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Atlona 8x8:2 HDMI Matrix Switch with CAT5/6 and Local HDMI Outputs - http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-...
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"The Atlona AT-PROHD88M-SR is a True 8x8:2 HDMI matrix switch. The PROHD88M unit features eight HDMI 1.3 inputs, and eight independently switchable HDMI + Twister Pair outputs to feed eight separate displays simultaneously. Each output features 1 x HDMI and 2 x Twisted Pair connections where both are active at the same time. Twisted Pair outputs are used to connect to the 8 x included receiver modules."
- Cristo
This monster allows you to have 8 different displays, each showing any one of 8 different sources. The HDMI is translated into cat6 and then reconverted back to HDMI at the other end. You can also combine display zones for lots of different combinations. Furthermore, the audio can be routed to audio receivers associated with each zone, so if the display is not capable of playing sound or you want surround sound, you can have the receiver hooked to speakers to handle that.
- Cristo
What is the ideal way of setting up an all hdmi system with source/dest switching and a/v receivers for many displays and at least two home theater rooms?
TiVo should open up an API for writing apps if they haven't already. E.g. I'd like to see a Sonos app for TiVo.
Ed Millard and CW™ liked this
We do in fact have an API for applications! The HME engine API is available. You can check out some examples of public apps at http://apps.tv/
- Stephen Mack
also see: http://tivohme.sourceforge.net/ for the api
- Carl Haynes
"HME is TiVo’s powerful new open platform for applications that are displayed and controlled by broadband-connected TiVo Series2 DVRs. HME applications are written using the Java programming language and can run on home PCs or remote servers hosted by TiVo. At this time, HME applications cannot control any of the TiVo DVR’s scheduling, recording, or video playback capabilities."
- Cristo
Does the java code run on the TiVo boxes? E.g. Can Sonos or a 3rd party write an application using uPnP protocol and no external computer to display an interface to Sonos on a TiVo? Also, not being able to control the TiVo's behavior makes this not all that interesting. What's the difference between doing this and using any other box hooked up to a TV (e.g. Mac mini).
- Cristo
The java code does not run on the tivo, it runs on either a local or remote computer. It wasn't meant to control the tivo but to add additional functionality. Examples of apps written with HME are the netflix streaming, youtube, rhapsody, photos & slideshows and well as the games. I don't know the answer to the question about using uPnP and no external computer.
- Carl Haynes
Carl, i should qualify my statement by saying "It's not that interesting for any application I would want to build for TiVo." Also, I thought I read you couldn't do video streaming, so I assume that's something special that was allowed for Netflix/Youtube?
- Cristo
While streaming is not mentioned in the api docs, it is now available. Video is streamed similar to the way audio is streamed. there's lots of info about how to do it here: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...
- Carl Haynes
It's funny that whenever I search for a question/answer about home theater or home automation, I always stumble upon forums where someone asks a question and there are several replies saying "Why would you ever want to do this?" Most of the discussion ends up explaining (or arguing) about the validity of the request.
Alex Scrivener liked this
And a lot of the education is not coming from the people asking why this would ever be done, but rather from the original asker of the question and others explaining the possible uses for the request. Of course, the original question is not always answered, because most of the people don't have the knowledge to answer it.
- Cristo
E.g. If you split an HDMI source to route it through a separate audio processor and video processor, will you have problems with HDCP?
- Cristo
So why would you ever want to do that?! :) To be quite honest, I have no clue.
- Mike Reynolds
There's a huge difference between a tinkerer and a power user, but forums tend to be populated by both types. Tinkerers come up with new ideas, while power users just want the best experience within the framework of what already exists. The OP in the cases you're referring to is the tinkerer. I'm a power user myself, not really much for developing or hacking. I just want a good experience without a great deal of effort
- LANjackal
Yes... why would anyone want to ask a forum question about home theater or home automation.
- .LAG liked that
LOL @ LAG
- CW™
LANjackal, I'm not sure I understand the distinction between your classifications. This question does not involve developing or hacking, it involves finding the right equipment that will do what you want. If someone doesn't know the answer, they shouldn't be responding to the question. Especially not by interrogating the original poster why they would want to do something, and thus implying that it's not worth doing. The reason? Because it isn't helpful to anyone.
- Cristo
Two products I'd love to see from Apple: 1) A super quiet, shallow, rack mountable Xserve (iHome), and 2) a rack mountable Airport (Insane) with a large amount of ethernet ports (e.g. 48)
I like being able to use Mac tools on my server, but the mini is non a great form factor for a server and is somewhat underpowered for certain cpu intensive things I sometimes want to do. The Xserve is nice, but it's super noisey for a home environment that doesn't have a dedicated server room.
