E) do not. First and foremost, by connecting the AV700E to your compatible DISH Network receiver’s USB2 port, you can transfer any recorded programs you have in a matter of minutes, without recompressing them. This is a result of that funding Archos received from DISH Networks, and it allows for the decoding of the encrypted DISH Network programming, so recorded shows can simply be moved to the Pocket DISH without the need for recompression. What this means is you can quickly move shows off your receiver’s hard drive and onto the PocketDISH to either free up space or for on-the-go viewing on the large 7-inch LCD screen. In addition, programs can be played on ANY TV directly from the PocketDISH via an RCA cable and adapter. This is great for people like me who only feel like they need one TV in the house, but occasionally wouldn’t mind watching a show upstairs as well.
So, now that the iPod plays video, how does it stack up to the PocketDISH?
Comparing the PocketDISH to a video iPod: Exterior
Ok, well the most noticeable physical difference is the screen size. Here the PocketDISH has the iPod beat hands down. Almost the entire length and width of the PocketDISH is comprised of its bright and surprisingly clear 7-inch LCD screen that blows away the iPod for video viewing (although photos do look a bit crunchy). This of course comes at the expense of some amount of portability, and the iPod bests the PocketDISH in that respect. Unlike the iPod, the PocketDISH is too large to really just have on your person all day long (and makes you wonder if the word “pocket� should even be in the device’s name at all). The PocketDISH also boasts twin speakers (on each side), although perhaps “boasts� is a poor choice of words. They deliver adequate but tiny sound, so I am not quite sure they deliver any real advantage over the iPod. On both devices you will find yourself wearing headphones. The PocketDISH has far more external controls than the iPod, and in the ergonomics/user interface category, the iPod wins hands down (more on this later).
Above: the iPod’s screen is just a little smaller than the PocketDISH’s.
Comparing the PocketDISH to a video iPod: What they can do
Both the PocketDISH and video iPod can play videos and music, but the PocketDISH cannot play any content purchased from the iTunes music store due to Apple’s refusal to let any player other than the iPod access their material. This is a huge drawback to be sure, but nothing that is the fault of the PocketDISH. On the other hand, the PocketDISH is actually able to play a much wider range of video files. PocketDISH can play 720 x 480 AVIs, most Divx movies, and Windows media files, as well as MP3’s and copy protected WMA’s from other online music services. Battery life is basically similar between the two, with the PocketDISH delivering just over 4 hours of constant video viewing, and 30 hours for music-only playback.
Both the iPod and the PocketDISH can play back photos in a slideshow, although as a Mac user you will not be able to interface directly with Apple’s iPhoto folders as you can with an iPod. Photos must be manually placed into the photos folder on the PocketDISH, meaning there is a bit more time needed to organize which pictures you want to have with you. However, the PocketDISH DOES provide a very nice bit of functionality that the iPod does not (at least not without purchasing extra equipment). You can plug your digital camera into the PocketDISH via a mini USB cable, and import photos directly from the camera (you will need a separate mini USB to mini USB cable to do so). This is great for long vacations where you continuously fill up memory cards. All you need to do is unload your photos into the PocketDISH, then erase you card and keep shooting. When you get home, simply plug your PocketDISH into your Mac, and pull off your photos. The PocketDISH shows up as an external hard drive on your desktop when plugged into an available USB2 (or 1) port.
The one area that the PocketDISH definitely bests the iPod is when it comes to recording. While the iPod is (currently) limited to merely playing back video, the PocketDISH can record video from any source that supports RCA or S-Video connections. You can also record audio directly into the PocketDISH via a microphone. Video is saved as 1800 kbit/sec AVI files, and they look surprisingly good.
However the most unique thing about the PocketDISH (and one of its biggest selling points in my opinion) is its ability to interface directly with select DISH Network DVRs. Assuming you are a DISH Network subscriber, you are going to find this feature extremely cool. Just hook your PocketDISH to your receiver’s USB2 port, and a menu pops up on your TV asking you which of your recorded shows you would like to move to the PocketDISH. You can check multiple programs, and set up a queue for transfer. Once you hit “Send Video�, the shows are quickly transferred to your PocketDISH at a speed of about 5 minutes per hour long show. Once there you can then watch your shows anywhere you want, or connect the PocketDISH to another TV via RCA/S-Video connections. Shows looks as good as the originals because, in effect, they ARE the originals. The 40 GB AV700E can hold an estimated 160 hours of standard definition programming.
While neither the iPod nor the PocketDISH would be considered “gaming machines�, both do have games as well. However the PocketDISH’s large screen and wider selection of games goes far beyond the iPod’s trivia and Bricks, and new games can be downloaded from the internet and installed on the PocketDISH from your computer.
