PetHub ID Tag Arrived

A few weeks ago I wrote about a company giving away free Pet ID tags with QR codes on them, Pet Hub ID.  The ID tag has the pet's name and a website on one side and on the other side has a QR bar code on the other.  The QR barcode can be scanned using software that is available on many smart phones, based on other recommendations I use Neoreader there are others as well.  The URL and QR barcode point to a website that can be easily updated once a pet is lost and more contact information can be provided.

The ID tag is a generic black and is a good size, bigger than a quarter smaller than a half-dollar, and is laser etched on both sides.  Here is what Daisy looks like with her Pet Hub ID tag, it is small and you can't make it out but it was the best one handed shot I could get her to sit for!  There is also a picture of the site the QR code sends you too.

Daisy's PetHub Site

Daisy and her PetHub ID Tag

This is a quick video of my iPhone using Neoreader to read the QR code. The noise in the back of course is Daisy with her squeaky toy!

 

You can follow Pet Hub on Twitter @pet_hub

Capturing Your Screen

Every now and again there comes a time that showing someone how to do something on the computer is just easier than telling them. Recently for both work and home I have had to create tutorials on a variety of topics. Because of this I have found a few great screen capture tools and tricks that I thought I would share with everyone.

Video Screen Capture

One of the new products we recently bought at work was Screen Flow.  Screen Flow  is a great all in one video screen capture application with editing software.  The directions are intuitive and I was able to create my first video in no time.  I especially like the built-in editing features that allow you to blur out backgrounds and highlight your mouse.  The keyboard tracking is also a nice feature. The product demo from the Screenflow website gives a good taste of what it can do. You would also be surprised the number of tutorials already on Youtube using Screenflow.


I have also used SnapzPro X for a while as well.  SnapzPro X does both video and still image capture and exports video in a variety of formats.  SnapzPro X is great when you only want a portion of your screen recorded. Here is a demo of SnapzPro X

Another option that I came across is using Quicktime X now allows you to record screen captures with no cost at all.  This is very helpful if you are doing basic tutorials and will edit them later. 

Recently I have been partial to Screen flow because I can do all my work in one application and don’t have to be switching between applications to complete a project.


Still Image Screen Capture

By now most people know that you can capture still images in OS X by pressing cmd-shift-3 for full screen and cmd-shift-4 for select areas but did you know the rest of these tricks?

• Shift-Control-Command-3 Capture the entire screen to the Clipboard
• Shift-Control-Command-4 Capture a selection of the screen to the Clipboard
• Command-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it as a file on the desktop (A tiny camera appears)
• Command-Control-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it to the clipboard (A tiny camera appears)
• If you are a glutton for keyboard shortcuts, Apple has your fix right here

While you’re at it you can also use the Grab application located in your Utilities folder in Applications.

Now there are many options out there and these are a few, you should also check out Jing which has some free options as well.

Last tip, if all else fails go to Teach Parents Tech and have a personalized google message sent to help them.

Teaching AppleTV (2nd Gen.) to Learn a Directv Remote

So in playing around with my new AppleTV, I found the feature of teaching it to learn a new third party remote.  I figured I would give it a try and surprisingly it didn't work the first time around.  I kept getting an error saying the button was already used.  In searching around the net I found and compiled these instructions for my DirecTV remote.  While they may not work with your particular remote you should get the general idea.

How to program the DirecTV remote to your TV

1. The control code for your Apple TV is 20533.
2. Make sure your TV and Apple TV is turned on.
3. Slide the mode switch at top of remote to "AV1".
4. Press and hold the MUTE button. This is located above the number 1 button.
5. While still holding down MUTE, press and hold the SELECT button until the green light at the top of the remote flashes twice.
6. Enter the code for Apple TV - 20533. The green light on remote should flash twice.
7. Aim remote at TV and press PWR button once. The TV should power off.
8. Now using the Apple Remote go to Settings>General>Remote>Learn Remotes
9. Follow the step by step directions
10. Select Start (using the Apple Remote included with Apple TV).
11. Apple TV will display icons that represent the six buttons on the Apple Remote with the "Up" button highlighted first.
12. Using your DirecTV remote, press and hold the button you would like to use to control the "up" function until the blue progress bar is full as shown below.
    
13. Apple TV will then select the next button function.
14. After you have programmed all six button functions, you can now use your DirecTV  remote to control Apple TV. You can optionally setup specific playback buttons for Fast-forward, Rewind, Next chapter, and more.
15. Your DirecTV remote is now programmed.

Home Theater in a Mac

Nothing bothered me more than seeing the space wasted by 100’s of DVDs on a shelf, at least that was my excuse I told everyone, there had to be a better way.  Almost a year ago now I began the process of digitizing my DVD library to have a simpler setup to watch and enjoy my movies.  I additionally wanted to take advantage of streaming digital content that had become available online via Netflix and other sources.  The idea of cutting the cable cord also flashed across my mind but for various reasons hasn't come to fruition.

I toyed with the idea of converting a windows box into a linux media server, but that seemed too complicated and the end user interface wasn’t that clean.  The goal was to find a end user interface that was intuitive enough that none tech friends could use it without much instruction.  The first decision was to stay with a Apple product at the time I could chose between a Apple TV (1st Gen.) or a Mac Mini.  I decided to go with the Mac Mini because I didn’t feel like have to either succumb to the limitations of the machine or modify it to fit my needs.  Then I went on Craigslist and found a good deal on a intel Mac Mini, I ended up with a 1.5ghz Core Solo with 2GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive.  Not a powerhouse of a machine by any means but it gets the job done. A newer one would be nice but this one gets the job done.

The next step was to find a application in lieu of iTunes that would handle my media content.  This is where the process becomes personal and where I will live you with resources to make your own decisions.

Here are some of the resources I checked out that should be of help to you in determining the system that you want to set up. This is by no means an exhaustive list but should help you get on your way.

How-To: Building a Home Theater PC using the Mac mini – Part 1 (Hardware)
How-To: Building a Home Theater PC using the Mac mini – Part 2 (Software)
Revisiting the Mac mini media center
Mac mini media center: Control everything remotely
Boxee
Plex
XBMC
Mobile Air Mouse

I ended up using Plex and truly enjoy and its recently updated features. It also helps that I can now stream Plex to my iDevices (iPhone and iPad) wirelessly with ease. Plex also has plugins that allow for integration of my netflix account as well as Hulu.

One additional note is that media, as you probably already know, takes up a ton of space. Fortunately external hard drive prices are coming down with time but my 1TB external drive which once seemed large is already full with pictures, music and video. With the ability to record digital video on almost every device, I find space is becoming more and more precious.