- Cristo
The Airport Extreme is a great wireless router / ethernet switch, but it doesn't have enough ports for a home server / media closet setup.
- Cristo
I also think Apple could include some custom software that would better integrate the use of multiple Apple TVs, Macs, PCs, and other home automation equipment from a Home server like I'm proposing.
- Cristo
I get bored with martial arts films. That includes The Matrix.
Even 'They Call Me Bruce?'
- Rodfather
Kung Fu Panda?
- Johnny Worthington
I don't think I've seen them. Although i did like the Bruce Lee documentary.
- Cristo
But I didn't see the big deal with Crouching Taco, Hidden Hot Dog.
- Cristo
3 Ninjas? 3 Ninjas Kick Back? 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up? 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain?
- Johnny Worthington
(I wish I made the last one up... I really do)
- Johnny Worthington
Enter the Dragon?
- imabonehead
Nope. I haven't seen them because, I AM NOT A FAN OF MARTIAL ART MOVIES!
- Cristo
I am fearful to ask............. Have you seen The Karate Kid?
- Johnny Worthington
Yes, I have seen The Karate Kid. It was mildly entertaining. But not for the fight scenes. Wax on, wax off.
- Cristo
Not even 'Revenge of the Ninja' ?
- Rodfather
Kill Bill?
- imabonehead
Haven't seen Revenge of the Ninja.
- Cristo
Kill Bill was marginal compared with Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.
- Cristo
What about 'Shogun Assassin' which is a cut up 'Lone Wolf and Cub' ? Not sure I would call it martials arts, but there's chopping fools.
- Rodfather
Rodfather, haven't seen them.
- Cristo
You haven't lived
- Rodfather
Once Upon A Time in China series? Gotta watch the first three!
- imabonehead
The Street Figher series with Sonny Chiba is hilarious. You might like those
- Rodfather
Look, endless fighting is boring. I want a movie that makes me think.
- Cristo
But but they're cool and entertaining.
- Rodfather
Well, not that entertaining to me. It shuts off my brain and makes me sleepy. It's like westerns with lots of gunfights.
- Cristo
I'm watching Alien. Now there's a movie.
- Cristo
So anything with action? What about Lord of the Rings?
- Rodfather
No, Lord of the Rings is okay.
- Cristo
You don't like martial arts films or westerns? What are you? A communist?
- Mark Davidson
from BuddyFeed
Mark, I like some, but not most. E.g. I like the Client Eastwood spaghetti westerns. From what I know of communism, I am very much not a communist. :)
- Cristo
Aliens is more like a horror film. Classic. I see your point though. I'm easy to please.
- Rodfather
Alien is more sci-fi than horror in my book, but it has a horror element to it. It's the first one. The second one is called Aliens.
- Cristo
Ya. Meant Alien.
- Rodfather
Rodlfather, I saw Shogun Assassin on the big screen in the theater... One just can't beat that. Awesomeness!
- Mark Davidson
from BuddyFeed
Cristo, the Sergio Leone movies, almost as good as Shogun Assassin. Saw most of those at the drive-in. Outlaw Jose Wales... I knew one day, I too would have a scruffy beard.
- Mark Davidson
from BuddyFeed
Hacks I would like:
1. Allow the TiVo pause buffer to be longer than 30 minutes (e.g. 2 hours).
- Cristo
2. Be able to play Xbox and Wii games from hard disk without the disc inserted.
- Cristo
I'd like a hack that every time I push a button, Chris sends me a $50 bottle of wine at no cost to me
- Alex Scoble
That hack exists, it's called credit card fraud.
- Cristo
That's like me telling you to buy the games for your PC instead. ;)
- Alex Scoble
Because I don't have a PC?
- Cristo
Analyst: Timing of the Apple tablet is irrelevant | Apple - CNET News - http://news.cnet.com/8301-13...
Christopher Harley and Jeff P. Henderson liked this
"A new report from Digitimes on Thursday says Apple's anticipated tablet will not be released in the first part of 2010 as originally thought, but rather in the second half of the year. One industry analyst said the timing of the release is irrelevant to Wall Street. According to Digitimes, Apple will delay the release of the long rumored tablet because it has decided to change some of its components. Citing unnamed sources, the report says Apple will launch a model using a 9.7-inch OLED from LG."
- Cristo
from Bookmarklet
Seems like a lot of people dropping out of friendfeed. Kind of sad. The service is still great.
Kol Tregaskes, Jason Huebel, ffcode and 10 other people liked this
:(
- ashish
agreed. I tend to vascillate between the position that the service is so fantastic that I would use it even if nobody were here, and the other position of trying to set up stake elsewhere. There are options.