Comparing the PocketDISH to a video iPod: How They Do it
When comparing the two devices, the most glaring difference to me is each company’s approach in dealing with the end-user’s experience. We all know the iPod has pretty much redefined the term “ease of use� and set new standards for elegant and intelligent design. My 4-year old daughter, who cannot read very well yet, can navigate my iPod and find her songs, change the volume, fast forward and skip songs. Four days after unpacking my PocketDISH, I still needed the manual to figure out how to use many of its features. While this may mean I should perhaps have had my daughter review the PocketDISH, I prefer to see the PocketDISH’s design as a great idea, horribly executed.
The PocketDISH at first glance seems like a very sleek and stylish piece of portable hardware, and truthfully, it IS a bit of a showstopper. Co-workers seemed unanimously impressed with the large screen, and the most common phrase upon seeing the PocketDISH was “Oh COOL!�. However, upon handing the PocketDISH to an unsuspecting guinea pig, it was soon obvious I was not the only idiot in the room. “So, how do you get it to play?� was the most common question. This reaction is even more distressing because the PocketDISH boots up with a screen showing you some big recognizable icons like VIDEO, PHOTOS, MUSIC, and even with the “VIDEO� icon highlighted, no one was able to figure out how to select that icon in under a minute.
Above: the PocketDISH AV700E’s stylish exterior masks some severe usability flaws.
So what’s the problem? VERY poor UI choices by the PocketDISH’s designers. It seems the “select� button is actually the “power� button. Or, I should say, the “On� button, as the PocketDISH has a separate button for ON and OFF. And the “Off� button, of course, is also the “Cancel� button. That is, unless you are playing a game, in which case it is no longer the cancel button, you need to navigate a new menu with another set of controls to cancel out of a game.
The main navigational buttons are located on the left side of the device, and while it would have been nice to keep the select button there for one-handed navigation, sadly the select button (actually BOTH select buttons) is on the far right of the unit. The buttons are all very small as well, and their tactile response and loud clicks are just a little “off� to my tastes. I would much rather that Archos used some of that $15 million and incorporated DISH Network’s remote control layout in some way.
The ability to record video, which is one of the PocketDISH’s strongest selling features, is also one of its more disappointing user experiences. For some reason, you cannot connect the PocketDISH directly to a video source or TV via the included RCA cables as you can with an iPod. Instead, these cables must run from the video source to an external “TV docking pod�, and then from the docking pod to the PocketDISH. This causes a number of problems. The first is the “docking pod� requires power. The poorly designed power chord ends at an odd rectangular plug with a folding prong design. This is not a traditional “power brick� and there is no need for such a large plug. Also, the folding prongs are located in the middle of rectangle, thus causing this device to needlessly take up at LEAST two outlets (depending on your powerstrip/outet configuration it may be more). I feel the PocketDISH is most likely geared towards people like myself who love gadgets and have a bunch of devices filling all available slots their entertainment center. When you have a TV, DVD Player, DVD recorder, VCR, Satellite receiver, and surround sound system plugged in, you are not exactly swimming in extra outlets. Also, the need to have the power chord plugged in in addition to the RCA cable means you have to try to find a physical position in your entertainment center that is equally between both your power outlets and your satellite receiver, plus it needs to be close enough to the receiver to plug in to the USB 2 port (yet that cable is ridiculously short). But the real drawback to this whole docking pod thing is that it is such a pain to access the RCA ports in the back of most devices, that you really do not want to be constantly plugging and unplugging the docking pod and cables when you want to move the unit to another room to view it (yes, you also need the dockng pod to playback through a TV as well) and you certainly begin to feel the drawbacks when you imagine having to carry a full accessory case just to manage all the extra cables and the docking pod while traveling. It would have been nice if the PocketDISH shipped with two docking pods, one to leave by your receiver, and one you can take with you.
Also, when recording from my DISH receiver via the RCA cables, I noticed an odd line appeared at the bottom of each recording (see below). This almost appeared to be some sort of blanking issue, yet it was higher in the frame than I would have expected, so I do not know what caused this.
The weird line at the bottom appeared on all my recordings made via the docking pod. (Off topic, $1 goes to whoever can tell me how to get toys of these little guys!)
As for navigating your various media, again, the iPod is the clear winner. Being able to navigate through clear menus with a unified selection tool is something you may take for granted if you have not tried to use other portable media devices. The PocketDISH’s menus are laid out very much like the Windows Explorer, which while ubiquitous enough to seem familiar, has never been called “user friendly�. You can even see files you are probably not supposed to see, like “UPDATE_AV700E.AOS, and the TRASH and ASIAN FONTS folders.
As an example of the type of thought that went into how to operate this device, I will quote an excerpt from the manual regarding the “simple� act of viewing your slides in slideshow mode.