- Louis Gray
Seems it had few users but was great when it started, then got too many users but was still bitchin', and now people are leaving... but it's still awesome. Either way I say, "more FF for me!"
- Ciaoenrico
Where do you suggest, Louis?
- Steve
viva la FF, :)
- chaz2b
just as I was getting set up. sad. a great service.
- T. Brent, technopeasant
Steve, it depends on what you need. I don't want to be the pied piper leading people out of here. I like it here. But there are a couple interesting alternatives, one more topic-focused, like rooms, and another that has many similar characteristics, but has a different community. Neither is particularly focused on the aggregation piece.
- Louis Gray
It makes me sad that so many people are so sheep-like that the moment one or two users declare the service dead, they pull up stakes and follow. FF is having more technical issues than it used to have but overall is much the same functionally as it was the day before we found out FF sold out to FB.
- Spidra Webster
++Spidra
- Micah Wittman
Is there anyone specifically who has actually dropped out? I see all the familiar faces.
- Bindu Reddy
Holden and Jimminiy off the top of my head, but there are lots missing.
- Cristo
Their loss. People come and go in life, online its just faster.
- CW™
Here's one more of the usual suspects. I've been distracted by trying to complete an entire novel in a month lately, and Twitter's started to get exciting too (just ask Robert Scoble), but I still peek in FF occasionally to see if there's anything interesting. I'm not dropping out unless FF does.
- Dennis Jernberg
Here are the movies I bought for the new blu-ray player. What am I missing?
AJ Batac and Christopher Harley liked this
Bladerunner
- Cristo
All 3 Bourne movies
- Cristo
Star Trek
- Cristo
Iron man
- Cristo
Wings of Desire.
- Christopher Harley
Transformers
- AJ Batac
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
- Micah Wittman
*instacrush on Micah*
- Spidra Webster
Transformers is not a movie anyone should buy. It's made for renting.
- Cristo
I thought I lost a subscriber, but then I realized Holden left. :(
rowlikeagirl, Bindu Reddy and Jeff P. Henderson liked this
Yes, technically I did still lose a subscriber.
- Cristo
Also, in other news, a hot teenage girl blocked my driveway with her car. What should I do?
- Cristo
Tell her that the penalty for her infraction is that she has to buy you a drink.
- Jeff P. Henderson
Jeff, apparently you missed the "teenager" part ... LOL
- LANjackal
Jeff, she can't, she's a teenager. :P
- Cristo
Is there a way to extend the pause buffer on TiVo, or disable the TV from coming on when the pause buffer has reached it's limit? It's annoying to have the TV seemingly turn on by itself when you aren't using it.
Ed Millard and Rochelle liked this
If not, I'd like to request these features.
- Cristo
Hi Cristo, there's no way to extend the buffer or prevent playback from resuming once you hit the end of the 30 minute buffer. I've passed on your comments to the team. My best recommendation is to go ahead and hit the record button if you think you'll want to see the current show and might be paused for more than 30 minutes. Once you hit Record, you'll then be prompted to either save the entire show and buffer at Best quality, or to just record the rest of the show (absent the buffer) in a lesser quality.
- Stephen Mack
Pausing a show that has been recorded will never leave pause (unless the unit is rebooted, such as for a software update).
- Stephen Mack
The scenario is: I'm watching live TV, which I might be mildly interested in, but not enough to record it. E.g. CNBC. The phone rings, so I pause the TV. It's a business call, and so I go downstairs to get some notes. The phone call ends up taking much longer than I had thought it would. 30 minutes later, while I'm still on the phone, the TV comes on loud upstairs. I don't want it on, but I don't want to go upstairs and interrupt the call while I'm on the phone. What do I do?
- Cristo
I can see that being annoying, but the only workarounds are to either mute the TV when you pause it, or hit record if you think there's any chance the interruption will take longer than 30 minutes.
- Stephen Mack
The other thing the team should consider is that some people, including me, like to timeshift an entire channel, not just individual shows, e.g. CNBC, and for this usage pausing is much easier than manually recording a bunch of shows in a row to achieve the same effect. Since I have an XL, there is plenty of room to pause for much longer than 30 minutes. I believe the Comcast DVR had a much longer (2 hours) pause buffer, so I'm noticing this now that I've switched to TiVo.
- Cristo
Cristo, one option is you can use the Manual Record feature to record, say, a six-hour block of CNBC.
- Stephen Mack
Stephen, I appreciate you trying to help, but I'm also trying to help by suggesting a useful feature. While the Comcast DVR is infinitely inferior in most ways, this particular lack is inconvenient and a little surprising.
- Cristo
I would like to have a subcategory under Recording Settings that has a slider for the size of the pause buffer (could be percentage or time), and an option to keep recording when the buffer runs out (as it does), but go to a silent screensaver until a button is pressed. Actually it doesn't even need to be an option, it could just work that way by default.
- Cristo
I wish Apple or TiVo would design a universal remote control that I could use for most of my components.
MaryB, BrandingBroadOfFF, Louis Gray, Alex Scoble and Jason Huebel liked this
It would need to handle controlling an HDMI matrix switch though.
- Cristo
Someone just needs to come up with a 30-pin IR plug-in for iPhone/ipodTouch, with a programmable app.
- LogEx
LogEx, I can do what I want with an Android/iPhone/iPod through WiFi, but the touch screen is not ideal for controlling TV. Real buttons work well when you are focused on the big screen with actions that occur often (e.g. skipping commercials). TiVo is the best remote control I've used for watching TV, but I hate having to switch to other remotes to watch different sources.
- Cristo
Chris...what universal remotes have you messed with?
- Alex Scoble
Cristo, have you considered our high end learning remote?https://www3.tivo.com/store...
- Stephen Mack
Stephen, I have those. They come with the HD XLs I bought. Works well for simple stuff, but can't control Apple TV or Blue-ray, for example (AFAIK).
- Cristo
Alex, I've played with some Harmony universal remotes. I'm not a huge fan of the 'activity' model because it doesn't always seem to work and it can be slow. Also, the setup sucks. I'm probably going to return the 1100.
- Cristo
<3 Harmony.
- Rochelle
So you haven't tried any Universal Remote stuff then? And the activity stuff works pretty well and has a Help button in case it doesn't, but yes the programming software is horrid.
- Alex Scoble
You mean the Universal Remote brand?
- Cristo
Anyway, what I'm saying is the universal remotes I've seen can be functional, but they aren't great remotes like TiVo makes, or like Apple would if they tried.
- Cristo
Actually, this is something the TV manufacturers themselves should be pushing the envelope on rather than wasting energy on redundant video downloading services. They have the power to offer interfaces overlaid on top of source video, so they could make a really good universal remote that could, for example, allow switching of inputs with an HDMI matrix switch, and have the interface...
more...
- Cristo
Yes Universal Remote brand...which is what I said.
- Alex Scoble
It's obviously confusing when you name your company after the category.
- Cristo
I've seen pictures and read reviews of Universal Remote products. Do you think it's better designed than the TiVo remote?
- Cristo
Considering that the Tivo remote is not a universal remote and has no soft buttons, I'd say that something like this http://universalremote.com/product... is a better design
- Alex Scoble
I haven't had direct experience with the URC stuff, but I've heard good things...and you certainly need an RF remote. I'm interested for you to get your hands on some of their products and kick the tires.
- Alex Scoble
Alex, actually I don't need RF, since the boxes I'm going to be using for switching HDMI support IR transport over cat6. So I'll be able to use a TiVo remote from any room with a display & switchbox. I'll be testing for lag later this week.
- Cristo
ORLY? So you don't need to worry about surround modes or any other functionality?
- Alex Scoble
There's always going to be stuff that isn't easy to do with a universal remote. I'm not sure where the edge cases are, but if you want to support everything (e.g. Sonos, heating, electric shades, lighting) you're going to sacrifice something with one remote. I'm fine with sacrificing things that don't occur often for a good experience while I'm watching a particular source or moving to a new source.
- Cristo
One of the big problems with the activity model is that all the devices have to be in the right state for it to work. With higher end systems you solve that with via RS-232 or ethernet interfaces because they can query the device state, even in sleep mode.
- Cristo
No, the devices don't have to be in the right state for it to work if they have discreet commands (on and off instead of just toggle power)...My problem with your quest is that you seem to be reinventing the wheel when it may already exist and you can most likely afford the $300-500 to try it.
- Alex Scoble
Alex, I have a Harmony 1100 RF remote control. It is $399. How am I re-inventing the wheel? And Video Input is where the activity model with no feedback breaks down.
- Cristo
Because you haven't tried all existing wheel before determining that the wheel you seek doesn't exist.
- Alex Scoble
Okay, I await your personal recommendation that you've actually used. Much of the stuff I'm trying to do is not something the average customer of Best Buy is going to need. How many people have many displays they want to multiplex with many components all in a central location?
- Cristo
URC stuff is often used by pro installers...but if you want to reinvent the wheel before fully researching the issue, go ahead.
- Alex Scoble
Read the original post. I've looked at URC, and while it may be functional, it doesn't mean it's designed in a consumer friendly way.