“VIEW A SLIDE SHOW
BASIC OPERATION
1 Turn the PocketDISH on, allow the PocketDISH time for the desktop to display
2 Highlight the Photo icon and press ON to access the content.
SETING UP THE SLIDESHOW
1 Press the bottom Setup key and highlight the Photo browser settings.
2 Press the center Setup key to open the Photo browser settings.
3 Highlight Image Display and change the setting to Progressive.
4 Highlight Picture Pause and select the desired viewing time.
5 Press OFF to exit the Photo browser settings.
VIEWING THE SLIDESHOW
1 Press the bottom Setup key and highlight the Slideshow option.
2 Press the center Setup key to view the slideshow.
3 Press OFF to exit the slideshow.�
If this sounds confusing, don’t worry. This doesn’t make much more sense when you are holding the unit. This is hardly something Grandma is going to be using to look at photos of the grandkids.
Finally, the most disappointing thing about this unit is also the thing that works the best. The seamless integration with the DISH Network receivers is extremely intuitive and easy, and yes, even Grandma might be able to handle this. However, in reading the literature on the PocketDISH, you will time and again run into the words “selectâ€? and “compatibleâ€?, as in this seamless transfer of recorded DVR shows works only on “selectâ€? and “compatibleâ€? receivers. DISH generously uses the plural “receiver(s)â€?, however, as of this writing, the PocketDISH AV700E supports only ONE of DISHNetwork’s receivers, and it is of course their most expensive one, the $700 DISH Player-DVR 942. DISH claims that they are working on compatibility with older receivers with USB ports, but those of use with 721 receivers who were promised name-based recording capability on a “Charlie Chat” over two years ago will not be holding our breath. So while this fast syncing with the 942 receiver works as advertised, you are looking at a $1300 investment to make it happen.
Conclusion
Based on the last 8 paragraphs or so of this review, you would likely assume I hate the PocketDISH. But to be honest, I like it. And my kids LOVE it. They find it fascinating for some reason to be able to watch their shows huddled on the floor around a tiny 7-inch screen with less than stellar sound, instead of watching them on the 36-inch TV located just to their right. The reason I spent so much time in this review pointing out the PocketDISH’s shortcomings is because they ARE legitimate, and they are MANY. I have always prided myself as a bit of a gadget geek, and I don’t mind spending countless hours in my basement trying to figure out how to get one gadget to play nice with another. But I realize most people aren’t willing to do that. I wanted to make sure that no one thought the PocketDISH was just a video iPod on steroids. While the device does everything it claims it will, you sometimes have to beat the hell out of the PocketDISH to get it to do what you want it to do. I liken it to the feeling of trying to assemble a complex toy with only the Japanese instructions on hand. You will find yourself hitting the wrong menu keys and buttons quite a bit, even after weeks of use. There are many poor design choices both in the physical design and in the software. However, 90% of the time you are just going to be watching a television show or movie on this thing, and once you get it playing, it doesn’t really matter how hard it is to set up a slideshow or that it just feels weird to have to hit the “ON� button to select something. At the end of the day the PocketDISH delivers a really great viewing experience and is far more versatile than a video iPod.
Comparing the PocketDISH to the iPod is not quite a fair comparison to either unit. It might actually be better to compare the PocketDISH to a portable DVD player than an iPod. After all, the PocketDISH is really designed for playing back video, and the iPod is still mainly for listening to music. Both are portable hard drive based media devices, but there the similarities begin to get fuzzy. Using Handbrake you can fit about 50 or 60 DVDs at full-res onto the PocketDISH, and that can make long car rides and business travel much more enjoyable. In the end I would chose an iPod over the PocketDISH, but that is because I find I have more opportunity to listen to music throughout my day than to watch TV. Ideally I would like to have both.
If you own the 942 receiver, the PocketDISH is a very cool device. The fast syncing works great, and will eliminate much of the hassles I spoke about when recording via the RCA jacks. I am not sure just how many of DISH Network’s 12 million subscribers also own the High Def 942 receiver, but it seems like a rather small potential audience (DISH Network claims more of their receivers will become compatible soon). Still, If you do not have the 942, or even ANY DISH Network receiver, and you don’t mind recording files in real time (and ripping DVDs in slower than real-time), the PocketDISH AV700E will make an excellent traveling companion.
DISH Network’s PocketDISH AV700E
Price: $599 ($60 rebate now available through DISH
Ratings:
As a Video Playback Device: 8.5
As a video recording device: 6.5 (if you have a compatible DISH Network satellite receiver) 9.0
As a music player: 6.0
As a photo Viewer: 6.0
Total rating: 7.2
Total rating (if you own a compatible DISH reciever: 8.3