- Cristo
Nothing about the original post says "I've seriously tested all the remotes out there and found them wanting"
- Alex Scoble
So having designed remotes and worked in the field for 15 years doesn't qualify me, even though I've researched the sites, and have actually used several of them. But you're qualified to say I'm reinventing the wheel.
- Cristo
Alex, wondering which table Cristo will be sitting at for your wedding.
- Kevin Pedraja
"I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea." -- Whose idea was Vista then?
And have they been fired yet?
- Cristo
Let's blame Bush!
- Akiva Moskovitz
And didn't they completely restructure the Windows organization after Vista? In my opinion, they didn't restructure it enough. Windows 7 is great but the earliest rumblings of what they wanted to do initially were far more interesting: MinWin, new UI, etc.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Originally I think the plan was to ship Snow Leopard, but Apple beat them to it.
- Cristo
"A lot of smart people have thought about this before."
2ndmoon©, Louis Gray and Alex Scrivener liked this
I've heard it quite a bit in my career.
- Cristo
I find lunch FASCINATING, myself
- Alex Scrivener
In about 10 days, most NaNoWriMo participants will start to realize they're not going to finish that novel they've been working on.
PENGUIN: MAJOR CAPS LOCK, Alex Scrivener and Maxamad liked this
You meant 10 days ago, surely.
- Stephen Mack
from iPhone
Oh, I think they'll hold out hope that they'll cram it in the last week.
- Cristo
HOW DARE YOU
- Andrizzle Gizzle
It's pretty easy actually. You see, I'm both mean and I've tried to do it before. ;)
- Cristo
I think everyone who participates in NaNoWriMo knows the odds: I'd bet that something like 97% don't finish. I think it's good to try, though, and writing (say) 10% of a novel is still excellent practice and worthwhile to do.
- Stephen Mack
No, if you don't finish, you are a failure. :P
- Cristo
I realized that about 18 days ago, which is why I didn't participate in the first place.
- Curtiss Grymala
Is FriendFeed working?
Jason Huebel liked this
Nope.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Well, posting is. But searching has been hanging for me.
- Cristo
I've been having search troubles today too.
- LogEx
RAPatton, Akiva, have you been searching?
- Cristo
Search was slow for me several minutes ago, fast just now.
- Bruce Lewis
If it isn't, I'm trippin' right now.
- Jason Huebel
Classmates.com continues to tell me about new people in my class that have joined their site even though I've never heard of them.
M♥hammad, Roberto Bonini, Mike Nencetti and VAL D. liked this
I never realized how many people went to my high school that I didn't know (or don't remember).
- Cristo
I once joined and somehow had other compaines debting my account because they said I said so when I joined classmates.com so be careful out there
- VAL D.
It's probably because you spent the whole time either stoned out of your mind or blitzed on grain alcohol.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Akiva, did we go to high school together?
- Cristo
I don't remember!
- Akiva Moskovitz
VAL D, debting your account? I don't understand. Did you give classmates.com your credit card details?
- Cristo
Classmates.com told me that my fiance had sent me a message even though neither of us have even visited the site in years and were never even active users there.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach of FF
Rahsheen ™, did she share the hash with you? :)
- Cristo
I am not sure what happened but its all over with now.........
- VAL D.
Saying you like Twitter better than FriendFeed is like saying you like the telegraph better than the telephone.
Thomas Power, Jérôme Flipo, Louis Gray and 5 other people liked this
I take no preference - they both have their place. Well said, though.
- Jesse Stay
Does TiVo HD offer an option to only record suggestions in HD? It's called TiVo HD. Grrrrr.
Louis Gray liked this
TiVo recorded a show that looks pretty interesting, but they recorded the SD instead of the HD version. It's actually squished horizontally, so it's even worse.
- Cristo
Looks like I can fix it up by changing the aspect ratio, but I'd still rather have the HD version.
- Cristo
Cristo, in "Channels You Receive" deselect the SD channels that you also get in HD. That way it won't use them. It's a dilemma because some customers do prefer to sometimes have suggestions in SD because they take up less space and you can therefore have more shows recorded for you. Also we don't get good data about which channels are the SD versions of which other channels. Sorry for the problem!
- Stephen Mack
Also, when did you buy your units and where?
- Stephen Mack
Stephen, I bought them at Best Buy, within the last six weeks, but I'd have to look at receipts to know for sure. Although this is the wrong thread for that topic, right? :)
- Cristo
Whoops, yes :)
- Stephen Mack
Anyone have recommendations for sites that will frame digital photos for you?
Jeff P. Henderson, Micah Wittman, Morgan Haley and 2 other people liked this
I know this is useless but maybe someone else remembers the name: Flickr used to partner or recommend a service for framing. I used it once for a wedding gift and thought they turned out great. It seems they now partner with Snapfish. Does anyone remember the other company?
- Benjamin Golub
It's useful that you commented on it, so more people will see it. :)
- Cristo
Gmail search to the rescue: http://www.imagekind.com/
- Benjamin Golub
I have a pro photographer friend that swears by the quality of Adorama's prints. Unfortunately they don't do framing though. http://www.adoramapix.com/product... Imagekind looks cool...
- Jason Wehmhoener
Do you need them digitally framed or just printed then framed?
- CW™
Checked Wolf Camera and they don't do it anymore. Costco has the photo printing but no framing.
- CW™
Oh and Costco does the digital photos to canvas..
- CW™
digital photo => printed photo => framed photo => shipped to me
- Cristo
Can do Digital Photo => Printed Photo => You pick up and take to Michaels to get framed.
- CW™
Time to start that business Chris.
- CW™
Not the kind of business I would start.
- Cristo
CW, Imagekind linked by Benjamin above does it already. It would be interesting to compare the print quality of Imagekind with Adorama and others, but frankly, the convenience of having a framed print ready to hang mailed to me would likely trump some diminishing of quality. (for me, anyway)
- Jason Wehmhoener
Cool. New company to send gifts from. ;)
- CW™
Hi Jason, thanks so much for the AdoramaPix mention - very much appreciated!
- Helen Oster
Helen, no problem, my friend has raved about the quality of your prints. Any chance you'll offer framing in the future?
- Jason Wehmhoener
Benjamin - If you go to your account on flickr and go to the Extending Flickr section, some of those companies are still listed and available. Zazzle, qoop, and moo are still there, I think, but Snapfish is the default now, though.
- Katy S
Shouldn't the people responsible for the photos take responsibility for their own actions instead of having somebody frame the photos? Oh wait....You meant 'framed', not 'framed'...... :-)
- Morgan Haley
Morgan, if my prints look bad I'm blaming you.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Jason, You know what, it's a cool idea! Whether it's something AdoramaPix can consider for the future I don't know, but I'll certainly check it out
- Helen Oster
The difference between possibly being considered the best NFL team of all time and not being in the running is an awesome last minute drive by Eli Manning.
Mathew A. Koeneker and Shey, Jamaican of FF liked this
I prefer the other Manning.
- Katy S
Well, both Mannings handed the "greatest team of all time" a spanking. ;)
- Cristo
is it an american trait to declare something the "greatest of all time"?
- T. Brent, technopeasant
T, I don't know. But it's a sarcastic trait for me to do it.
- Cristo
i got that... i'm speaking of the teams that declared themselves to be...
- T. Brent, technopeasant
T, not having been anything but an American, it's hard to say. I would honestly say Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time though.
- Cristo
agreed. i played the pipes at a gig in new york state a few years back, and the then-governor declared the u.s. the "greatest country the world has ever known"... rattled around my head a bit, at the time.
- T. Brent, technopeasant
Isn't Rome the greatest country the world has ever known? China comes to mind as well.
- Cristo
gaul.
- T. Brent, technopeasant
T, what's your criteria?
- Cristo
Excellent question: I would have to think about it. But I believe that part of the onus is on those making the claim(s). But I'm almost more interested in WHY the claims have to be made, it seems. A few weeks ago, to give another example, I watched the first part of that documentary on America's National Parks. Yes, they are lovely... but the narration spent a good 10-15 minutes setting up how "x was the largest in the world," and "y was the oldest in the world" and summed up with...
- T. Brent, technopeasant
..."these parks are the most beautiful in the world"... even if it were true (a debatable point), why is it so important to say so? Can't it just be a great team, one of the best countries, among the most beautiful park systems?
- T. Brent, technopeasant
I'm the greatest friendfeeder of all time. :)
- Cristo
some things are just understood.... :)
- T. Brent, technopeasant
Why have zombies become so popular in games and movies lately?
Steven Perez and Alex Scoble liked this
They're kind of the dumbest monsters. I prefer more cerebral monsters like ghosts, witches, vampires, and aliens.
- Cristo
It's the gift that keeps on giving. Mass killing without remorse? Like killing a swarm of bees.
- Rodfather
It's probably why I'm not that into gaming. I prefer games that aren't so based on timing, but more on puzzle solving. Movies like Sixth Sense are way more interesting to me than a bunch of zombies attacking people and getting killed.
- Cristo
because popular culture has tamed the vampire to the point that they are no longer scary.
- Alan Simpson
They need a new scary vampire movie to counteract Twilight.
- Cristo
Zombies are this generation's Nazis. Killing without feeling bad about it...
- Johnny Worthington
Yes, unfortunately I don't feel anything about it. Just bored. Actually, I would think killing Nazis would have some emotion involved. Zombies are usually that way just because they're infected, so there's really no emotion except self-preservation.
- Cristo
As for video games, they don't need to create new textures for monsters. Just create one and spawn a lot of them.
- Rodfather
Zombies make for easy ensemble scenes. Ever since the television show Friends, this has been a popular exploit.
- Micah Wittman
People still write books featuring cerebral monsters.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Go Colts!
Ken Sheppardson, Ras - Dago-Baadass! of FF, Shey, Jamaican of FF and 2 other people liked this
I am conflicted. I want the Patriots to lose because the Dolphins are in the same conference. I also want all undefeated teams to lose at least once. This is one of the few tough remaining games on the Colts schedule.
- Eric Logan
I'm not conflicted. i want the Patriots to lose every time they play. :)
- Cristo
LOL. Amazing. WTF were the Patriots thinking going for it on 4th down on their 30? This was almost as good as the 2007 superbowl, although that was sweeter.
- Cristo
Colts performance has helped my fantasy football team reach 9-0-1.
- Mike Reynolds
@Mike Nice!
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
if you run the stats, going for it was the right mathematical decision. That is it gives you the highest probability of winning
- Ken Sheppardson
Gah. That was just horrible. I can't recall being angrier about the outcome of a football game.
- Kevin Pedraja
Ken, what stats are you running? Almost any coach I've ever seen in the NFL would have punted that ball in that situation. If you don't trust your defense to defend 80 yards of field, how are you going to trust them to defend 30?
- Cristo
If you get a first down, you've basically won the game. I think the Pats 4th and 2 conversion rate is ~63%. If you don't get the first down, there's some probability that the Colts will take it in. Let's say from the 30 that's 70%. In order for the Colts to win, you have to go for it, not make it, and the Colts have to score. The probability of that is 0.37x0.70 = .25, i.e. ~25%. If you think there's a better than 25% chance the Colts could drive 60yards and score in two minutes, you should go for it.
- Ken Sheppardson
Given that the colts had just gone 79 yards in 1:49 to score against a pretty gassed Pats defense, the odds they could do it again were probably over 25%
- Ken Sheppardson
dude seriously? who does trust their defense against the colts right now? Do you trust your offense more to get 2 yards or your defense not to give up 60? Best defense against peyton is to not give him the ball. I don't even like belichick and I'm not knocking him for it.
- Richard Lawler
Like I said, I would have punted the ball, but I'm glad they didn't.
- Cristo
Most coaches probably would've, e.g Dungy. That's why Belichick has a bunch more Superbowl rings than most coaches: he has a better understanding of the stats and probabilities related to the game.
- Ken Sheppardson
If I remember correctly, he lost the last superbowl he was in. Similar sweetness to it too. The guy's kind of a jerk. Maybe he hasn't been videotaping the other teams sidelines enough lately.
- Cristo
Yes, I remember he lost the last one. Just 'cause you understand the probabilities and know which way you *should* bet doesn't mean you'll *always* win. Here's a more detailed analysis of the 4th down call http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009...
- Ken Sheppardson
"Super Bowl XLII: After they ran that last play, Bill Belichick, the Patriots coach, walked off the field without speaking to any of the Giants. He marched off the field towards the tunnel with his entourage of coaches not saying a word of congratulations to anyone from the other team." - Nice.
- Cristo
I never said he was a nice guy. I said he knows math :-)
- Ken Sheppardson
If he knew math better, they would have won the game. :) Why didn't they call better plays for the first 3 downs?
- Cristo
Yeah, they really should've gone to their list of plays with a 100% probability of scoring. They're idiots. ;-) BTW, more analysis http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog...
- Ken Sheppardson
They should put together a team of mathematicians to play against all the players and coaches in the NFL that disagreed with Belichick's decision and see who wins. :)
- Cristo
Y'know, I'll bet if you sat down all the folks who disagree and ask them a series of questions like "If the Pats ran that play 10 times, how many times do you think they'd make the first down?", "If you punt the ball there 10 times, how many times would you expect Manning to be able to drive for a TD?", "If you give Manning the ball there on the 30 ten times, how many times would you expect he's score?" I'll bet their *rational* decision, given their beliefs RE the probabilities, would've been to go for it.
- Ken Sheppardson
...but then you've got to consider their risk aversion, i.e. whether they're willing to have all their peers who can't do the math criticizing them the next day. Belichick doesn't care about that part. ;-)
- Ken Sheppardson
Well, I question the validity of the statistics, such as whether they pertain to where on the field the conversion attempt occurs (just outside of the red zone is not enough), the time of the game, and the emotional impact on the other team (It's a huge boost to stifle a conversion attempt on the other team's 30). Is momentum something factored into statistics? Also, there have been a lot of great coaches before Belichick. What would they have done?
- Cristo
Anyway, I'm just a fan. I'm not into Fantasy Football or crunching lots of statistics. I just like it when the team I hate loses. :) If I were a Patriots fan though, I'd be pissed.
- Cristo
Sure, so... you really don't even need to question the validity of the stats. The flip side is coaches and other decision makers "gamble" all the time. I consider "gambling" to be betting against the odds. You "take a chance" on a 10:1 longshot, for example. In this case it's just that the "gamble" is kicking the ball, which is sorta counterintuitive. If everybody today was complaining that B should've "taken a chance" and punted, that'd be one thing...
- Ken Sheppardson
...but they seem to think going for it was the "gamble", when it's quite likely it was the logical, rational thing to do. I'm a pretty big Pats fan, but I'm really not upset with Belichick. I get it. Sometimes you make the right decision and lose. I'm actually more peeved about them blowing the two timeouts so they couldn't challeng the spot on the fourth down attempt, and the replay system in general just blows. So... there's that.
- Ken Sheppardson
I question the validity of the stats because it doesn't match my intuition for that particular situation. Could I be wrong? Sure, but so could anyone. I'm not interested enough to do my own study, and there are lots of people smarter than me that have been wrong. Reminds me of the argument that peak oil drove the price of oil to $147 per barrel. What happened to peak oil?
- Cristo
Our intuition tends to break down when it comes to conditional probability. You familiar with the Monte Hall problem? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
- Ken Sheppardson
I'm guessing most great football players aren't doing statistics equations on the field.
- Cristo
Yep. But more and more great coaches these days are doing the stats offline in order to do things like generate those play selection sheets you see them using on the sideline that give them lists of the best plays to call in particular situations.
- Ken Sheppardson
Oooh... "veridical paradox" I'll have to remember that one...
- Ken Sheppardson
Also, you know that thing they always say after investment advice: "Past performence does not necessarily predict future returns."
- Cristo
Yeah, and on the flip side, our Decision Analysis prof used to always say "You can't judge the quality of a decision by the outcome."
- Ken Sheppardson
Personally, I'm more interested in the outcome than the decision. ;)
- Cristo
So, if it is more statistically unlikely for a team to win 17 games in a season, than to have lost one or two and win the superbowl, maybe the Patriots should have purposely lost some games in the 2007 season.
- Cristo
Well, there's a non-stats based logic to that you see in training for individual sports like cycling, swimming, etc... it's really hard to maintain peak peformance for an extended period, so you pick certain events in the season for which you plan to peak, then rest, peak again, etc. Take Lance Armstrong, for example. He trains to peak for the TdF every year, at the expense of *lots* of other races during the season.
- Ken Sheppardson
If you set up a schedule trying to "peak" for the playoffs and Superbowl, you might not ramp up 'til a few games into the season, or take a "break" during the middle and rest folks. I wonder... if you look at the teams that have won the Superbowl... what's their collective record in the first 2 or 3 games of the season...
- Ken Sheppardson
I think I would probably watch a lot less football if the announcers started quoting lots of statistics during the play-by-play. "Looks like they're running a play action. The Browns have been .175 on 3rd down play actions, so I'm not sure that's a good call." It's one of the reasons I find baseball kind of boring. But then again, maybe that's why they do it in baseball, because so much of the game is boring.
- Cristo
Well, yeah... with baseball they really don't have anything else to talk about. :-)
- Ken Sheppardson
Component, VGA to HDMI Video Converter. Full 1080P resolution for HDMI. 3x1 integrated HDMI switching included.
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30% Of Samsung Phones To Run Android In 2010 | Android Phone Fans - http://phandroid.com/2009...
Alex Scoble and CW™ liked this
"The migration continues. Motorola has proclaimed an aggressive move to adopt Android as their smartphone platform of choice and HTC is clearly in robot mode as well. It sounds as if Samsung will join that bunch as they increase their Android lineup at the expense of Windows Mobile. More specifically, Android will compose 30% of their phone portfolio in 2010 and beyond (rumor)."
- Cristo
from Bookmarklet
What OS is represented by the palest color?
- Jason Wehmhoener
Bada?
- Rodfather
Probably. Seems like a strange direction.
- Cristo
I wonder what happened to LiMo. That get ditched?
- Rodfather
I guess Samsung releasing a LiMo based phone too. http://www.i4u.com/article...
- Rodfather
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